Author: admin

This year’s Mardi Gras will get a big boost with metro and rail services running 24 hours for the first time ever and plans for venues to trade into the early morning, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing push to rebuild Sydney’s night-time economy.

This year’s event is set to benefit from special event trading hours which would allow eligible hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, nightclubs and live music venues in the Oxford Street cultural and creative precinct to trade until 6am on Sunday 1 March.

Supporting the parade and the late trade, partygoers can jump on a metro train every 5–10 minutes from 5pm to 2am, then every 20 minutes until regular daytime frequencies resume at 5am.  This builds on two years of successful all night metro services on New Years Eve.

Sydney Trains will operate a 24-hour service with trains running every hour from midnight to the first regular Sunday services on the City Circle, T1 Western Line, T1 North Shore Line, T2 Inner West Line and T9 Northern Line and to Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburb Line until 3am Sunday.  

Light rail will run a 24-hour service on the L1 Dulwich Hill, L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines with a service every 15 to 20 minutes until normal services resume Sunday morning.

Bus routes 370 and 343 will run 24 hours with added hourly services on Sunday. Around 300 extra bus services will run to the city from Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore throughout the afternoon, along with additional NightRide buses.

The special Mardi Gras transport services build on a year-round uplift in regular late night bus services which now includes 37 all night services.

With thousands of people attending the parade and major road closures in place from 4pm to 2am on Sunday morning.

For the best views of the parade:

• Northern side viewing in Darlinghurst: Use Town Hall, St James, Martin Place or Kings Cross train stations, or Gadigal Metro station.
• Southern side viewing in Surry Hills: Use Central station. For Parade viewing along Flinders Street, use the Moore Park Light Rail stop.

For more information on public transport for the parade, including extra services and trip planning, visit the event page at transportnsw.info or plan ahead using the Opal Travel app or other transport planning apps.  Motorists can check Live Traffic NSW for the latest information on road closures.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“It’s great to be able to give the Mardis Gras a boost after the late cancellation of the official afterparty. We want unofficial afterparties to kick on all around Oxford Street, knowing there’s even more safe and affordable ways to get home.

“A great night out and good transport go hand in hand, and that’s why we’re running metro and rail services 24 hours in line with trading hour extensions for this year’s Mardis Gras.

“We know that public transport is a vital part of a thriving 24-hour economy. We’ve been increasing bus services at night and this is a great chance to see the impact of increased metro, rail and light rail services.”

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the pride of Australia’s major events calendar. Each year, the Parade brings tens of thousands of people to Sydney, which not only celebrates diversity and inclusion, but also makes a significant contribution to the businesses and jobs that rely on our visitor economy.

“We have been clear from the start; we want to bring the entertainment and vibrancy back to Sydney. Extending trading hours will mean locals and visitors alike can make the most of the Mardi Gras.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“Mardi Gras is a festival of fun and celebration which continues well beyond the parade and the NSW Government wants to ensure venues and patrons can make the most of this hugely popular event.

“These extended trading hours will allow festival-goers to dance the night away and venues to benefit from the thousands of visitors and locals who flock to our city for this special celebration.”

Executive Director of Business Sydney Paul Nicolau said:

“Running Metro, train and light rail services around the clock for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a fantastic step forward for our city.

“It means people can celebrate safely, stay longer, and get home easily, while supporting local businesses and boosting the night-time economy.

Night Time Industries Association CEO Mick Gibb:

“This is a big win for Sydneysiders who want to come out and experience one of the best parties of the year.

“Industry has long said that when you give people safe, affordable ways to get home late at night, everyone wins.

“Late night venues can stay open with confidence, punters can enjoy themselves without stressing about the last train or breaking the bank on a taxi, and the city can actually function as the global destination it is. 

Remarks by Senator Pauline Hanson questioning whether there are “good Muslims” are offensive, divisive, and completely inconsistent with Australian values.
 
To single out an entire faith group and question their goodness or legitimacy as Australians is not only wrong, it risks fuelling fear and prejudice along with division in our communities.
 
Muslim Australians are an integral part of the fabric of New South Wales they are our neighbours, our workmates, our doctors and nurses, our teachers, tradies, small business owners, volunteers and emergency service workers.
 
They raise families, run businesses, serve our communities and proudly call Australia home.
 
Their contribution to our state and country is significant and valued.
 
Rhetoric that targets people on the basis of faith undermines decades of work to build a harmonious, inclusive multicultural society.
 
Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world, we have people from all corners of the globe.
 
When political leaders use language that casts suspicion on entire communities, it does real harm. It makes people feel unwelcome, unsafe and unfairly judged in the country they love.
 
I have had the privilege of working closely with Muslim community leaders, families and organisations across our state, and what I see time and again are communities focused on education, opportunity, service and giving back. Values that reflect the very best of Australia.”
 
At a time when social cohesion has come under strain, everyone in public leadership should be seeking to unite Australians, not tearing them apart for political gain.
 
There is no place for fear-mongering, dog-whistle politics or divisive rhetoric in modern Australia.
 
Our future depends on unity, mutual respect and the shared belief that everyone deserves dignity and fairness.

In a historic development, Netball NSW is today proud to officially launch the Netball NSW Foundation – a social impact initiative dedicated to amplifying the reach of the No.1 sport for women and girls across the state for generations to come.Netball is present in every metro and regional community, and the primary aim of the Netball NSW Foundation is to harness the spirit of the game to empower the communities it serves, and to further cement it as a place to belong, a place to thrive and a place to unite.In partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation, funds raised by the Foundation will deliver six impact programs aimed at ensuring the health and societal benefits of netball reach more people than ever before.The programs will range from financial support to keep people involved in the game, to inclusive formats and cultural connection focusing on First Nations and Multicultural communities.Programs will also be delivered to empower young people to find their voice and develop leadership skills.The Foundation will support, educate and empower communities to navigate and overcome social issues impacting our everyday lives.In 2026, the first areas of focus will be Mental Health, Body Image and the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence.  As well as the Australian Sports Foundation, Netball NSW is delighted to welcome Tackle Your Feelings on board as a Strategic Impact Partner of the Foundation. This partnership will enable Netball NSW to bring free-of-charge mental health awareness and education workshops to participants all over the state.In another exciting development, former GIANTS Netball captain and current NSW Swifts Specialist Shooting Coach Jo Harten BEM will come on board as a Foundation Ambassador.Netball NSW CEO Tracey Scott said the launch of the Foundation was a momentous day in the organisation’s near 100-year history.“In 2025 over 120,000 participants across all ages, genders and backgrounds registered to be involved in netball,” she said.“No other sport in NSW delivers the same scale of impact when it comes to social connection, leadership and wellbeing.“The Netball NSW Foundation represents our commitment to netball’s future and is grounded in the belief that netball is more than a game: it is a powerful force for good.“Through donations and philanthropic investment, we will be able to create powerful, positive social outcomes for communities in every part of NSW.”“By removing barriers, we are empowering the leaders of a more productive tomorrow, and this Foundation will enable netball to be fully part of a shared and prosperous future.”Netball NSW Head of Foundation Janyne Hogan said she was excited to see what 2026 would bring.“We know the netball community pulls together when hard times hit and we saw an example of this last year when we raised over $22,000 to help Associations affected by flooding in northern NSW.“The Netball NSW Foundation will be driven by three guiding pillars which aim to help participants belong, unite and thrive in our game.“It will elevate netball as a place that fosters belonging, life-long learning and collective unity.“We are honoured to partner with the Australian Sports Foundation and Tackle Your Feelings who have been instrumental in the delivery of our first impact programs.“Now we are ready to demonstrate the powerful difference that netball can make and why investment in it changes the lives of people from all walks of life for the better.” To learn more about the Netball NSW Foundation, see how you can get involved or make a donation please visit nsw.netball.com.au/foundation: https://netballnsw.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a61fdddc7216e646211550b26&id=0fad62f03c&e=5dd905e812 

The Minns Government is cracking down on the illegal abalone and seafood trade in restaurants and other outlets, completing a three-day compliance blitz across Sydney.

Joint covert and overt operations were undertaken over 14-16 February to disrupt the black-market seafood trade, when restaurants and other seafood outlets purchase abalone, fish and other seafood outside the legal supply chain.

Fisheries officers and food inspectors from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) inspected 15 restaurants across the city, from the CBD and inner west to the north shore, western suburbs and southern Sydney.

The inspections were carried out to ensure all seafood for sale in each premises was purchased from legitimate sources, such as commercial fishers, co-ops and fish markets, or other licenced fish receivers, with premise owners required to provide purchase records.

The sale of illegal seafood undermines legitimate operators and commercial fishers who work hard to provide consumers with safe and premium quality seafood.

The three-day compliance operation primarily focused on black market abalone illegally poached from fisheries on the NSW South Coast and sold to restaurants wanting to bypass the legal supply chain because of monetary gain. During the operation:

• 15 premises were inspected by NSW Fisheries Officers and Food Authority Compliance Officers in locations where abalone is sold in restaurants, including the CBD, Marrickville, Burwood, Hurstville and Eastwood.
• Seven of those premises were found to be selling abalone that was not labelled in accordance with the NSW abalone labelling regulations. The offences will be dealt with by way of formal written caution, and penalty infringement notice.
• A total of 106 abalone were seized from four separate premises, including frozen black lip abalone and a quantity of dried abalone.
• The total weight of abalone seized was approximately 15kg. The average price these abalone were being sold for was $120/kg for frozen black lip, while dried abalone can retail more than $1000/kg.

The estimated total illegal, unreported and unregulated catch for abalone in 2025/26 was 30 tonnes.

Due to the impact of illegal poaching of abalone this year the Government had to reduce the total allowable catch for commercial fishers by 12%, based on scientific advice that was concerned by the depletion occurring.

The Government is progressing the introduction of new regulation that will strengthen the requirement of restaurants to only buy from the legal commercial supply chain.

The penalties for involvement in the black-market seafood trade are severe, with fines and possible imprisonment for both sellers and buyers.

In NSW, legally harvested abalone is labelled to show it meets regulatory requirements, while Eastern Rock Lobsters are tagged to prove they have been legally caught.

The public are urged to report illegal or suspected illegal fishing activities to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online report form.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“I have instructed Fisheries Compliance officers to undertake this major seafood crackdown so that we are able to guarantee the sustainability of our seafood industry now and into the future.

“We are working hard to undermine the black market for abalone and lobster by going after the restaurants and markets that think they will be able to get away with buying illegal product.

“These compliance activities are going to continue, and restaurants and illegal sellers are on notice that NSW fisheries officers could soon be walking through their doors.

“The NSW commercial fishing and aquaculture industries are a cornerstone of our regional economy, supporting thousands of jobs and delivering premium produce to tables across the state.

“I have moved to introduce new regulation to close a loophole, so that restaurants and buyers of abalone can only buy from the legal commercial supply chain. We are moving to sideline the black-market supply chain and close it down.”

The NSW Government has released a new guide to support councils in undertaking their own land audits to identify vacant operational council land that could be used to deliver affordable housing projects. 

The Council Led Affordable Housing on Operational Land Guide released by the Office of Local Government provides step-by-step guidance for councils on identifying and managing affordable housing sites utilising operational land – from planning through to construction and delivery.

A major barrier to building more affordable housing is the high cost of acquiring well-located land. Council owned sites such as former depots or unused facilities that are well serviced and close to public transport can be ideal locations for affordable housing to support low-income households.

The guide provides detail on delivery options available to councils to release and manage operational land for affordable housing and how councils can form partnerships with entities such as government agencies and housing providers to maximise the impact of affordable housing.

It also includes case studies showcasing successful affordable housing projects led by councils to meet the needs of their communities. For example, Shoalhaven City Council transformed surplus council land in Bomaderry into 39 affordable housing units, while Lismore City Council is partnering with Landcom, Homes NSW and a community housing provider to construct 56 new affordable housing units.

The NSW Government has set five-year housing completion targets for 43 local government areas in Sydney, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, the Lower Hunter and Central Coast, and a single housing target for Regional NSW. In the draft Sydney Plan, out on exhibition at the moment, local affordable housing contribution schemes have been mandated for all councils in Sydney to increase the delivery of affordable homes within their communities.

This guide also supports the objectives of the National Housing Accord by encouraging councils to increase housing supply and affordability at the local level.

By harnessing under-utilised operational land in partnership with the NSW Government and community housing providers, councils can make a substantial impact in addressing the state’s housing crisis and deliver access to homes for people in need.

The guide is available here: https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Guide-for-Council-Led-Affordable-Housing-on-Operational-Land.pdf

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“All levels of government need to play their part to help address the housing shortage.

“The Minns Labor Government’s land audit has identified several sites that are no longer being used that can deliver thousands of new homes, with the support of this new guide, we’re asking councils to do the same.

“This builds on the work of our successful Infill Affordable Housing Scheme, the delivery of 400 build-to-rent homes for essential workers on land audit sites in Annandale and Chatswood and mandated minimum affordable housing inclusions for new developments in Transport Oriented Development areas.”

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“Former council depot sites and other surplus buildings often sit on valuable land that could be better utilised for much-needed housing.

“This new guide provides councils as key partners in delivering housing, with the information and tools to address housing affordability in their area.

“Affordable housing is critical for fostering community diversity, boosting local economies and promoting long-term sustainable housing, and councils can help free up unused land to create homes for our key workers and future generations.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“This is what solving the housing crisis looks like – it means looking at it from every angle, pulling down barriers at every turn.

“We’re working constructively with many councils who want to build more affordable housing for their communities, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start.

“That’s where this guide comes in. We’re providing the tools to help councils get more projects off the ground, doing their bit to build a future for young Australians.”

A campaign to boost the number of on-call firefighters across NSW is set to commence as the Minns Labor Government today announced it will continue to build on a record recruitment of 648 firefighters.

The record intake graduating through the Fire and Rescue NSW training academy last year follows increases in recruitment since 2023 as part of ongoing efforts to restore essential services.

Investment to rebuild Fire and Rescue’s training resources has led to 219 permanent firefighters commencing in 2025, almost double the 112 recruited in 2022, along with 429 on-call fire fighters.

The boost in new recruits shows the Minns Labor Government’s efforts to attract frontline workers and end 12 years of wage suppression under the former Liberal and Nationals government is working.

The Government has also provided ongoing funding for 286 firefighters – 1 in 12 of the permanent firefighting force – whose jobs were left unfunded by the Liberals and Nationals.

Fire and Rescue’s ranks are made up of permanent and on-call firefighters, depending on the firefighting needs of the community they serve.

A recruitment campaign will begin this weekend to further boost on-call firefighters, targeting areas across the state including the regional areas of Dungog, Bingara, Walgett, Balranald, Barham, Batlow, Berrigan, Boggabri, Bombala and Warren.

The “Become an On-Call Firefighter” drive urges people to join FRNSW to help their communities and learn new skills while being paid an hourly rate to supplement their income.

Minister Dib and Commissioner Fewtrell launched the recruitment drive while inspecting the newly renovated Blacktown Fire Station, one of three stations across the state that have undergone upgrades.

These upgrades are part of our $98.5 million statewide investment in fire stations and fleet this financial year, including the recently completed $4.2 million Dungog fire station.

Work has just been completed on fire station upgrades at Blacktown ($2 million), Gladesville ($1 million) and Glenbrook on-call station ($1.36 million), delivering improved amenities, bathrooms, equipment and personal protection clothing rooms. 

Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib:

“We are boosting firefighter numbers to record levels and investing in modern fire stations and firefighting fleet. Our investment in Fire and Rescue NSW not only protects communities, it also makes a worthwhile profession even more attractive.

“We’ve scrapped the former government’s unfair wages cap to pay essential workers properly. A record number of graduates shows we’re attracting more firefighters who will be in place to protect growing communities.

“In some small communities it can be challenging to attract new fire station recruits, which is why we are launching a campaign to encourage even more people to join Fire and Rescue NSW as an on-call firefighter.

“We have had to rebuild training services and secure the roles of 286 firefighters that were not funded by the former government. We will continue to invest in the emergency services to ensure communities have the protection they need and to rebuild firefighting services.”

the Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali:

“The $2 million upgrade to Blacktown fire station and new graduates enhance firefighting services in our area, something that will improve the working environment for future firefighters so they can continue to serve and protect our community.

“The upgrade includes new bathrooms, an improved layout, better engine bay extraction fans and improved amenities for breathing apparatus. On top of the station upgrade, Blacktown has also received a new Class 3 Rescue fire truck to assist in firefighting response, showing the Government’s commitment to improving essential services in Western Sydney.”

the Member for the Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle:

“The $1.36 million upgrade to Glenbrook fire station will support firefighters well into the future, providing new bathrooms, improved protective clothing and laundry facilities, as well as general work to improve an important community facility.

“I would encourage anyone who wants to join FRNSW to apply as an on-call firefighter to join a great team and make a difference to our Blue Mountains community. Our focus on improving essential services extends across the Blue Mountains and beyond to protect communities across NSW.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell:

“This is a terrific opportunity for people across the state to consider a part-time role with Fire and Rescue NSW. We will work around your availability and welcome you into a close-knit team.

“Please visit the FRNSW website for more information. We would love to have you on our team, helping to protect regional communities.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Dungog Captain, Cassandra Sermon:

“I wanted to be part of a team again, to have that camaraderie but also help the community. That’s what I’ve grown to love, helping Dungog and its surrounding areas.

“I like educating people about home fire safety.  Also to be there with the crew, to help, lead and support during incidents as well. It’s also a lot of fun. We’d love to have you join us.”