Author: admin

Work has begun on the construction of City of Newcastle’s highly anticipated regional level accessible playspace and waterplay area at Foreshore Park. 

The project is the centrepiece of the Harbour Foreshore Masterplan and will deliver a flagship destination for inclusive recreation that celebrates the city’s industrial, maritime and Indigenous heritage. 

An artist’s impression of the industrial themed play structure that will be built at Foreshore Park, which includes an accessible ramp to the first level of the tower.

City of Newcastle awarded a tender for the detailed design and construction of the project to Regal Innovations at the March Council meeting, with the playspace expected to be completed by late next year. 

Executive Manager Community and Recreation Lynn Duffy said City of Newcastle was committed to providing enhanced recreational opportunities for all members of the community. 

“Providing access to quality community spaces is a key commitment in our Community Strategic Plan as we deliver our shared vision for Newcastle to be a liveable, sustainable, inclusive, global city,” Ms Duffy said. 

“Our flagship Foreshore Park Livvi’s Place inclusive playspace and waterplay area will offer valuable opportunities for intergenerational community building, positively supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of residents and visitors.” 

The inclusive playspace project is the result of more than five years of input from the community. 

Feedback on the detailed design was received from the Guraki Aboriginal Standing Committee, an accessibility working group established by City of Newcastle for the project, and the Touched by Olivia Foundation, a charity dedicated to the creation of inclusive playspaces across Australia. 

It was designed in accordance with the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play guidelines and will promote intergenerational, inclusive play, with opportunities for visitors of all ages and abilities. 

Justine Perkins, Founder of Touched by Olivia, and Livvi’s Mum, said play is important and beneficial for everyone.  

“This Livvi’s Place design is truly inclusive and intergenerational and has a wonderful connection to place,” Ms Perkins said. 

“City of Newcastle has been a fantastic partner. They have been committed to really listening to the children, youth and community and ensuring co-creation from the start.  

“This playspace is a testament to their understanding that we all want to and need to be able to get outdoors and play together, with others, in our community to ensure we live happier, healthier lives.” 

Located at the western end of Foreshore Park, the playspace will feature four separate zones including junior and toddler areas, water and nature-based play areas and quiet spaces, connected via accessible paths, seating, shade, gardens and lawns. 

Bespoke playground equipment will add to its distinctly Newcastle character, including a central whale-themed swing set and picnic area paying tribute to the city’s Worimi and Awabakal heritage. 

An artist’s impression of the waterplay area that will be built at part of the Foreshore Park inclusive playspace.

The waterplay area will be linked to Newcastle’s maritime history and coastal ecologies, while an elevated “nuts and bolts” play structure will symbolise Newcastle’s strong industrial ties and include an accessible ramp to the first level of the tower. 

An accessible slide, sandpit, carousel and sensory pathway are among the other key features of the inclusive design.  

Navigation through the space will be made easier with a logical and accessible path of travel, while charging points for wheelchairs and mobility devices are also included. 

The playspace will be complemented by a fully accessible amenities building and kiosk, which is currently under construction in Foreshore Park to serve the broader precinct. It includes unisex ambulant toilets, a parent’s change room, and a Changing Places facility. 

The Foreshore Park projects are supported by the NSW Government, Variety the Children’s Charity, the Touched by Olivia Foundation and the Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund.

The Western Harbour Tunnel and M6 Stage 1 are both on track to open in 2028, and as always planned, these will be tolled motorways.

It’s important to be clear: the large forecast increase in toll revenue in budget year 2028 is due to the one-off scheduled opening of two new motorways in that year.

But unlike the former Liberal-National Government, we are not handing these motorways over to the highest bidder in the private sector.

Under the Liberal model, motorways were sold off with ironclad guarantees—decades of rising tolls and assured profits locked in for private operators while motorists were left footing a bill of $195 billion out to 2060.

The Minns Labor Government is changing that. We are keeping the Western Harbour Tunnel and M6 Stage 1 in public hands, along with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel.

This will double the number of toll roads in the network that are not privately owned—essential to rebuilding competition and wrestle back some control and ownership for the people of NSW.

We were honest with the public from day one: the toll situation would get worse before it got better.

That’s the reality of the infrastructure pipeline locked in by our predecessors.

And now, the most recent NSW Budget reflects that—with toll revenue projected to rise from $180 million to $283 million in the 2028–29 financial year.

That jump is simply the start of toll collection on those two new roads.

The projected revenue is based on Environmental Impact Statements and planning documents developed and released under the former Liberal Government.

No new decisions have been made to increase tolls or implement two-way tolling, and forecasts will be updated as real-world data comes in.

In the meantime, the NSW Government has already taken action to reduce the burden on motorists through the $60 weekly toll cap—one of the most substantial cost-of-living relief on tolls NSW has ever seen.

This cap ensures that regular commuters aren’t punished for living in Western Sydney or using the road network to get to work and back.

We’re also undertaking a comprehensive review of the entire tolling system to move toward a model that puts the interests of motorists ahead of private profits.

That means more transparency, more public accountability, and a vision for toll reform built around fairness and affordability—not shareholder returns.

Since the Minns Labor Government’s toll cap was introduced on 1 January 2024:

• Number of claims paid: 476,894
• Total claims paid: $139,740,215

Hundreds of families in the New England region are closer to fee-free early learning, with contracts awarded to deliver three new public preschools.

Each public preschool will be co-located with an existing public primary school, making drop-off and pick up easier for busy families and helping children transition into kindergarten with confidence.

As the biggest expansion of public preschools in the state’s history, the NSW Government’s rollout of 100 more public preschools will provide access to high quality early learning for up to 9,000 children across NSW by 2027. Of the 100 new public preschools, 51 are metropolitan Sydney and 49 are in regional NSW, prioritised in areas of highest need based on a rigorous selection process.

The three public preschools will be built at:

• Warialda Public School
• Toomelah Public School
• Hillvue Public School

Once open, the three sites will cater for up to 200 local children a week.

Lipman Construction Pty Ltd will deliver the public preschools at Warialda and Hillvue public schools, with construction expected to begin later this year. Contracts for the public preschool at Toomelah Public School will be awarded later this year.

Doors will open for all three public preschools by early 2027.

They will join the recently opened Gulyangarri Public Preschool in Liverpool – the first new public preschool built in NSW in almost 20 years.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s record investment to rapidly expand the provision of public preschool in NSW, funded by our record investment in the 2024-25 Budget. 

This historic investment is a major turnaround from the former Liberal National Government, who didn’t build a single public preschool in 12 years. 

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said: 

“Access to preschool can be difficult for young families, particularly in regional areas, which is why we are delivering three new public preschools in the New England region.  

“The Minns Labor Government, with the advocacy of Deputy Premier Prue Car, is committed to improving access to free, quality public preschool for our youngest learners because we know how crucial early learning is for a child’s development.   

“The former Liberal National government failed to deliver for young families in the regions and didn’t build a single new public preschool while in office.  

“The Minns Labor Government made this historic commitment to deliver the biggest expansion in public preschools in NSW’s history because we strongly believe all children should have access to high-quality early education, no matter their postcode.” 

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said:

“Early learning is a vital first step in a child’s education and these new fee-free preschools will help our regional communities thrive. 

“With 49 new public preschools across regional NSW, this historic investment is a major turning point for regional families after years of neglect by the former Liberal National Government who failed to invest in public preschools.

“Families in our regions deserve access to high-quality early learning and I am proud to see the Minns Labor Government continuing to make significant investment in regional communities.”

Warialda Public School Principal Tracey Digby said:

“The start of construction for our new preschool will be an exciting step forward for the Warialda community.

“A free preschool providing quality education on site will improve transition to school for our Kindergarten children, improve learning outcomes and offer convenience for parents.”

Toomelah Public School Executive Principal Matt Jackman said:

“Our community is looking forward to having a public preschool on the same site as Toomelah Public School.

“It will support local families to access quality early childhood education, and we’re eager to see the facilities take shape once the contract is awarded later this year.”

Hillvue Public School Principal Jayne Johnson said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our families across the Tamworth community. 

“Our new preschool will provide greater access and support for our young children as they transition to Kindergarten. We are very excited to welcome our newest learners and support the beginning of their learning journey.”

A further 21 projects have been declared as State Significant Development following recommendations from the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).

Of these proposals, 17 are in metropolitan Sydney and 4 are in regional NSW.

If lodged and approved, this could create nearly 6,000 homes, including affordable housing across New South Wales.

To date, 157 proposals amounting to nearly 59,300 potential homes have been declared state significant.

Since the formation of the HDA, 56 projects have had Secretary Environmental Assessment Requirements issued and one Development Application has been lodged.

Recommendations from the HDA are published as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before the SSD declaration.

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

The Ministerial Order can be found here.

The Minns Labor Government has failed its third budget test, only announcing one new school in its 2025-26 Budget and being forced to reannounce projects to cover for its lack of delivery.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said this budget proves the absence of Labor’s ambition for our schools. 

“Families across New South Wales, whether they’re raising kids in our growing suburbs or out in the regions, deserve better than recycled announcements and empty promises,” Mr Speakman said.

“Parents want to know their children will have access to quality classrooms, proper facilities and the support they need to thrive, no matter their postcode. 

Instead, Labor is spending more to deliver less, with no clear plan to fix the schools we already have or build the ones we’ve been promised. It’s not just a missed opportunity, it’s a failure to deliver on the basics.”

Shadow Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said it’s particularly bad news for the bush, with not a single new school or major school upgrade slated outside of Newcastle, Sydney or Wollongong.

“The fact there’s not one new school or major upgrade anywhere west of the divide, down south or on the north coast, speaks volumes about the Minns’ Government’s priorities for education in this state,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“All kids should have access to high quality schools and classrooms no matter where they live, but under Labor regional students completely miss out.

“The only exception is the forced rebuild of Willyama High School in Broken Hill due to a significant mould outbreak, and even that has only received funding in this year’s budget, despite it being promised in 2024.”

There are major concerns around the slowing infrastructure pipeline with the Government’s $2.6 billion package  only projected to build 140 new classrooms, despite the Coalition delivering close to 500 new classrooms, 55 specialist learning spaces, 13 halls, 12 libraries and 9 covered outdoor learning areas for $770m in the 2021 school year alone.

“The devil is in the detail when it comes to this budget and the numbers clearly don’t stack up,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“Not only is Labor spending more for less, but it’s also not being clear about how much money will go towards maintenance and minor works, with those figures missing from the budget papers.”

The budget also falls short when it comes to early childhood education and care, with just four new preschools due to be opened in 2025-26.

“Despite Labor’s promise in the lead up to the 2023 election to build 100 public preschools, it will take them three years to build just five preschools,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“It’s also unclear how the Government plans to uphold its commitment of deliver universal pre-Kindergarten for every child in NSW before 2030, because the amount on offer won’t create anywhere near enough places.”

This week, I will travel to the United States to participate in a meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers.

This will be the second Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting within six months, reflecting the importance of our partnership and the strategic circumstances confronting our region and the world.

I look forward to engaging with my Quad counterparts as we strengthen cooperation to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

While in Washington DC, I will also meet separately with each of my counterparts, Secretary of State Rubio, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Iwaya, to progress bilateral cooperation.

The United States is our closest ally and principal strategic partner. Our alliance contributes to the peace, prosperity and stability of our countries and the region we share.

We will continue to work together to further our important economic and security partnership and advance our mutual interests.

The continued actions by Premier Chris Minns to clamp down on political expression and peaceful protest are empowering state violence against the community of NSW. The recent assault and arrests by the NSW Police at a peaceful community protest have revealed the impact of Minns’ rhetoric and law making in empowering state violence by the NSW Police against the community.

Greens MP and Spokesperson for Justice Sue Higginson said “Premier Chris Minns’ attacks on protest near places of worship have now turned up in police fact sheets from a community rally where Hannah Thomas was violently assaulted and hospitalised,”

“I am shocked but unsurprised to see this in the police fact sheet. It is clear to me that Premier Chris Minns is responsible for the police response and serious injury that took place at Belmore,”

“The level of impunity the police displayed doesn’t come from nowhere. It’s written there in black and white – a direct reference to the anti-protest laws rushed through the NSW Parliament under the sordid non-disclosure of the truth around the Dural Caravan incident,”

“The news that the victim of the assault by police has now been issued with a court attendance notice is unsurprising, but upsetting. If the police think they can justify the violence committed against the community by throwing an unjustifiable charge, then they have another thing coming,”

“Chris Minns was warned, each time he pushed ahead with further crackdowns on legitimate and peaceful protest, that handing more powers to the Police, powers that the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have said they don’t even need, that the result would be state endorsed violence against the community. Now here we are,”

“I, along with others in the Parliament warned the Premier and his Government that we would see this level of impunity and now here it is. What has happened to Hannah is so distressing, surely Chris Minns and his Cabinet will now start to listen and reverse this agenda of intolerance and anti-protest measures,” Ms Higginson said.

As Australians turn the page on a new financial year, they will be waking up to yet another wave of cost increases and economic pressure – all under the Albanese Labor Government’s watch.

From 1 July, the Government starts rolling out a raft of changes that will hit households, businesses and workers in the hip pocket. Whether it’s higher electricity prices, increased small business costs, more red tape or new vehicle taxes, the common thread is clear – Australians are being asked to pay more and get less.

Under Labor, gross debt is heading for nearly $1.2 trillion, or around $45,000 for every Australian. Labor is pushing Australia’s debt to the highest level in our nations history. While the Government pats itself on the back, it’s leaving future generations to foot a growing bill. Labor’s boastful spin about so-called “cost-of-living relief” has never been more tone deaf.

The new financial year should bring fresh opportunity. Instead it brings:

• Higher energy bills: The energy regulator’s Default Market Offer for 2025 kicks in across NSW, South Australia, Queensland. Compared to 2024-25, from 1 July prices for households will be up to 9.7% higher, and up to 8.5% higher for small businesses. Over the last three years of price rises under Labor, households will have spent up to $3,177 more, cumulatively, on electricity, compared to 2021-22 levels.
• A tax on aspiration: Labor’s proposed tax on superannuation balances above $3 million hasn’t even passed Parliament, yet they plan to backdate it to 1 July. If legislated, this tax would double the rate from 15 to 30 per cent and apply not just to realised earnings, but to unrealised gains – taxing Australians on paper profits they haven’t even received. This is a broken promise that punishes aspiration, undermines trust in the system, and sets a dangerous precedent for future raids on unrealised gains on other investments.
• A tax on investment: Labor’s new mandatory mergers notification regime begins its transition phase, and businesses could now face fees of over $1 million to have transactions reviewed by the ACCC. With a $56,800 Phase 1 fee and an eye-watering $952,000 Phase 2 fee, this regime risks deterring investment, choking off small-scale mergers, and driving away international capital. Labor had just 13 days of consultation before locking in these costly changes, and the result is a bureaucratic, expensive regime that flies in the face of the Government’s claimed productivity agenda.
• A tax on small business: From today, the Albanese Government has removed the tax deductibility of interest charged by the ATO on overdue tax debts. With the ATO’s interest rate currently at 11.17%, this change increases the financial burden on approximately 2.6 million small businesses, making it more costly to manage cash flow and settle tax obligations.
• A new tax on vehicles: Labor’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard kicks in, applying financial penalties on popular vehicles like utes, 4WDs and family cars. Industry experts warn these penalties will increase prices by thousands of dollars – at a time when families are already stretched.
• New tax reporting rules: From 1 July, Labor’s costly multinational tax reporting rules kick in. These won’t raise extra revenue but will burden businesses with $30 million in compliance costs, scare off foreign investment, and push start-ups offshore. Despite talking deregulation, Labor introduced over 5,000 new regulations last term that threaten Australia’s competitiveness, economy, and future industries like AI and biotech.
• NBN price hikes: From 1 July, wholesale prices for 7 out of 8 NBN plans are increasing by between 2% and 3%, adding up to $1.71 more per month for providers. While it may seem small, these increases will likely be passed on to households already struggling with rising bills – yet another cost-of-living hit under Labor.
• Stamp prices to rise: From 17 July, the cost of sending a standard letter will rise by 13.3%, from $1.50 to $1.70. While Labor claims this will only add a dollar or so to household costs, it’s part of a growing trend of rising prices for essential service – and another reminder that nothing is staying affordable under this Government.
• More expensive to register a business name: From 1 July, ASIC has increased the cost of registering or renewing a business name. A one-year registration or renewal now costs $45, up from $44, while a three-year term has risen to $104, up from $102.
• More expensive to register a company: ASIC has also raised fees for company services. Registering a new proprietary company now costs $611, up from $597, and the annual review fee for such companies has increased to $329, up from $321.
• More red tape for suppliers: From 1 July, Labor’s Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy will apply to government contracts over $1 million for ICT, textiles, and furniture. Businesses will face new reporting and compliance burdens, with estimated costs of $1.2 million a year – locking out smaller suppliers and adding to Labor’s growing regulatory load.

Labor promised a better life for families. Instead, Australians are being squeezed, living standards have declined, and the economy is going nowhere fast.

Under Labor the economy is stalling, and households have gone backwards. Business investment is falling, productivity has flatlined, and real GDP per capita has plunged from 20th to 60th in just a year.

The reality Australians face is grim. Since Labor came to office, prices have surged across the board:

• Health costs are up 13.4%
• Education is up 17.3%
• Food is up 13.9%
• Housing is up 15.4%
• Rents are up 18.6%
• Insurance has skyrocketed by 35.9%
• Electricity is up 33.5% (before government rebates)
• Gas is up 34.2%

As the clock ticks past midnight, Australians won’t be met with fireworks for the start of a new financial year, just higher bills.

This new financial year was Labor’s chance to reset, instead Labor have doubled down on higher costs, more red tape, and policies that make life harder for working Australians.

The longer Labor is in power, the poorer Australians become.