Albanese Government to pass historic environmental reforms

The Albanese Government’s landmark environmental law reforms will pass the Parliament this week, heralding a new era for the environment and productivity in Australia.

More than five years after Professor Graeme Samuel handed down his independent review into the nation’s 25-year-old environmental laws, the Government’s Environment Protection Reform Bill will be passed with the support of the Greens in the Senate.

The Bill will amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, providing a balanced set of reforms that not only protect the environment for future generations but also deliver for business and the community by helping speed up decision-making for projects in key areas of national priority like housing, renewable energy and critical minerals.

Key environmental measures in the Government’s amended Bill:

  • For the first time, Australia will have a National Environment Protection Agency (EPA) – a strong, independent regulator with a clear focus on ensuring better compliance with and stronger enforcement of Australia’s new environmental laws.
  • In another first, Australia will have National Environmental Standards, to ensure clear, strong guidelines to protect the environment.
  • Higher penalties for the most significant breaches of environmental law, as well as environment protection orders for use in urgent circumstances to prevent and respond to major contraventions of the law.
  • Removing and sunsetting the exemption from the EPBC Act for high-risk land clearing and regional forest agreements, so that they comply with the same rules and standards as other industries.
  • Requiring proponents of large emitting projects to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and their emission reduction plans.
  • Maintaining federal approval of “water trigger” coal and gas projects.

Key measures to speed up decision-making for business and the community:

  • A new Streamlined Assessment Pathway, to significantly reduce the timeframe for proponents who provide sufficient information upfront, providing incentive to meet the standards upfront. This will deliver faster decisions, saving businesses time and money.
  • New and improved bilateral agreements with states to remove duplication for the assessment and approval of projects.
  • Regional planning, to deliver ‘go’ and ‘no go’ zones, delivering greater certainty to business, and future planning at a landscape scale, rather than project-by-project assessment.
  • Clarifying definitions of “unacceptable impacts” and “net gain” for the environment and restraining the operation of Environmental Protection Orders.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese

“Everyone agrees that the laws as they stand are broken and need to be reformed.

“Getting these laws passed is vital to protect our environment and to boost productivity in our economy.

“These reforms will help us meet our national priorities of building more homes, rolling out more renewables and accessing more critical minerals. They are also crucial to our Future Made in Australia agenda.”

Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt

“This is a landmark day for the environment in our country.

“These reforms will deliver tangible benefits for the environment and protect what is precious.

“But these reforms will also be a power surge of productivity for our economy, cutting approval times for key projects and injecting up to $7 billion into the economy.”

Raptor North charge man for alleged role in violent armed robbery in Hunter Region

Raptor Squad have charged a man following an aggravated robbery in the state’s Hunter Region earlier this year under Strike Force Bromsgrove.
Strike Force Bromsgrove is an investigation by State Crime Command’s Raptor North into a series of related aggravated robbery related incidents in the Nelson Bay area in March 2025.
About 5.25am on Thursday 27 March 2025, emergency services were called to Salamander Way in Salamander Bay following reports of a home invasion.
On arrival, officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police District were told five unknown men dressed in dark clothing and face coverings – two armed with firearms, and one armed with a knife – had entered the home.
The group of males allegedly threatened the home’s occupants – a 48-year-old woman and two men aged 52 and 26 – demanding drugs before stealing their mobile phones, a luxury handbag, and a luxury hat.
The offenders then fled the scene in a white 4WD vehicle, suspected to be bearing stolen registration plates CX35UZ.
Local police commenced initial inquiries and NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the youngest man for a suspected broken nose.
The matter was then referred to State Crime Command’s Raptor North who commenced investigations under Strike Force Bromsgrove.
Following extensive inquiries, about 7.50am today (Wednesday 26 November 2025), strike force detectives arrested a 21-year-old man in Prestons.
The man was taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court today, where police will allege in court the man was allegedly armed with a shotgun during the home invasion, which he used to assault the occupants of the home.
Investigations under Strike Force Bromsgrove continue.

Australia expands support for Pacific gender-based violence response services

The Australian Government will invest a further $25 million over five years to strengthen frontline services in the Pacific as part our ongoing commitment to end gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence impacts two out of three Pacific women – more than double the global average, with lasting effects including injuries, disability, unwanted pregnancies, disease and lost productivity.

Pacific Strong: Amplifying Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls (PAVE) is a five-year initiative to expand and strengthen essential response services to support survivors of gender-based violence.

PAVE will partner with 11 crisis centres across 9 Pacific island countries in the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we reaffirm that every woman and girl in our region has the right to live free from fear and violence.

“Violence against women and girls undermines communities, economies and long-term security. By strengthening frontline services through PAVE, Australia is helping build safer families and more resilient societies across our region.

“This investment reflects our commitment to Pacific-led solutions and shows that supporting women’s safety is not only the right thing to do, but in Australia’s national interest.”

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy:

“The additional investment from Australia will provide support to survivors of violence and reflects our commitment to end gender-based violence and create safer environments for all.

“Australia stands firmly with the Pacific in efforts to prevent violence against women and girls and we will continue to join Pacific voices on the issues that matter most to our region.

International Development Minister Anne Aly:

“All women and girls, no matter where they live, should be able to live life free from gender-based violence.”

“No one should live in fear or in violence, which is why we’re investing in Pacific-led programs to strengthen response services that support survivors of gender-based violence.”

Assistant Pacific Island Affairs Minister Nita Green:

“Australia’s increased investment in survivor services and prevention underpins our commitment to safer, healthier communities at home and across the Pacific – changing lives for the better.

“Addressing the disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence requires a concerted, comprehensive and long-term effort and investment”.

“URGENT INTERVENTION NEEDED” GREENS SAY AFTER REPORT SHOWS HOUSING IS MORE UNAFFORDABLE THAN EVER

The Victorian Greens are calling on the government to urgently intervene after the Cotality report shows that housing is more unaffordable than ever. 
The report found it will take 11.7 years to save for a house in Melbourne. While median households are spending over 30% on rent which puts them into housing stress. 

It comes just a day after the Rental Affordability Index reported regional Victoria has become even less affordable over the past year, while Melbourne remains at record-low levels of affordability.

The Victorian Greens warn without urgent intervention to control how much rents can go up, this will only get worse. 

Victorian Greens Renting and Housing spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri:

“The Allan Labor Government has their head in the sand as renters and aspiring first home buyers suffer.

“Yesterday’s Rental Affordability index proves that rent controls work, ACT is the only place with rent controls in the country, and it’s the only place with rent controls. If the Allan Labor Government were serious about supporting renters, they should be taking notes.

“How can renters even start to put together a savings plan when they are being smashed by rents across the state with no reprieve in sight – it’s time the Allan Labor Government comes to the table when it comes to rent controls.” 

Greens to introduce bill to halve the cost of arts degrees

Today in the Senate, Senator Mehreen Faruqi will introduce the Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes & End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill.

The Bill reverses the punitive fee hikes introduced by the Morrison government’s disastrous job-ready graduates (JRG) package. It undoes the fee hikes for units of study in law, accounting, administration, economics, commerce, society and culture, and communications, and reverts them to what those amounts would have been on 1 January 2026, taking into account indexation, if the job-ready graduates bill had not commenced.

The effect of this Bill would be to halve the cost of an arts degree, bringing the cost from $52,197 to $24,492 in 2026.

In opposition, Labor called job-ready graduates “inequitable, perverse, and punitive.” In government, they have now had over three years to remedy skyrocketing university fees that the entire sector knows is a disaster yet they have done nothing. The government’s own Universities Accord concluded that JRG required “urgent remediation” and even Labor backbenchers have been calling for action. Earlier this year, more than 100 well-known Australians — authors, academics, historians, and public figures — signed an open letter calling on Labor to abolish the JRG scheme.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens and spokesperson for Higher Education:

“Everyone knows JRG fee hikes need to go, and now Labor has an opportunity to support our bill and end the Morrison government’s policy disaster, which has punished students for too long.

“The reversal of the cruel, unfair, and downright absurd job-ready graduates fee hikes is long overdue.

“The quiet tragedy of Job-Ready Graduates is not just the people crushed by debt, but the people who never enrol at all.

“University staff, students and the wider community are unanimous in their calls to reverse the punitive JRG fee hikes, but Labor has continued to sit on their hands. Well, no more kicking the can down the road, Labor can support this bill and halve the cost of Arts degrees.

“It is getting harder and harder for young people to get an education, as they face the cascading impacts of the housing and cost of living crisis, on top of growing student debt. Students shouldn’t be buried under a mountain of debt and punished just to study what they love.

“At the end of the day, education is a public good that should be free, fully-funded, and accessible to all.”

To end domestic violence, Labor must stop rising poverty

A dramatic increase in calls to 1800 RESPECT from Australians seeking help with domestic violence shows the urgent need to raise rates of income support and lift Australians out of poverty.

Leaving a violent relationship requires financial security, and we cannot end violence against women without addressing poverty.

As Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody has said: “Raising JobSeeker and related payments to liveable levels in the federal budget would help lift about half a million women out of poverty. Bolstering women’s economic security is crucial to giving them the means to leave and remain free of violence.”

The Greens welcome the increase in funding to 1800 RESPECT and have called for more, noting that current federal funding calls from the women’s safety sector for $1 billion annually in funding are not being met, leaving frontline family and domestic violence services with no choice but to turn away victims and survivors.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens Spokesperson for Social Services:

“It’s no coincidence that demand for domestic violence services is rising at the same time as rates of poverty in this country. It’s very difficult to leave a violent relationship, to support young children, and to recover and rebuild your life if you don’t have economic security.”

“One in seven Australians are now living in poverty, up from one in eight just four years ago.”

“We will never end violence against women while dismal rates of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and other payments are trapping people in poverty and denying women the power to leave violent relationships.”

“Is it any wonder many women feel trapped in abusive relationships when less than 1% of all rental properties are affordable for a person on income support?”

“Victims and survivors of domestic violence are being turned away from frontline services because demand for those services keeps growing.”

“At least 43 women have lost their lives already this year to family and domestic violence, and if Labor wants to stop that number from rising the first task is to make sure no woman is ever forced to choose between poverty and family violence.”

Victorian Liberal Party Leadership

I want to thank Brad Battin for his tireless work for the Liberal Party in Victoria. Brad has always put his community first and is an important contributor to the team.

I also want to congratulate Jess Wilson on her election as Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party. Jess represents a fresh, next generation approach at a time when Victoria needs it most. After years of a tired and out of touch Labor Government, families are facing rising debt, growing crime and a health system that is stretched to breaking point.

Jess and I will work together to build a stronger Liberal team across the country and offer Victorians the real alternative they are looking for.

Thousands access cheaper and faster ADHD care thanks to Minns Labor Government reforms

People across NSW are finally getting easier, faster access to their ADHD medication thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s landmark reforms.

Since 1 September, over 2,900 patients with an existing diagnosis for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) have already filled their scripts through a trained GP.

This means people are avoiding long waits, expensive appointments and the barriers that previously delayed treatment for thousands of families.

Under the reforms, 560 GPs across NSW have now completed specialist training and are approved to prescribe ADHD medications. This includes more than 200 GPs located outside metropolitan Sydney.

People can now get the care they need from the clinician who already knows them best, close to home, and without the stress and cost of navigating an overloaded specialist system.

Delays in care can have significant impacts on children’s development, such as poorer academic progress.

These reforms provide more accessible ADHD care across the state as part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to increase access to healthcare regardless of where you live.

GPs can apply to become a continuation prescriber by completing an endorsed training course, with the associated fee covered by NSW Health.

These reforms recognise the holistic care that is best delivered in a general practice setting, providing support that looks at the whole patient and considers their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing needs.

GPs will continue to make specialist referrals, and escalate care, as required to ensure patients are receiving the treatment they need, when and where they need it.

More information is available at ADHD care in general practice, and GPs with any questions are encouraged to contact MOH-ADHDreforms@health.nsw.gov.au

the Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:

“More than 2,900 patients have already received their prescriptions through a GP.

“Every script filled by a GP means less waiting and less cost for people with ADHD. These reforms are already making a difference.

“We’re building a health system that works for people, not the other way around. This is about fairness and access. Getting the right care from the right clinician, without unnecessary cost or delay.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“I’m so pleased to see such positive feedback from the more than 560 GPs who’ve already completed this training and accreditation.

“Having 2,900 patients visit an accredited GP to get their script for their ADHD medication refilled, means 2,900 people avoiding the lengthy wait times and costs they used to encounter.

“Our reforms create a win-win situation. By allowing patients to get the care they need, often closer to home and at a reasonable cost, we also free up extra capacity in our system to help more people.”

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“In just a few months we are already seeing the difference these reforms are making. Thousands of people are getting care faster and hundreds of GPs are stepping up to support their communities. This is exactly what good reform looks like.

“We are building a system where ADHD care is based on need, not income. No more waiting lists just to refill your script.

“Within just a few months, we’ve seen thousands of people save time and money by getting their scripts at the GP. That’s also thousands of specialist appointments freed up for people who actually need them.”

RACGP NSW & ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman:

“We can make ADHD care as accessible as it should be. GPs are specialists in family medicine and holistic care who already help patients with ADHD build good habits around exercise and sleep, develop behavioural strategies, and provide patients access any extra support they need.

“Becoming a continuation prescriber for ADHD is a natural extension of the skills we already bring as specialist GPs. ADHD is a common condition, and one your GP can and should manage.

“The training is excellent, straightforward, and free for RACGP member GPs. The Premier, Health Minister, and our colleagues in psychiatry and paediatrics have all provided fantastic support throughout this rollout and as we move towards a nationally consistent program so more Australians can access ADHD care through their GP.”

Announcing the winners of first ever NSW Music Prize

Three talented NSW acts have received a big career boost after being awarded the inaugural NSW Music Prize, taking home Australia’s newest and most lucrative music awards.

The NSW Music Prize was established by the Minns Labor Government to celebrate and inspire local musicians and strengthen the music industry in the face of increasing competition from overseas artists via streaming platforms.

The winner of the 2025 NSW Music Prize($80,000) for a NSW artist or act whose release has had the most significant impact is SPEED, for their album Only One Mode.

The winner of NSW First Nations Music Prize ($40,000) for a NSW First Nations artists or act who whose release had a significant and meaningful impact is BARKAA, for her EP Big Tidda.

The winner of the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year ($40,000) for an emerging NSW artist or act who has had a groundbreaking year is Ninajirachi.

Held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the ceremony was emceed by media personality Brooke Boney and brought together the local music industry for a celebration of the 2025 winners. The event featured special live performances from BARKAA, Shady Nasty and Vv Pete & UTILITY, marking the beginning of what will become a cornerstone fixture in Australia’s annual music calendar. 

The NSW Music Prize is a key commitment in the NSW Government’s 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy, and honours artistic achievement and highlights the vital role music plays in shaping culture and community across the state.

More information on the NSW Music Prize is available on the Sound NSW website.

NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“I’m very excited to be awarding the first ever NSW Music Prizes to SPEED, BARKAA and Ninajirachi. These talented and hard-working NSW musicians deserve this recognition.

“These awards are about putting the spotlight on NSW, so fans have a chance to celebrate the local music scene.

“This will give these artists a big career boost, and I also hope it will inspire the next generation to aim high.

“The streaming revolution is pushing more American music to Australian listeners. This award is part of our effort support local musicians to cut through and build a fan base.”

Head of Sound NSW Emily Collins said:

“Sound NSW is proud to deliver the NSW Music Prize, which recognises artistic excellence and the innovation emerging from the state’s music communities.

“This year’s winners and nominees reflect everything we love about music in NSW and the breadth of music being made right here.

“The NSW Music Prize is about elevating local voices, celebrating their achievements and ensuring NSW is a place where they can create, grow and thrive.”

CEO ARIA PPCA, and Sound NSW Advisory Board member Annabelle Herd said:

“The NSW Music Prize shows what happens when we back our artists with meaningful support and a clear pathway forward.

“These prizes open doors to new audiences and real opportunities, and they strengthen the wider ecosystem that makes NSW such an important place for music in Australia and across the world.

“Recognising and elevating talent in this way is essential if we want a vibrant state that allows new music to thrive.”

Co-Founder (Frontier Touring) and Founder (Chugg Music) Michael Chugg AM said:

“The inaugural NSW Music Prize is a great innovation by the State Government and a further commitment to the support of Australian music here and internationally.

“NSW has an amazing amount of young Indie musicians and artists which was very evident at last week’s Aria awards and the shortlist of finalists here.

“The three prize winners being announced today will enable these young budding stars a platform to advance their careers and I wholeheartedly support this fantastic opportunity.”

Winner of the NSW Music Prize SPEED said:

“Yo! SPEED is a hardcore band comprising of lifelong friends and family from Sydney. Respectfully, our culture has never been a game nor a competition. But we are honoured to receive this recognition and see this as acknowledgment of the values cultivated by the passionate souls around us.

“Kids around us have BEEN doing this for a minute and this acknowledgment gives us hope that realness can be recognised and wanted out there in the real world. This culture of ours is a special thing and the only way for you to get this is to show up, listen and learn from the people who make it.

“In 2025, we have a whole new generation of amazing kids all over the country making Sydney & Australian hardcore the sickest it’s ever been. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.”

Winner biographies:

  • SPEED and hardcore are two words that have become synonymous on a global scale. The Sydney band have staked claim on the genre through an unwavering ethos built on inclusivity, authenticity and conviction; a nonstop touring schedule across the globe, and records that have reverberated through the underground and beyond.
  • BARKAA proved to be the shake-up the Australian music scene needed. Taking her first steps forward as an artist releasing music in 2020, BARKAA served an introduction with impact; an artistic vision and handle on storytelling that was unshakably confident and honest.
  • Ninajirachi is raising the flag for a new generation of Australian electronic artists on the international stage, from festival appearances at Lollapalooza, EDC, Laneway and Spilt Milk, to sold out headline shows on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this month, she also took home the Australian Music Prize (AMP) as well as walking away with three awards at last week’s ARIA Awards.

NSW International Education Awards celebrate outstanding students and industry leaders

The NSW Government has recognised the state’s top international students, education providers, and innovators at the 2025 NSW International Education Awards.

The awards, now in their twelfth year, celebrate the achievements of international students across NSW and honour the organisations that support their success and wellbeing.

International students help drive research and innovation in NSW—making up 42 per cent of our postgraduate research students and funding over a quarter of all university research in Australia.

Nearly one in seven Australian startups employs a current or former international student.

Two types of awards were presented at a ceremony in Sydney last night.

The NSW International Student of the Year Awards recognise the contributions made by individual students to their education and broader NSW community. The winners across three categories were:

  • Schools – Araf Iaj Khan from Bangladesh
    • Araf, a Senior Prefect at Homebush Boys High School, was recognised for his outstanding leadership, volunteering over 160 hours and earning multiple awards for his commitment to inclusion, mentoring, and multicultural advocacy in NSW.
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET) & English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) – Diego Luna Alamilla from Mexico
    • Diego, a recent Diploma of Counselling graduate from the Australian Learning Group, was recognised for his compassion and leadership in supporting international students and promoting youth inclusion in NSW.
  • Higher Education – Jiaqi (Ellen) Jiang from China
    • Jiaqi (Ellen) Jiang, a medicine student at the University of NSW, was recognised for her leadership in health advocacy and student wellbeing, making NSW safer and more inclusive for international students through her work on over 200 initiatives and public health campaigns.

The NSW International Education Industry Awards recognise programs and initiatives from individuals, education institutions, businesses and community organisations that support international students. The winners across two categories were:

  • Innovation in Education – MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard
    • Adopted by more than 70 institutions, the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS) simplifies international education by making student data sharing easier and more secure, helping students move between countries and raising the standard for education quality in NSW.
  • Industry Excellence – City of Sydney, 2025 Lord Mayor’s Welcome for International Students
    • The Lord Mayor’s Welcome for International Students helps new international students feel included and supported by connecting them with Sydney’s multicultural community and essential services.

For more information on the 2025 NSW International Education Awards, please visit Study NSW: www.study.nsw.gov.au/current-students/nsw-international-education-awards/

Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Our education institutions are at the forefront of shaping an innovative and dynamic economy in NSW.

“The exchange of knowledge and skills embodied by these Awards plays an important role in cementing NSW’s position as the innovation powerhouse of Australia.

“I am proud to see NSW leading the way in international education, and I commend all the students, educators, and organisations who are making a real difference to our state’s future.”

NSW International Student of the Year (Higher Education) winner Jiaqi (Ellen) Jiang said:

“I first joined student societies simply to meet friends from similar cultural backgrounds who shared the same experiences. But once I became involved, I quickly realised how remarkable my fellow international students are — each person’s story is a testament to courage, resilience, and personal growth.

“Getting to know such inspiring individuals motivated me to take a more active role, participating in and eventually leading initiatives that support and showcase international students across NSW.

“Awards like this are important because they bring together passionate student leaders and volunteers from diverse universities and cultures – bright individuals united by the same goal: improving the international student experience.”

Chief Executive Officer, MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard, Charlsey Pearce said:

“Winning this award is a recognition of the collective effort behind MortarCAPS — a passionate team committed to empowering learners and universities to thrive in a global, connected education ecosystem.

“We partner with universities globally to give students ownership of their learning data. This ensures that their educational and professional achievements are recognised seamlessly across borders, supporting pathways to employment, lifelong learning, and migration.

“Awards like this spotlight innovation and collaboration across the international education sector. They encourage bold thinking and shared responsibility for shaping the future of learning.”