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From today, taxi drivers in NSW who have broken the rules will not be able to escape offences by switching taxi companies, thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s major improvements to the Driver Vehicle Dashboard.

These improvements to the Driver Vehicle Dashboard will allow all point-to-point service providers, including rideshare and taxi companies, to see any driver who has been caught committing fare-related offences while providing driving services, including overcharging, not using the meter or refusing a fare.

This means all taxi and rideshare companies can check if drivers have previously been fined or prosecuted for ripping off a passenger, regardless of which company they were working for.  

Companies who operate taxi, rideshare or any other point to point transport vehicle can access to the centralised dashboard, which is already checked by industry more than 70 million times a year.

These improvements support the NSW Government’s strong stance on stamping out illegal driver behaviour.

In December 2024, the Minns Labor Government introduced new ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws which sees rouge taxi drivers disqualified from the point-to-point industry if caught ripping off passengers on two separate occasions.

The Point-to-Point Commissioner has also put drivers with existing breaches on notice that they are now at risk of being disqualified from the industry.

The Government also increased the fine for drivers caught overcharging, not using the meter or refusing fares to $1000 from $300 in July 2023, with 1000 fines issued since November 2022.

The Commissions inspectors continue to conduct both plain clothes and highly visible operations across NSW, with more inspectors on the road carrying out more compliance operations than ever before.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“We know the vast majority of NSW’s 15,000 drivers are doing the right thing, but these improvements send a strong message to the minority of rogue drivers that you will be caught, fined and possibly removed from the industry altogether.

“These upgrades to the driver vehicle dashboard support our strong stance on ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws by making it even easier for the industry to stop the minority of drivers who are caught doing the wrong thing from working as a taxi or rideshare driver in NSW.

“If you feel you’ve been ripped off while catching a taxi, don’t hesitate to call the Taxi Fare Hotline on 1800 500 410, which should be clearly displayed on all NSW Taxis.

Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing said:

“Drivers know that my team of Inspectors is frequently out conducting plain clothes operations along with highly visible compliance activities. If drivers are caught and fined, they now will also be visible to all operators through the Driver Vehicle Dashboard and face being disqualified if found guilty in court on two separate occasions.

“The point to point transport industry has widely applauded the new Dashboard enhancements as an important part of the crackdown on rogue drivers.”

In response to a recent surge in antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish neighbourhoods and synagogues, the NSW Government is committing $200,000 to Jewish House to expand their vital community support services.

This funding will contribute to essential crisis intervention, mental health support, and community assistance in response to the rise of antisemitism in NSW.

For more than 40 years, Jewish House has been a leader in crisis care, providing help to vulnerable members of the Jewish community when they need it most.

Since the recent outbreak of antisemitic attacks across our state, Jewish House has seen a significant increase in requests for support and assistance from across the state.

This funding further reinforces the NSW Government’s commitment to combating antisemitism and racism by ensuring those affected receive the care and assistance they need while holding those responsible for these heinous acts accountable.

This follows reforms that the NSW Government introduced to parliament this sitting fortnight that confront hate speech and antisemitism by establishing a new criminal offence for intentionally inciting racial hatred, while also protecting places of worship and further criminalising Nazi symbols.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“The recent attacks on the Jewish community have no place in our society. These acts are deeply distressing and we’re working around the clock to make sure those responsible face the full force of the law while supporting the community with essential services like these.

“This funding will see Jewish House expand its support services, providing guidance, practical advice and emotional care to the community.”

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“No community should be made to feel fearful in NSW. When any part of our society is threatened, it is a challenge for us all, but the Government remains committed to safeguarding social cohesion against hate and division.”

“This announcement today will help a community organisation that is empowering the Jewish community to look after each other and create a more compassionate and understanding community. “

Jewish House Chief Executive Rabbi Mendel Kastel OAM said:

“The recent rise in antisemitic incidents have caused fear and hurt throughout our community. As a result, we’re seeing a significant increase in requests for help.”

“At Jewish House we can provide resources, guidance and tools to stand tall in the face of adversity.

“The funding will allow us to expand our vital services and continue to provide the essential support that is very much needed right now.”

The Minns Labor Government’s Low and Mid-Rise policy is set to deliver 112,000 homes across New South Wales over the next five years as the next stage of the policy comes into effect.

The new reforms change planning controls within 800 metres, or 10-minute walk, around 171 town centres and stations to allow dual-occupancies, terraces, townhouses and residential flat buildings across metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Hunter regions.

Without these changes, New South Wales risks becoming a city without a future because it’s simply too expensive to put a roof over your head.

The Low and Mid-Rise housing policy will reintroduce housing choice and diversity back into our communities, filling the “missing middle” between high-rise apartments and greenfield development.

Terraces, townhouses and residential flat buildings have a long history in NSW urban planning, but over recent decades have effectively been banned across local government areas.

Currently, only two of 33 councils in Greater Sydney allow terraces and townhouses in low-density (R2) zones, and residential flat buildings are prohibited in 60 per cent of all medium-density (R3) zones.

The NSW Government’s changes will remove the restriction on developing terraces, townhouses and low-rise residential flat buildings on R1 and R2 zoned land, while also removing the restriction on delivering medium rise residential flat buildings on R3 and R4 zoned land in these areas.

These changes still allow councils to assess important development conditions including parking, light access and minimum frontages.

Allowing these housing types to be permissible again will boost housing supply around transport and town centres, improve affordability, maintain the character of an area and build better communities.

Sites were selected considering the following criteria:

• Access to goods and services in the area
• Public transport frequencies and travel times
• Critical infrastructure capacity hazards and constraints
• Local housing targets and rebalancing growth

These planning reforms will further enable the rollout of the NSW Pattern Book, so those families, young people and downsizers who select these architecturally designed low and mid-rise designs will be able to build them in areas now zoned for low and mid-rise housing.

The Low and Mid-Rise policy has been consulted on extensively, with the NSW Government publicly exhibiting the policy and carefully considering feedback from councils, town planners, architects, developers, Government agencies, and community groups.

Due to the extent of bushfire and flood hazards, the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Wollondilly Local Government Areas, have been excluded from stage 2 of the reforms.

Similar to the Transport Oriented Development sites, the planning controls will apply in heritage conservation areas with council assessment and approval, however not on heritage items.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW with a greater choice of homes, so young people, families and workers have somewhere to live in the communities they choose.

The policy will come into effect on 28 February 2025.

For more information visit the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy webpage. 

Premier of New South Wales said:

“These types of homes have played a really important part in delivering homes over the last century but recently councils have effectively banned them, this reform changes that.

“Housing is the single largest cost of living pressure people are facing and these changes will deliver more homes for young people, families and workers.

“The homes built under these reforms will be close to transport, open spaces and services that people need, creating better connected and more liveable neighbourhoods by making the most of existing critical infrastructure.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This policy fills a gap in new housing supply. Allowing low and mid-rise housing in more locations will help increase the number of homes in our state, improve affordability for renters and buyers and give people a choice on the type of home they want to live in.

“Housing choice and diversity is at the heart of the Minns Government’s planning reforms – a choice of where they want to live, what kind of home they want to live in and when they want to make that move.

“There has been increasing demand for well-located, medium-density housing. These reforms build on the reforms introduced on 1 July 2024, which allowed dual occupancies and semi-detached homes to be built on nearly all low-rise residentially zoned land in NSW.

“This will unlock the huge potential of the NSW Pattern Book, with the new patterns being allowed in the areas where these planning controls apply. Those that use the Pattern Book will be able to build in these areas and gain access to a fast-tracked planning approval.”

The Minns Labor Government has renewed its commitment to protect workers from dust diseases by unveiling its new $2.5 million state-of-the -art Lung Health Mobile Clinic which will provide lung health checks to thousands of people across New South Wales.

The lung bus program provides free lung screening checks to more than 5,000 workers annually in regional NSW.

These lung health checks can be lifesaving by ensuring early detection and treatment of dust diseases like asbestosis, silicosis and mesothelioma.

Commencing this month, the icare Lung Bus will travel the length and breadth of the state, including visits to Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Taree, Tuncurry, Spears Point, Tweed Heads, Gosford, Nowra, Shellharbour, Port Kembla, Bathurst, Dubbo, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Tamworth.

The new mobile clinic features several innovations including:

• Digital chest X-ray technology, providing precise and reliable first instance imaging.
• Enhanced spirometry (lung function) testing equipment to evaluate breathing capacity and respiratory performance.
• Digital monitoring systems to streamline diagnostics and care.
• A backup power supply to ensure uninterrupted operation in remote locations.
• Greater accessibility and comfort, with larger clinical space designed to support both staff and clients.

The brand-new Lung Bus continues the legacy of the state’s original mobile service which served the community for nearly 16 years.

That Bus travelled more than 700,000km (more than 17 times around the world), screening more than 53,000 people, and visiting over 300 destinations across NSW.

This is the latest measure to protect workers from dust diseases, including those caused by silica and asbestos.

The Minns Labor Government led the campaign for the national ban on engineered stone which started last year.

The NSW Government is funding a team of dedicated silica safety inspectors to ensure businesses are complying with its strengthened laws.

Since September, our Silica Compliance Team has conducted 140 inspections, with more than 125 improvement notices issued and seven prohibition notices in workplaces.

The Minns Labor government has pledged $5 million in critical funding for silicosis research and a patient support program for individuals and their families navigating the health risks associated with exposure to silica dust.

The grant funding, administered collaboratively by icare and the Dust Diseases Board, will be provided over three years to the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI).

Workers can also arrange a free lung screening at icare’s Sydney CBD clinic, or with local providers regionally when the lung bus is not in that part of the state. To book a free lung health check, contact icare on 1800 550 027.

More information on the full list of Lung Bus destinations can be found here:

https://www.icare.nsw.gov.au/injured-or-ill-people/work-related-dust-disease/services-and-support/lung-screening-service/workers-mobile-clinic-lung-bus-bookings-for-workers

For more information on lung health checks or to arrange a screening, visit:

https://www.icare.nsw.gov.au/employers/employer-obligations/lung-screening-service

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“The new Mobile Clinic underscores the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to removing barriers like cost and location, ensuring workers across NSW have access to the critical support and care they need to safeguard their health.

“Along with enforcement of the recent ban on engineered stone, the new Lung Bus demonstrates our commitment to improve outcomes for workers exposed to hazardous dust across NSW.”

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“I welcome the $2.5 million investment into the new icare Lung Bus which will provide thousands of health checks for people living in regional NSW.

“Our regional communities remain front and centre when it comes to ensuring early detection and treatment of dust diseases like asbestosis, silicosis, and mesothelioma.”

Icare Group Executive of General Insurance and Care, Britt Coombe said:

“A lung health check could save your life.

“Early detection is critical to effective treatment, and we’re here to make sure every worker, no matter where they live, has access to world-class care.”

The Minns Labor Government has passed three new bills to ensure the community is protected from racial hatred, offensive Nazi symbols, and desecration and harassment at places of worship.

The Government’s package of legislation was developed in response to a series of unacceptable antisemitic attacks that caused community division and fear.

The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Racial and Religious Hatred) Bill 2025, Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025, and Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 all passed the Parliament overnight.

The legislation will create new offences and provide for tougher penalties for existing charges.

It will soon be a crime to:

• Intentionally block, impede or hinder a person from accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship without a reasonable excuse.
• Harass, intimidate or threaten a person accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship.

Such conduct is punishable by a fine of $22,000 or two years’ imprisonment, or both.

It will also be a crime to intentionally and publicly incite hatred towards another person, or group of people, on the grounds of race – with an exception for directly referencing religious texts during religious teachings or discussions.

The incitement of racial hatred will attract a maximum penalty for an individual of two years’ imprisonment, fines of up to $11,000, or both, while corporations can face fines of $55,000.

Our legislation also:

• Clarifies that graffiti is a “public act” for the purposes of the offences of threatening or inciting violence and displaying Nazi symbols;
• Provides for tougher sentencing for displaying by public act a Nazi symbol on or near a synagogue, the Sydney Jewish Museum or a Jewish school; and
• Aggravates sentences when a person’s conduct is partially or wholly driven by hate.

The laws send a clear message that we take racial hatred and antisemitism seriously, and we are prepared to act quickly and decisively to protect the community.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“The Government has acted quickly in response to disgusting acts we have seen in our state.

“Our package of legislation is a strong response to recent antisemitism, but it will also protect people of all races.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“This package of legislation will protect members of our community in a variety of ways.

“When we drafted these laws, we were mindful of preserving protest rights and freedom of political expression while also ensuring adequate community protection.

“In today’s environment, this legislation sends a strong message that hatred will not be tolerated.”

The Minns Labor Government is urging all road users to rest and stay off the road while tired after NSW recorded a 47 per cent rise in people losing their lives in fatigue related crashes last year.

Sadly, 78 people died in fatigue-related crashes on NSW roads in 2024 compared to 53 people in 2023.

Alongside speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue is one of the top killers on NSW roads and the vast majority of crashes involving fatigue are happening on regional roads, with 69 of the 78 deaths occurring in regional communities in 2024.

While heavy vehicles make up only 2 per cent of NSW motor vehicle registrations, heavy vehicle drivers accounted for around 26 per cent of fatigue related deaths on NSW roads last year.

To help raise awareness of the dangers of driving fatigued, the Minns Labor Government is promoting fatigue safety and the benefits of taking a power nap during National Driver Fatigue Week which runs from February 21-27.

The awareness and education effort builds on the government’s other suite of road safety initiatives which are aiming to reduce fatigue related crashes and improve road safety overall. These include:

• Rolling out around $1 billion in lifesaving infrastructure upgrades on regional and metropolitan roads through the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program and the joint federal/ state funded Road Safety Program.
• Investing $46 million on 2700 kilometres worth of rumble strips to help fight fatigue.
• Maintaining 673 signposted rest areas and building a new rest area on the Newell Highway north of Narrabri.
• Upgrading rest areas through the $11.9 million statewide Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop Minor Works program.
• Promoting 56 volunteer run Driver Reviver rest area sites where motorists travelling during holiday periods can stop for a free tea or coffee.
• Running high visibility communication campaigns such as the ‘Don’t Trust Your Tired Self’ campaign
• Launching a trial of average speed cameras for light vehicles in 2025.
• Upgrading mobile phone detection cameras to detect seatbelt offenders.
• Doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with an additional 2,700 new sites where a camera can be deployed. (Total enforcement hours remain the same).

For more information and tips on how to combat fatigue, visit the Power Nap website: https://powernap.org.au.  

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:  

“Driving on country roads often involves driving for long distances, at higher speeds and sharing the road with heavy vehicles so the fatigue risk is much greater.

“We need all road users to be aware of the dangers of fatigue and remember if you feel tired while driving or experience any of the early warning signs such as yawning, restlessness or sore eyes, pull over in a safe place, stretch your legs and have a power nap at one of the many rest areas we have available in NSW.

“Make sure you have a good night’s sleep before getting behind the wheel and avoid driving at times when your body would naturally sleep, like late at night or early morning.”

NSW Ambulance has today welcomed 119 new paramedic interns and 14 emergency medical call takers, after they were officially inducted into the service at a ceremony at the State Operations Centre in Sydney.

This graduation follows the Post Employment Tertiary Pathway (PETP) induction held two weeks ago and will further boost frontline health services across the state, with many commencing their first shifts from tomorrow.

The new recruits joining the service come from a range of backgrounds and experiences, including William Guthrie who is following his childhood dream to be a paramedic and Ebony Peterson, whose AFL career was cut short by injury but inspired by the healthcare she experienced, chose paramedicine as a new career option.

The paramedic interns will be posted across NSW to complete the on-road portion of their 12-month internships, before taking permanent positions in metropolitan and regional areas. The emergency medical call takers will all be posted to Sydney Control Centre.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“Congratulations to NSW Ambulance’s newest inductees. The skills and compassion of these paramedic interns will touch countless lives across our state.

“The new paramedic interns and emergency medical call takers represent the next generation of dedicated first responders, ready to serve communities across NSW.

“Their commitment to patient care and emergency response will strengthen our frontline health services and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:

“Today’s induction is a proud milestone for these new recruits and for NSW Ambulance as a whole, and the uniform they wear represents trust, dedication and resilience.

“Every call the new paramedic interns and emergency medical call takers respond to is an opportunity to make a difference and help those in our community in their most vulnerable moments.”

William Guthrie

“I knew from a young age exactly what job I wanted to do, so graduating today really is the culmination of a childhood dream.

“I am immensely proud to wear this uniform and excited to start putting my training into practice.”

Ebony Peterson

“I have experienced first-hand the dedication of healthcare staff, which motivated me to join the profession myself and become a paramedic.

“I am excited and nervous but after all the training, I am ready to get out there.”

Patients and visitors at Boggabri Multipurpose Service (MPS) will benefit from an extended dining room with better wheelchair access thanks to a $200,000 funding boost from the NSW Government.

The Minns Labor Government is investing a total of almost $12 million in 61 projects as part of the Regional Health Minor Works Program.

The planned works at Boggabri MPS will see the space increase by an estimated 20 square metres and will improve accessibility for those with limited mobility, providing a better experience for all.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in upgrading health facilities to support better health outcomes for rural and regional communities.

“These small enhancements to the facility at Boggabri are significant to the comfort of our patients, and they better the work environment for our dedicated health care staff.

“This $12 million program is one of a number of investments our government is making to strengthen rural and regional health services, so people have access to the best possible care close to home.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler:

“This upgrade at Boggabri MPS, providing 20 extra square metres of space, will mean patients will have an improved dining experience during their time at the facility.

“We welcome this investment in in Boggabri MPS and we look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring once completed. Any investment in the regional health system is a step in the right direction.”

Acting Executive Director of Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Anna Styles-Tape:

“The work will see an extension of the facility’s dining space bringing a greater capacity and easier wheelchair access for the community.”