Category: Australian News

This important maintenance initiative was completed earlier than expected thanks to favourable weather conditions and the partnership with local contractor, Collaborative Construction Solutions.  

The building was first constructed in 1972, followed by subsequent extensions and renewals in 1980 and 2000. This work was undertaken to replace the existing roof to address leaks occurring during storm events, while also addressing essential electrical maintenance. 

The key works completed included: 

• replacement of the existing roof and structure to improve the slope of the roof
• increasing the capacity of the roof drainage system, including new box gutters, overflows and downpipes
• essential improvements of the electrical services
• repairs to windows and the eastern façade
• improvements to the internal fit out. 

This venue is used by a diverse range of community members, and this work ensures the facility remains safe and sustainable. 

This project was co-funded by the NSW Government’s Surf Club Facility Program (SCFP) and builds on similar SCFP-funded maintenance work completed at Dixon Park SLSC in April 2024. 

Nation leading reforms to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our youngest learners and crack down on dodgy providers to restore parents’ trust in early childhood education services have passed the NSW Parliament.

The new laws mean service providers will have stronger child-first obligations, families will have more transparency and better access to information, and a mobile phone ban with significant penalties will be introduced in early childhood centres.

Provisions in the Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Act 2010 (National Law) that make the rights and best interests of children paramount will take effect immediately upon the legislation receiving assent by the NSW Governor.

The Minns Labor Government introduced the legislation last month after an independent review by the Deputy Premier into early childhood education and care regulation, which found the Regulator was significantly constrained by the existing National Law.

These changes fast-track and significantly expand on nationally agreed reforms. While some improvements to the National Law are being developed, these reforms go further and implement nationally agreed reform for children in NSW now.

The Minns Labor Government will not delay action in the best interests of children and families, and we will continue to advocate for national consistency, so that all children in Australia can receive the same level of protection now provided in NSW.

More than 30 reforms are included in the legislation. NSW nation leading reforms will provide:

• An obligation for services to prioritise child safety, including compulsory child protection training and child safe recruitment practices. Parents will be notified when the regulatory authority commences an investigation into a serious incident to ensure they are aware of what is happening in their child’s service.  
• A 900 per cent increase to maximum penalties for large providers operating 25 or more services, across all offences. 
• New powers enabling the Regulator to publish more information about high-risk services, including details of current investigations. 
• Authority for the Regulator to suspend or revoke quality ratings during or following investigations. 
• Strengthened whistleblower protections. 

Additionally, the legislation brings forward timelines for nationally agreed positions announced earlier this year, and extends the national position in several instances including:

• A legal obligation for the early childhood sector and the Regulator to put the rights and best interests of children above all else, ensuring their safety and wellbeing are at the centre of every decision. 
• Greater transparency for families, with services expected to display a short-form compliance history at their premises and on their website, providing families with more transparency about their child’s service. 
• Tripled penalties in line with nationally agreed changes. 
• Authority for the Regulator to suspend or impose supervision orders on individual educators. 
• Making it an offence for people providing, or working in, early childhood education and care to subject a child or children to inappropriate conduct. 
• Extending the limitation period for offences to be prosecuted. Consistent with the national approach, NSW will now apply the limitation for offences from when the regulator is notified, not the date of the offence. 

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“This Government said we’d strengthen the laws, increase fines for poor quality operators, and improve transparency to rebuild trust in the early childhood sector.

“This is the most significant reform to the National Law in 15 years, strengthening protections for every child in early education and care services across NSW.

“These changes – initiated by the Deputy Premier Prue Car – set clear expectations and will allow us to implement all the Wheeler recommendations in short order.

“Families deserve to know their children are safe, respected, and nurtured when they attend childcare, preschool, or outside school care. This legislation will ensure the safety and wellbeing of children comes first.” 

Women achieving great things for their local communities in all corners of NSW have been recognised today at the 2025 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government.

The award winners were announced at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House hosted by Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig and Minister for Women Jodie Harrison.

The prestigious awards now in their 18th year, celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of women in councils across NSW.

This year saw an impressive field of winners from over 100 nominations, highlighting the many incredible women serving as councillors and working in diverse careers in local government.  

The winners of the 2025 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government are:

Alternate Pathways Award – Metro:

• Jessica Speechly – Senior Coordinator Environmental Health (Blacktown City Council)

Alternate Pathways Award – Regional/Rural:

• Kira Mendes – Parks Maintenance Supervisor (Bathurst Regional Council)

Champion of Change Award – Metro:

• Vanessa Parkes – Director City Living (Blacktown City Council)

Champion of Change Award – Regional/Rural:

• Naomi Searle – Director Sustainable Communities and Environment (Tweed Shire Council)

Elected Representative Award – Metro:

• Cr Carolyn Corrigan – Councillor (Mosman Municipal Council)

Elected Representative Award – Regional/Rural:

• Cr Leah Anderson – Mayor (Port Stephens Council)

Woman of Distinction Award – Metro (joint winners):

• Katie Anderson – Director Community & Culture (Randwick City Council)
• Helen Bradley – Manager, Resource Recovery Planning (Inner West Council)

Woman of Distinction Award – Regional/Rural:

• Karen Partington – Manager Assets (Lake Macquarie City Council)

Young Achiever’s Award – Metro:

• Ceyda Nalbantoglu – Digital Assistant (Liverpool City Council)

Young Achiever’s Award – Regional/Rural

• Rani Diggs – Relieving Grader Operator Team Leader (Gilgandra Shire Council)

Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award

• Cr Phyllis Miller OAM – Mayor Forbes Shire Council, President of Local Government NSW

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“It’s an honour to present these awards which celebrate the outstanding achievements of women in local government across NSW.

“The winners represent the countless women working for their communities as elected representatives and council staff – from those just starting out, to women with decades of experience in local government.

“While their career journeys are diverse, the common thread among all the winners is the impact they see local government having in their community.

“These awards are a chance to recognise the invaluable contribution women make to councils across NSW every day and I’d like to congratulate not just our winners, but all nominees for their exceptional hard work and dedication.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“These awards shine the light on significant achievements of women working in our councils for their communities. They provide important recognition and celebrate the inspirational women in local government who are leading the way for the next generation of young women.

“We have been making great inroads towards increasing female representation on our councils. The number of women elected at last year’s local government elections reached a record 40.5 per cent of all councillors, but we know there is still more work to do.

“These exceptional women are role models for those coming through to follow in their footsteps towards a meaningful career in councils.”

For more information about the awards visit: https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/our-minister/ministers-awards-for-women-in-local-government /

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, is travelling to Chile for the 2025 South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). 

SPDMM provides a forum for regional defence ministers to enhance cooperation and drive Pacific-led responses to shared regional challenges. In its 10^th iteration, this year’s meeting theme is ‘Integrated South Pacific’. 

While in Chile, the Deputy Prime Minister will also conduct bilateral meetings with his Pacific counterparts to discuss opportunities to deepen cooperation, and advance the continuing evolution of Pacific-led responses to regional security challenges, including natural disasters, transnational organised crime and climate change.

SPDMM member countries are Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Officials from Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States will attend as observers, with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Waqa attending as a special guest.  

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“This will be my fourth South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting and I look forward to meeting my counterparts in Chile. 

“This forum will provide an opportunity defence partners in our region to discuss emerging trends in security challenges, and develop Pacific-led responses to shared challenges in order to support a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.” 

Homeowners are paying a climate “disaster penalty” as climate-driven floods become more frequent and severe, according to a new report published by the Climate Council and Prop Track.

The report, which analysed more than two decades of property data, found that a million Australian households are already impacted with homes in flood zones collectively worth about $42 billion less due to the risk of floods:

• Homeowners are effectively paying a “disaster penalty” of about $75,000 for a typical 3-bed, 2-bath house. 
• As climate-driven floods become more frequent and severe, more properties could face steeper penalties. 
• Households in Queensland and New South Wales are the hardest hit, followed by Victoria. 
• Overall rising property prices are masking the fact that flood-prone properties start from a lower value and experience slower growth.

The Greens say urgent action is needed from the Government to address the climate crisis and the housing crisis hitting Australians.

Greens spokesperson for housing, homelessness and finance Senator Barbara Pocock:

“We’re in a housing crisis, and the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters is making the housing crisis worse. The crisis is making more homes uninsurable and uninhabitable and it is lowering the value of homes in flood prone areas affecting many lower income households and widening inequality.

“Homeownership is already out of reach for so many Australians. Climate-driven events hiking the cost of insurance and making many properties unoccupiable is making our housing crisis worse.

“This is further proof of where this Government’s priorities lie: Appease the coal and gas corporations while ignoring the costs of climate impacts on Australia’s households.

“Many households across the country spend decades saving for their home deposit and then face high recovery costs and insurance premiums arising from climate-driven disasters. Why should Australians continue to bear the costs of decades of government inaction on climate change? 

“Labor are captured by the interests of coal and gas corporations which mean that they prioritise polluters’ profits ahead of a safe climate future for everyday Australians and nature.

“The Government’s own Climate Risk Assessment Report shows 1.5 million people are at risk of their homes flooding or falling into the sea in the next 25 years. However, the Prime Minister doesn’t want to know about it.

“Labor must deliver a truly ambitious climate target based on science and based on the avoided cost of disasters that are putting too many of us at risk. 

“We have existing, affordable technologies that could deliver over 85% emissions reduction and, with the Greens, Labor has the numbers in parliament to be truly ambitious on climate.

“Labor must stop approving new coal and gas.”

Greens Deputy Leader & Spokesperson for Climate Adaptation, Resilience & Emergency Management, Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“People are buckling under the combined stressors of the housing and insurance crises, and the trauma of climate disasters destroying their homes and lives.

“It should be climate polluting fossil fuel companies paying the costs of climate-fuelled disasters, not families, communities, renters and retirees who are bearing the brunt of the housing and climate crises.

“Report after report reinforces what scientists and people on the front line of climate disasters have been demanding: the strongest action to tackle the climate emergency is needed urgently.

“Insurance has become a major stressor for at-risk communities as it becomes increasingly unaffordable or unavailable, with insurance companies either pulling out or hiking premiums and making people’s lives even harder.

“Labor needs to stop pouring fuel on the fire of the climate crisis. That means taking every action to transition away from coal and gas right now.”

“We need environment laws that protect our forests and the climate; these laws do neither, they are not worth the paper they’re printed on.  

“The Environment Minister’s job is to protect the environment, not just make approvals easier and cheaper for big business. Labor’s laws fast track environmental destruction and do nothing to guarantee protection for the environment.

“Rather than closing loopholes that give bulldozers and chainsaws free reign, this package is riddled with carve-out clauses to suit industry.

“This bill has been drafted with the interests of mining industry front and centre. It weakens environmental protection. It will take us backwards and is worse than the status quo.

“While industry will no doubt say they haven’t got enough, their grubby fingerprints are all over it. These laws are written to help big business and the mining companies, at the expense of nature. 

“The Greens have been very clear from the start. We will not rubber stamp laws that fail to protect our native forests, wildlife and climate.

“If the Minister wants to protect nature, then he has a lot of work to do.”

The Victorian Greens have said until Labor makes unlimited rent rises illegal by introducing rent controls, renters will continue to avoid asking for basic repairs and live in substandard, expensive, insecure homes.

A new report by the Consumer Policy Research Centre – Renting in Reality – has revealed that 79 per cent of Victorian renters experienced a major rental issue in the past year, yet only half lodged a complaint due to fears of retaliation from landlords.

It also found more than two-thirds of renters believed their homes didn’t meet minimum rental standards.

The Greens say the report lays bare the need for stronger renters rights, and that while Labor refuses to protect renters from huge rent hikes, renters across the state will be too afraid to speak up about any issues.

Victorian Greens housing spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri MP:

“Retaliatory rent rises are all too common. Is it any wonder renters aren’t speaking up about serious rental issues, when landlords have the power to hike rents as much as they want?

“The rental crisis is breaking people. Renters are living in too much insecurity and fear to even ask for basic repairs when they know one more rent hike will force them out of their home. 

“A massive rent hike may as well be an eviction notice, and while unlimited rent increases are still legal, everything else is just tinkering around the edges of the rental crisis. 

“We can make unlimited rent increases illegal today – just like they are in the ACT, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and other countries around the world.

“Labor just needs to stop ignoring renters and act.”

Australia and the United States have taken a major step forward in strengthening joint military capability with the completion of the country’s largest and most advanced Marksmanship Training Range at Kangaroo Flats Training Area near Darwin.

Delivered under the $747 million United States Force Posture Initiatives Northern Territory Training Areas and Ranges Project, the new $46.1 million facility will enable marksmanship training for both nations, supporting a wide range of operational scenarios. 

The state-of-the-art range features 24 firing lanes with cutting-edge fixed and moving targets extending to 600 metres, and eight sniper lanes capable of reaching 1100 metres. It also supports vehicle-mounted firing and night-vision training, significantly expanding tactical readiness. 

The new Marksmanship Training Range is part of a broader upgrade initiative across four Defence training areas in the Northern Territory, with the full project scheduled for completion by mid-2026.

The upgrades reinforce networked and resilient base infrastructure in northern Australia, boosting the Australian Defence Force’s ability to deter potential adversaries and deepen international defence cooperation.

Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil:

“The new range supports a variety of weapons platforms and activities, delivering enhanced training outcomes for the Australian Defence Force and its partners, particularly the United States.

“These upgrades are a critical step in strengthening Defence’s capabilities in northern Australia and advancing the Government’s ambitious agenda outlined in the Government’s 2024 National Defence Strategy.

“This investment reinforces our enduring alliance with the United States, creating new opportunities for joint training and collaboration that enhance capability and interoperability.”

Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs & Northern Australia, Luke Gosling:

“Marksmanship is a core soldier skill and this new range will enable its mastery by both Australian and United States’ soldiers. 

“This new training facility will provide world-class marksmanship training and increase both interoperability with our partners and military preparedness.

“The completion of this state-of-the-art range shows that the Government continues to successfully deliver key investments in Defence capability, including in Northern Australia.”

Federal Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour:

“I welcome this investment in the electorate of Lingiari and the impact this investment will have on national security.

“Building our defensive capabilities in the Northern Territory has a benefit to local communities, but also works to safeguard our strategic interests.”

The deaths of eight Koalas as part of a NSW Government translocation program have been slammed as too risky and referred to the RSPCA for animal cruelty investigations after an expert panel raised serious concerns with the program. Documents released after a call for papers passed the NSW Parliament last month reveal the Government rejected expert advice and pushed ahead with moving the animals despite concerns that it was not safe to do so.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson:

“I am so shocked by what has been found in these documents, and the Government and Department should be independently investigated for an avoidable failure where they sidelined experts and pushed ahead with meeting their internal objectives with no care for the animals they were supposed to be protecting. This is why I have referred the Department to the RSPCA for animal cruelty crimes,”

“These documents show a coordinated determination to meet politically motivated departmental relocation targets that led to a reckless indifference to the welfare and fate of the individual animals. Independent expert advice warning of the risks of failure was sidelined, licences were granted in the face of the identified risk of failure and death, animals were left to die after the first koalas were found starved to death, and then what took place can only be described as a coordinated cover up of the truth,”

“The details of these deaths are terrible and show that despite the first discovery that some Koalas had died, the others were left where they were to die as well. One of the koala victims was a perfectly healthy female with an unfurred joey in her pouch when she was taken from her home. She was taken hundreds of kilometres away from her home and released into the wild. There was no soft release for close monitoring and when she was recaptured for checking her joey had died and instead of being taken into care she was left in situ and found dead a few weeks later,”

“Experts have been raising alarm for years about the Department’s lack of expertise to be conducting these types of experiments on Koalas, and these deaths are the tragic outcome of the Government ignoring those concerns. The Department’s determination to meet their targets for political reasons has made them blind to the experts and the evidence and these dead Koalas are the result,”

“Koala translocation is fraught with risk and failure, yet the Department pushed ahead despite expert advice to meet their own internal target. Increasing genetic diversity of koala populations due to habitat destruction is necessary, but we can not engage in such reckless un-scientific experiments in the name of conservation,”

“This was not a koala conservation project, it was a politically motivated animal experimentation. These koalas were treated as lab rats instead of as part of critical conservation work.”

The ACT Greens will bring on a vote this week to expand fare-free travel, to make life more affordable for families and individuals impacted most by the cost of living.

“For most people it’s just a couple of dollars, but someone really struggling with the cost of living shouldn’t have to choose between a third meal in the day or getting where they need to go,” said ACT Greens Transport Spokesperson, Andrew Braddock MLA. “This would give parents a cost-free way to get their kids to school, and it would expand free travel to part-time uni students who are juggling work to make ends meet.

“The Greens took this policy to the election because we want Canberra to be an easy and affordable place to get around. We’re hopeful it could get unanimous support across the Assembly this week.”

The Canberra Liberals promised at the 2024 election that they would deliver, “Free public transport for students, seniors and concession card holders. All day. Every day.”

In post-election negotiations with the Greens, Labor said they would look at further fare exemptions after they had brought in Fare Free Friday.

“Thursday’s vote will be a chance for both the big parties to make good on their word and help us make life a little easier for thousands of Canberrans,” Mr Braddock said.

“In the context of transport creating the largest – and growing – share of the ACT’s climate emissions, it’s also critical that we make public transport a more attractive option for more people.

“In a cost of living crisis, which is an inequality crisis, the government must be there to support those who are hardest hit.

“Free fares for those who need it most is a simple measure, so let’s get in there and get it done,” Mr Braddock said.