Minns Labor Government delivers on strengthening protections for the state’s principal war memorial

The Minns Labor Government has delivered on its commitment to modernise 100-year-old legislation and strengthen protections for the Anzac Memorial, enshrining it as NSW’s most significant monument to honour sacrifice and service.

Last night the NSW Parliament voted to pass the Anzac Memorial Bill 2025, to update legislation around the state’s principal war memorial that has remained largely unchanged since the Anzac Memorial Act was passed in 1923 and its accompanying by-laws in 1937.

These updates consolidate the Act and by-laws into a single piece of legislation to streamline governance and bring outdated provisions into the 21st century.

The legislation ensures the status of the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park as the principal war memorial in NSW and further protects the amenity of the building and its surrounds which are now defined by a new map that incorporates the Pool of Reflection and Water Cascade.

In addition to these updates this legislation also now makes it an offence to ride a bike, scooter, or skateboard in or on the memorial building. It also enables authorised security officers to direct people to leave the memorial area if the officer is of the opinion that the person is committing an offence under the Act.

Recent acts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the memorial have highlighted the need to ensure appropriate protections are in place and this updated legislation will ensure that the service and sacrifice of our veterans are protected.

The Bill complements the NSW Government’s Crimes Legislation Amendment (War Memorial Offences) Bill 2025 which passed Parliament on 22 October 2025 to increase penalties for vandals who seriously damage war memorials across NSW, including the Anzac Memorial.

That legislation increases the maximum penalty from five to seven years’ imprisonment for intentionally or recklessly damaging a war memorial.

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“I am proud that the Minns Labor government is delivering for our veterans and their families with legislation that enshrines in law the Anzac Memorial as our state’s pre-eminent memorial and strengthens protections around it.

“Our government is committed to honouring our veterans and their families and this updated legislation sends a clear message to the community that any act to disrespect or damage to the memorial is totally unacceptable.

“These changes come thanks to extensive consultation with key stakeholders Their input has been instrumental in shaping a modern, practical, legislative framework that reflects the Memorial’s enduring significance in the modern context.”

Congratulations Kellie Sloane

The NSW Liberal Party congratulates the newly elected leader of the Parliamentary Party Kellie Sloane.
 
Chairman of the NSW Liberal Party Management Committee, Nick Greiner, welcomed Kellie’s unanimous election as the NSW Leader, to set the Party on a course for victory at the 2027 state election.
 
“I congratulate Kellie on her election. She has aways been driven by community service – from her almost 20 years in journalism to her work as the National CEO of Life Education – striving to deliver real change for our community.
 
“Liberal Party members across the state are behind Kellie, as the parliamentary and volunteer wings of our Party work together towards a Liberal election victory that will deliver a thriving NSW.
 
“Now is the time for a unified approach behind Kellie and Natalie Ward to ensure the Party looks outward and forward as an alternative government with a laser focus on winning in 2027.”

Visit to South Africa for G20 Leaders’ Summit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa for the annual G20 Leaders’ Summit from 20 to 22 November 2025.

The Summit brings together world leaders under South Africa’s G20 Presidency and the theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.

This will be the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit has been held on the African continent.

Discussions at the Summit will focus on advancing inclusive and sustainable growth, reinforcing the G20’s contribution to global resilience and championing a fair and just future for all.

While in South Africa, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to advance Australia’s economic and strategic interests.

The Prime Minister will be the first Australian Prime Minister to visit South Africa since 2013.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will be Acting Prime Minister until the Prime Minister’s return from overseas.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“The G20 brings together the countries that drive the world’s economies and Australia is a key part of that.

“Now more than ever, Australia needs to be working with our international partners to tackle the shared challenges and opportunities ahead.

“G20 member countries make up 85 per cent of the world’s economic output.  Being part of the G20 helps build a stronger, more resilient global economy which benefits all Australians at home.”

Honouring Australians who fought against apartheid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will today honour three prominent Australians who played an influential role in advocating for the end of apartheid in South Africa.

The names of former Prime Ministers Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke, and former diplomat Bruce Haigh, have been inscribed on the Wall of Names in Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Pretoria in recognition of their support for racial equality in South Africa.

Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum was created after apartheid to honour those who fought for South Africa’s freedom and democracy, and to promote reconciliation and understanding.

Malcom Fraser worked with the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations to investigate apartheid in South Africa. He was one of the first world leaders to visit Nelson Mandela in prison and strongly pushed for sanctions against the apartheid regime.

Bob Hawke also advocated for sanctions against the apartheid regime through the Commonwealth of Nations and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, as well as sporting boycotts.

Bruce Haigh established contact with anti-apartheid activists and shone a light on the injustices of apartheid during his posting to South Africa from 1976 to 1979. His legacy was captured in Richard Attenborough’s 1987 film Cry Freedom.

The three names join two other Australians already listed on the Wall. Freda Brown was a journalist, actress and President of both the Union of Australian Women and the Women’s International Democratic Federation. Peter McGregor was a university lecturer and activist.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“It is a great honour to see the names of these great Australians on the Wall of Names at Freedom Park, alongside others who fought for freedom and democracy in South Africa.

“Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and Bruce Haigh displayed the best of who we are as Australians. They stood up for what was right and fought for equality and dignity.

“Their belief that racial discrimination has no place in society, and courage to speak out on the world stage, helped contribute to the end of apartheid in South Africa.

“The legacy of these great Australians is a powerful reminder that standing up for what is right is what matters most.”

Future Diamonds on the Rise: Netball NSW Unveils Powerhouse 2026 19U Team

Netball NSW has today announced its 2026 19U State Team, featuring a dynamic mix of returning champions, rising stars and promising debutants ready to represent New South Wales at next year’s National Netball Championships

The 12-netball athlete squad includes five players from the gold medal-winning 2025 Netball NSW 19U Team, alongside four members of the silver medal-winning 2025 Netball NSW 17U Team, demonstrating the strength and depth of the state’s elite development pathway.Three regional netball athletes – Isla Waterhouse (Illawarra), Marley Aplin (Orange) and Matilda Percival (Newcastle) – have also earned selection after standout performances in last year’s 17U State Team.Among the group is Skye Thompson, who was part of the NSW Swifts Academy in 2024 and has been named a GIANTS Netball training partner for 2026. Identified nationally at a young age, Thompson will bring valuable experience and strength to the squad as the only Suncorp Super Netball training partner within this year’s cohort.The team will once again be led by Head Coach Amber Cross, who guided NSW to 19U gold at the 2025 National Netball Championships.“We’re really excited about the netball athletes that have been selected to take on the National Netball Championships in 2026,” said Mardi Aplin, General Manager of Pathways at Netball NSW.“They’re an amazing group of versatile athletes that bring different strengths to the team and can cross many netball positions. It’s a really good mix of younger and top-age athletes — the future is looking good.”The 19U State Team will assemble at the Netball NSW State Camp in mid-December, where they’ll complete fitness testing, strength assessments and team-bonding activities, alongside a media day and sessions designed to build pride in the Waratah.Each athlete will receive a personalised home training program to follow over the Christmas break before regrouping on 16 January for 12 weeks of training in the lead-up to the 2026 National Netball Championships, commencing 8 April 2026.In addition to State Team commitments, athletes will continue to train and compete with their respective Netball NSW Premier League teams.Media Enquiries: Frances Cordaro 0410 484 474 2026 Netball NSW 19U State Team

ATHLETE NAME  POSITION ASSOCIATION PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM
Ellie Hart Shooter CAMPBELLTOWN DISTRICT ERNA HAWKS
Evie Economou Mid Court SUTHERLAND SHIRE South West Mounties MAGIC
Harlym Jennings Defence LIVERPOOL CITY Sutherland Stingrays
Isabella Maher  Mid Court SUTHERLAND SHIRE Sutherland Stingrays
Isla Waterhouse Defence ILLAWARRA DISTRICT IMB South Coast Blaze
Kelis Ogle Defence LIVERPOOL CITY South West Mounties MAGIC
Marley Aplin Mid Court ORANGE ERNA HAWKS
Matilda Fanning Mid Court SUTHERLAND SHIRE Sutherland Stingrays
Matilda Percival Shooter NEWCASTLE North Shore United
Paige O’Neill Defence EASTWOOD RYDE ERNA HAWKS
Skye Thompson Shooter SUTHERLAND SHIRE Sutherland Stingrays
Sophia Martinussen Shooter EASTWOOD RYDE ERNA HAWKS

Appeal to locate teenage girl missing from Muswellbrook

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate teenage girl missing from the state’s Hunter Region.

Alyssa Bell, aged 13, was last seen on Shaw Crescent, Muswellbrook, in early November 2025.

When family couldn’t locate or contact her, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified yesterday (Thursday 20 November 2025) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Family and police hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Alyssa is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 155cm tall, of slim build, with dark hair and light blue eyes.

She is known to travel on public transport, specifically railway stations in Central Coast and Sydney CBD.

Penny Wong Visit to India

Today I will travel to India for the 16th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue and my 26th meeting with the Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar.

Australia and India have never been closer and our partnership never more consequential – it is crucial for us and crucial for the region in a sharper and more competitive world.

My visit continues the high tempo of engagement between our two countries and reflects the ongoing work of the Albanese Government to deepen our relationships and strengthen our resilience.

Our cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects our deepening alignment and shared vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

I look forward to discussions with my counterpart and friend, Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar, to set the course for an even more ambitious, future-focused agenda, as our partnership enters its next phase.

We will look to enhance our cooperation across cyber and strategic technology, trade, maritime security, defence, sport, and people-to-people ties.

Together, Australia and India are working bilaterally, through the Quad, and through multilateral institutions to advance our collective security and prosperity.

Doli incapax reforms are welcome, but Minns still refusing to fix youth justice crisis

The Minns Labor Government has announced that it will legislate the existing doli incapax presumption, introduce new mandatory considerations for courts, and expand access to diversionary options for some children. The package follows an independent review commissioned earlier this year.

Greens MP and spokesperson for Justice, Sue Higginson, has welcomed the NSW Government’s long-overdue decision to legislate the doli incapax test, but says today’s announcement fails to address the evidence and fails to deliver the urgent change needed to keep children and communities safe.

Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson Sue Higginson said:

“Legislating the existing doli incapax presumption is welcome, but the Minns Labor Government has once again stopped short of the single reform that all experts, First Nations leaders and the United Nations have been demanding for decades. We must raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14. Anything less leaves NSW trapped in a cycle of political panic and child harm,”

“The Government is telling the public these changes will keep communities safe, but the evidence shows the opposite. Children aged 10 to 13 do not have the cognitive capacity to understand criminal intent and early contact with the criminal legal system dramatically increases the likelihood of future offending. The review the Government commissioned confirmed this, yet the Government continues to ignore it,”

“The Attorney General and Premier are trying to present today’s announcement as a bold move, but codifying an existing common law presumption does not address the real crisis. What we needed was a commitment to keep children out of prisons, invest in community-led supports and finally stop criminalising the youngest and most vulnerable,”

“First Nations children are already massively overrepresented in the youth justice system and they will continue to be harmed by a Government that refuses to listen to Aboriginal peak bodies calling for an Aboriginal led response. We cannot keep repeating the mistakes that experts and communities have been warning about for decades,”

“The limited diversion reforms are only a partial fix. Children should not need to navigate criminal charges to access support. The Government has missed the opportunity to shift to a true public health model that prevents offending rather than punishing it,”

“NSW cannot claim to be serious about youth crime while it locks up ten year olds. The evidence is clear. Raising the age keeps communities safer. It keeps children safer. It is consistent with international law. The Government’s refusal to act on the full issue is a failure of leadership and a failure of courage,” Ms Higginson said.

First Nations deaths in custody risks will increase during worst year on record thanks to Minns Government Bill, say experts

First Nations peak bodies, University Law Schools and legal experts have been critical of the Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong for progressing laws that will worsen the risks of deaths in custody following the NSW State Coroner’s rare statement criticizing the worst year for First Nations deaths in custody on record.

In an open letter,First Nations peak bodies, and law experts warned that “Incarcerated people subjected to discipline proceedings, who are locked in solitary confinement, fined, and deprived of basic privileges like phone calls and visits with loved ones, are at increased risk of acute and ongoing mental and physical harm, and even dying in custody, if these laws pass.”

The reforms in question, which are set to pass the NSW Legislative Council today, change the standard of proof for correctional centre offences so findings of guilt can be made on the lesser standard of “the balance of probabilities” rather than “beyond reasonable doubt”. They follow a damning NSW Ombudsman investigation that exposed a shocking culture of lawlessness within Corrective Services.

Greens MP, spokesperson for Justice and solicitor Sue Higginson said:

“First Nations peak bodies and legal experts are incredibly concerned at the Minns Government’s attempt to let our prison system off the hook after the Ombudsman exposed serious maladministration and law-breaking in the inmate discipline system to the detriment of at risk vulnerable inmates,”

“We know the inmate discipline system is used, often unlawfully, to place inmates in solitary confinement, to impose some of the harshest removals of privileges in the developed world, and to fine inmates,”

“The only person the Corrections Minister has consulted with on this Bill, other than the Premier it would seem, is the leadership of the prison guard’s union, he has clearly snubbed legal experts and First Nations peak bodies even though these laws fly in the face of the advice of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody,”

“It’s shocking that the Minns Labor Government introduced a Bill that will increase the risk of First Nations deaths in custody during the same week the Coroner released a statement saying we were in the worst year for First Nations deaths in custody on record,”

“The Minns Labor Government is ignoring the Ombudsman, who explicitly warned against watering down these standards. The Parliament’s own Legislative Review Committee has warned these laws may contravene international law, by increasing the likelihood of solitary confinement and by denying incarcerated people the presumption of innocence,”

“NSW Labor needs to take the deaths in custody crisis seriously, and that means sitting down with First Nations people and experts to hold our prison system accountable for lawlessness and harm. This Bill does the exact opposite, it endorses more punishment against at risk vulnerable First Nations people in law,” Ms Higginson said.

Newcastle Museum invites adults to rediscover creativity through new workshop series

City of Newcastle has launched a new hands-on program designed to spark curiosity, creativity and connection at Newcastle Museum.

Led by resident artist and educator Ken O’Regan, the Make N Do workshops encourage participants to get their creative juices flowing with guided and open-ended activities inspired by history, science and the Museum’s current exhibitions.

Local artist Ken O’Regan guides participants through creative activities during the Make N Do workshops at Newcastle MuseumLocal artist Ken O’Regan guides participants through creative activities during the Make N Do workshops at Newcastle Museum

City of Newcastle Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning Julie Baird said Make N Do is part of the Museum’s commitment to offering creative, inclusive spaces that foster community connection.

“Make N Do gives adults permission to create for the sake of creativity,” Ms Baird.

“It invites people to step away from their screens, slow down and explore the joy of making something with our hands.

“When we make, we shift our focus, calm the mind and open new neural pathways. It’s not about skill level or perfection, it’s about curiosity, experimentation and connection.

“Our programs at Newcastle Museum are always well-received and highly valued by the community. We know hands-on workshops like this bring people together in meaningful ways and provide a fun, welcoming space for adults to explore their creativity.”

The workshop series kicked off on Thursday 13 November, and will run each Thursday until 4 December, taking inspiration from the Model Newcastle exhibition.

Participants at the first session were invited to design and build miniature homes or imaginative structures using everyday recyclable materials. 

Following the first four weeks, Make N Do will continue as an ongoing series in 2026, while group bookings and tailored workshops for community and disability support groups are also available on request.

The free workshops run from 2pm to 4pm on each Thursday, with all materials provided. Bookings are essential via the Museum’s website. For group or accessibility enquiries, contact Newcastle Museum via enquiries@newcastlemuseum.com.au or 4974 1400.