16 News

Bus queues on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and lower North Shore are expected to improve into the end of 2025 as repaired articulated buses – known as “bendy buses” – return to the roads.

Bus capacity in this region of Sydney has been under pressure since 83 bendys were withdrawn from service in October last year for emergency repairs to cracking identified in their chassis.

The former Liberal-National government did not buy a single bendy bus during their 12 years in office, making fleet management and renewal a more complicated task.

More than half of the withdrawn bendy fleet operate on Northern Beaches routes and their absence has led to passengers waiting longer at bus stops, especially during the peaks.

Bendy buses carry around 50% more passengers than a regular bus.

They are one of the best solutions for busy routes enabling large numbers of passengers to be carried with frequent stops.

There are now 17 bendys back in service on the Northern Beaches after repair work in Western Sydney.

In total, 20 repaired bendys have been returned to routes, with the longer buses also going to provide extra capacity on busy routes around the eastern suburbs, Lane Cove,

Macquarie Park, Parramatta and along Victoria Road.

As complex repair work of the withdrawn articulated buses continues, the Minns Labor Government is purchasing 50 new Euro 6 diesel articulated buses to increase capacity across multiple routes and ten double-decker buses to supplement the B-Line fleet. The first of the new articulated buses is expected to be delivered by the end of this year and the new double deckers will arrive in mid-2026.

Since April 2023, the Minns Labor Government has purchased a total of 921 new buses, after inheriting an ageing fleet from the Liberal-National government which went two years without buying a single bus.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“Bendy buses are a signature part of public transport on the Northern Beaches and we are pleased to see the repaired fleet starting to return to the busiest routes where they are needed most.

“We have heard loud and clear from bus passengers, especially peak time commuters, that queues at the bus stop have been too long and these buses provide the extra capacity that will improve those wait times.

“Longer buses mean shorter queues, it’s that simple. I commend the energy of the local members for Pittwater and Wakehurst, Jacqui Scruby and Michael Regan for their advocacy on behalf of bus passengers.”

Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby said:

“Pittwater commuters are already seeing the benefits of bendys returning. I’ve had positive emails, DMs and conversations with commuters at bus stops, and with zero cancellations on the 190X the benefits to the whole region are already being noticed.”

“Bendy buses are an icon on the Northern Beaches and we’re excited to have them back and looking forward to even more returning.”

“Up in Pittwater we are quite remote and rely solely on buses to get to work, school and appointments. Today’s announcement confirms what Pittwater commuters already feel – buses will be more reliable and less crowded and the bus crisis is a thing of the past.”

Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan said:

“People on the Northern Beaches rely heavily on our buses. When the bendys were taken off the road, we felt that impact straight away with longer queues and more missed services. Getting them back into service was a priority. 

“Beaches commuters know that the high capacity bendys are a practical solution for our busiest routes. Their return is good news for commuters, and the new fleet on the way shows that the government is listening to our advocacy and the community’s call for better services. I’m so thankful to commuters and drivers who have spoken up and engaged with me on this, and I thank the government for listening.”

“I’ve been pushing hard for more reliable bus services because public transport is vital to the Beaches. These repaired bendys and the commitment to purchase new additional buses are a welcome step in the right direction, and we’ll keep advocating for all necessary investment to meet the ever-growing demand.”

The Minns Labor Government has made the largest single investment at Kiama High School in over a decade, officially unveiling upgraded science labs as part of our commitment to expanding opportunities for students at every NSW public school.

The refurbished laboratories boost the schools Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics programs, giving students access to modern, purpose-built facilities.

Since 2023 the Minns Government has invested close to $3 million on multiple much needed upgrades at Kiama High School, after more than a decade of neglect by the former Liberal-National government.

As well as these new science labs, these upgrades include new lifts and ramps as well as a brand new school hall stage lift to support students with disability.

The upgrades have been delivered as part of the Minns Government’s plan to deliver better schools for NSW students, with the 2025-26 Budget delivering a record $9 billion for school infrastructure.

This follows the government’s delivery of more teachers by reducing teacher vacancies by 61 per cent across the state, resulting in the number of cancelled classes recorded in NSW nearly halving since the Minns Government took office.

The former Liberal-National Government neglected schools along the South Coast for over a decade, leaving communities without much-needed schools and teachers that work in them.

Since coming to office in 2023, the Minns Labor Government has been working hard to rebuild school services across Kiama. We know there is still a lot more work to do, but in the past two years we have:

• A 96% reduction in teacher vacancies, with schools in the Kiama electorate beginning Term 3 2025 with just one permanent teacher vacancy, down from 27 at the same time in 2022 under the former Liberal-National government.
• Funded and planned a new primary school and public preschool in Calderwood, opening Day One, Term One 2028.
• Started construction of a major upgrade at Bomaderry High School, and awarded the contract for a new public preschool to be built at Bomaderry Public School.
• Delivered a new nature playround at Minnamurra Public School.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“I know Katelin will be a strong local voice inside the government if elected, making sure Kiama continues to benefit from the improvements being made to public education right across NSW.

“As the son of a public school teacher, I know our schools are the lifeblood of communities, and we want teachers and students to have access to world class facilities no matter where they learn.

“Thanks to these brand-new science labs, Kiama High School will be supporting the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.”

Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos said:

“High-quality public schools are vital for coastal and regional communities, so young families know their children can have the best start in life and can get a world class education in their community.

“As a long-time local and former Kiama High School student Katelin understands just how important investments like these are to locals.

“We have made a significant investment in maintenance at schools including Kiama, because these works maintain our schools at a high-quality standard our families and young people expect.”

Labor Candidate for Kiama Katelin McInerney said:

“I grew up in Kiama, attending Minnamurra Public and Kiama High Schools, and I understand the importance of making sure we equip local students for life beyond school.

“The Minns Labor Government has delivered for Kiama since forming government, but I know there is more work to do.

“I will make sure that we continue to deliver the critical infrastructure and services that our community needs and relies on.”

Kiama High School Principal Catherine Glover said:

“We’re creating opportunities for our students to explore, experiment, and gain a deeper understanding of the technologies that will shape their future. 

“Education is the key to opportunity in life, and we are committed to partnering with our community to create a school where all students are challenged to excel in a nurturing and inclusive environment.

“With the right tools and experiences, they can adapt to any challenge and thrive in any career pathway they choose.” 

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has committed to bringing back the Business Connect program for the state’s small businesses, which has been axed by the Minns Labor Government.
 
Mr Speakman said a Liberals and Nationals Government would reinstate the free advisory service which has helped 60,000 small businesses around NSW.
 
“The NSW Treasury commissioned an independent review into the program and found for every $1 spent, it brought in $1.50 in benefits back to NSW, and led to fewer businesses failing,” Mr Speakman said. 
 
“Since it was introduced by the Coalition Government in 2017, Business Connect has assisted more than 60,000 small businesses and helped create more than 40,000 new jobs.
 
“Business Connect offered up to eight hours per year of free, tailored advice to small businesses navigating compliance, planning, marketing and financial management.”
 
Addressing a Business Forum in Kiama today, Mr Speakman said the Minns Labor Government’s decision to axe Business Connect could be the final nail in the coffin for many already struggling small businesses.
 
“We all know how important small business is to the NSW economy – they’re the backbone of local communities,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“In regional areas the majority of local enterprises are small businesses: family-run, owner-operated and deeply connected to the community. Together, they sustain thousands of local jobs.”
 
Shadow Minister for Small Business Tim James said the Minns Labor Government has turned its back on small businesses at a time when they need it most.
 
“Under the Minns Labor Government, bills are up, insolvencies are at record levels and many small businesses are struggling,” Mr James said.
 
“In 2024-25, a record 7,643 businesses were forced into insolvency – a 26% increase in just one year.
 
“And to add insult to injury, Labor has ruthlessly cut a vital free support service for small business. From 1 October, Business Connect will gone with nothing to replace it.
 
“A NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will bring back Business Connect.”
 
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said a Liberals and Nationals Government will also consider fairer payroll tax settings to support small and medium-sized businesses to ease the pressure on employers, keep prices down for consumers, and give businesses the breathing room they need to grow.
 
“The Minns Labor Government has frozen payroll tax thresholds — dragging another 1,200 businesses into payroll tax every year. Treasury forecasts show this stealth tax will rip an extra $500 million from employers over the next four years,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
“Meanwhile, scrapping indexation of land tax thresholds will collect over $18 billion over the next decade.
 
“At a time when NSW can least afford it, we should be supporting businesses, not weighing them down.”

More than 1000 volunteers will be recruited across NSW, to support their communities when it matters most thanks to a new grants program unveiled by the Minns Labor Government. 

Four experienced state-wide not-for-profit organisations – Anglicare, Australian Red Cross, Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network and St Vincent de Paul Society – will share in $1.9 million in funding through the Recovery Services Capacity Grants Program.

In partnership with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, these organisations will develop flexible volunteering pathways that can be scaled up quickly, ensuring recovery operations are better resourced and more responsive to local needs.

These trained volunteers will be activated during the recovery phase and deployed across recovery centres, recovery assistance points and community outreach initiatives – providing practical support, information and comfort to people who have been impacted.

With the roll out of the program, the Minns Labor Government is directly addressing a key recommendation of the 2022 Flood Inquiry for better integration of spontaneous community responders, and better mobilisation of volunteers during the recovery stage of disasters and emergencies.

Projects will focus on recruiting and training formal and informal volunteers, who are often the first to step forward and support their community following a disaster.

Volunteers play a vital role not only during emergencies but throughout the recovery process. However, the pool of available volunteers is shrinking at the same time as the frequency of disasters increases, making programs like this essential to maintaining local recovery capacity.

By investing in recovery services and partnering with experienced not-for-profit organisations, the NSW Government and the NSW Reconstruction Authority are ensuring that communities across the state have the right support networks in place to recover stronger and faster from future disasters.

More information on the Program can be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/recovery-services-capacity-grants

Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“We all recognise and appreciate the incredible community spirit that is evident in times of crisis.

“This program harnesses that energy, builds local capacity and ensures volunteers are supported and ready to respond when their communities need them to.

“Together we are helping to create more resilient communities that are better prepared for and can recover faster after a disaster.”

Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities contributing over 800 million hours a year.

“Many people step up during an emergency to help their local communities rebuild. For that, we are incredibly thankful.

“This new funding is a crucial injection into the sector to ensure our volunteers receive the training and support they need, as well as making sure we can recruit more volunteers when our communities need them.”

NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said:

“Volunteers are a huge part of disaster recovery, and we rely on them to support communities during the long journey of building back.

“This initiative is based on lessons learnt from the 2022 Flood Inquiry, which highlighted the need to better coordinate and support those who step up to help their communities during natural disasters.

“We look forward to working with our not-for-profit recovery partners to bolster volunteer capacity around the state.”