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Bottom of the Harbour is a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ moment on Metro West

The finish line for tunnelling on the eastern end of the Sydney Metro West project is in sight after two tunnel boring machines passed the deepest part of Darling Harbour on their way to Hunter Street.

The tunnel from Pyrmont has reached 35 metres below the water’s surface, passing under the Australian Maritime Museum and now heading towards King Street Wharf on the eastern shore of Darling Harbour.

The 1,100-tonne tunnel boring machines Jessie and Ruby each have less than 700 metres left to finish their job at rate of advance of 90 metres a week.

The machines are designed to dig in the high-pressure conditions beneath Sydney Harbour. They move at a slower pace than traditional tunnel boring machines due to the wetter conditions and geological environment they are navigating.

The next section of tunnel will be under some of Sydney’s busiest and best-known streets, including York, George and Pitt streets and pass closely underneath Wynyard Station to reach the Hunter Street cavern.

When Sydney Metro West opens in 2032, passengers will have fast, high-frequency and reliable metro services connecting the Sydney CBD with Parramatta in a 20-minute trip – doubling the rail capacity between those two centres.

Sydney Metro West will transform journeys west from the Sydney CBD, with travel times of:

Hunter Street to Parramatta in 20 minutes
Hunter Street to Sydney Olympic Park in 15 minutes
Five Dock to Parramatta in 12 minutes
Pyrmont to Hunter Street in 2 minutes

More than 5.87 million tonnes of earth will be excavated to build the Sydney Metro West tunnels, equivalent to filling the entire volume of the Sydney Opera House 2.6 times over.

In total, tunnelling is now 97% complete on the project. The first tunnel boring machine finished its work on the western end at Westmead in September.

Track laying and station construction will follow tunnelling, bringing Sydney another step closer to the opening of the new line.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“We are well on the way, and real, substantial progress is being made on this project underneath the city.

“This is one of the biggest public transport projects in the country, and it will have a major impact on how people get in and out of the city – to Westmead, Parramatta and Olympic Park.”

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“This section of tunnel will provide a two-minute connection between Hunter Street and Pyrmont in future, with Sydney Olympic Park just another 13 minutes from there – a quantum leap for east – west public transport.

“I want to thank the professional team of 210 who are safely guiding these tunnel boring machines through some of the most challenging underground conditions to complete the job.”

Metro on track, Chris Minns is off track as NSW goes it alone with no minister for infrastructure

The Minns Labor Government is the only government in Australia without a Minister for Infrastructure. It shows they have no infrastructure vision and no real plan for the future. Infrastructure is not a luxury. It is the foundation of a growing, modern state. Yet under Labor, it is treated like an afterthought.

Today’s Metro West update is just another reminder that real progress in NSW still relies on projects conceived, funded, and started by the NSW Liberals and Nationals. Labor is standing on our shoulders and pretending they built the ladder.

In 2012, just one year after coming to Government and ending 16 years of Labor chaos and cancelled commitments, the NSW Liberals and Nationals launched a bold infrastructure blueprint. We announced more than 700 major projects as part of a 20-year plan.

By 2018, more than 430 of those were completed. Two hundred were under construction. The rest were being advanced through planning.

Back then, then NSW Labor Leader Luke Foley and his big red bus sneered and said we had the wrong priorities. But here we are. Labor still does not have a long-term infrastructure plan. They do not have a Minister for Infrastructure because they do not have the courage to build a vision for 2032. They have a Minister for Building, but building what is a question for Chris Minns and Anoulack Chanthivong.

The Coalition foresaw a better NSW. We backed it with funding and delivery. Labor inherited the plans and is now trying to claim the progress.

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the progress on Metro West is only happening because the NSW Liberals and Nationals had the vision and commitment to get it started.

“We know how to plan and deliver. Labor only knows how to announce and take credit. NSW is the only state without a Minister for Infrastructure. That speaks volumes. If Labor cannot even appoint someone to shape the future, how can they be trusted to deliver it,” Mr Speakman said.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Natalie Ward said the Coalition built new metros, reshaped train travel, built better roads, more schools and hospitals.

“Labor is performing announcements on projects they did not plan and did not start. The people of NSW deserve a government that takes infrastructure seriously, not one that treats it as a political prop,” Ms Ward said.

Jenny Aitchison Re-announcing 957 days later

The Albanese Labor Government and the Minns Labor Government today attempted to re-sell a project first announced in 2023, fooling no one with a glossy re-announcement of the $100 million safety upgrades to Bells Line of Road.

This project was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet before the last state election. NSW Labor was sworn in on 5 April 2023. That is 957 days ago. Over two and half years. And Labor has nothing to show for it.

Jenny Aitchison likes to say she and Labor is getting on with the job. But what happened here? Is this another example of the Minns Labor Government’s tunnel vision and lack of ambition for infrastructure?

NSW is the only state in Australia without a dedicated Infrastructure Minister. Maybe that is her excuse. No minister. No plan. No progress. Just photos and recycled press releases.

And now Jenny Aitchison fronts the media in a joint announcement with (ironically) Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, who fronted up last time this was announced in 2023 hoping that no one notices that nothing has happened in two and half years.

While roads remain unsafe, and regional communities wait for real work, Labor is focused on spin instead of delivery.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said regional families and freight operators have been waiting for promises to turn into projects.

“Over two and half years on, all Labor has done is take another photo. This re-announcement sums up just how little they have achieved,” Mr Speakman said.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Natalie Ward this should embarrass the local Labor member for the Blue Mountains.

“Announcing the same money twice is not delivery. It is desperation. Our communities deserve more than recycled headlines and excuses,” Ms Ward said.

Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Dave Layzell said Labor leaves regional NSW behind once again.

They talk big, then pack up and go home. If they are so busy getting on with it, why has nothing happened since 2023?” Mr Layzell said.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said today’s stunt is an insult to every commuter stuck on dangerous roads.

“Labor can re-announce this as much as they want, but until shovels hit the ground, it is just more talk and another example of the NSW Labor Government getting on with nothing,” Mr Toole said.

The Minns Labor Government delivers excuses and reruns. It is clear who is getting on with it, and it is not Jenny Aitchison and or Labor.

Ding dong, deadline calling. Will labor answer or keep hiding behind the door?

Today is the day the Minns Labor Government must finally produce the Moore Park golf course business case and annexures. The deadline is 4pm. This is their final chance to comply with a lawful order of the NSW Legislative Council after months of obfuscation and defying parliamentary orders. Time is up.

Chris Minns said that under his government “integrity would be a verb”, but the only action they take is to hide from scrutiny and transparency. NSW deserves better.

If Labor cannot meet a simple order to produce documents, how can anyone trust them to build anything or manage billions in taxpayer funds?

At 9am, Chris Minns will be talking about Metro West, a project built by the NSW Liberals and Nationals. Instead of spinning theories and dodging scrutiny, perhaps he can explain whether Labor will meet today’s deadline or keep hiding the truth.

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said it’s time for Labor to live up to the standards they preach.

“If the Minns Labor Government fails to produce the documents by 4pm, then the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Penny Sharpe will be required to front the Parliament tomorrow and explain why. And if she fails again, the House has the power to suspend her for contempt. It doesn’t get more serious than this,” Mr Tudehope said.

In the last Labor Government, Treasurer Michael Egan was suspended for refusing to hand over documents, we are now seeing the same playbook. The difference is that this time it is Penny Sharpe on the line.

Today Labor has a choice. Deliver the documents or face the consequences. When issues hit too close to home, their instinct is to ignore the substance, attack the messenger and pretend the problem doesn’t exist.

Coward labor comrades duck the division on workers comp

Workers compensation in NSW needs reform, but the Minns Labor Government is trying to make it even harder for seriously injured workers to get the help they need. While mental health services across the state are stretched thin, Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey are pushing changes that will restrict access to help for serious psychological injury.

These changes will not prevent injuries, and they will not support frontline workers. They will simply make it harder for seriously injured people to access the care they need to recover.

Labor promised the world before the election. Labor MPs and MLCs signed a pledge to remove section 39 (the whole personal impairment threshold [WPI] for ongoing support) completely and protect injured workers. The signatories included 19 current ministers and the Minister who would normally have portfolio responsibility for these reforms, the Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis. However, as this is about the mismanagement of the budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey is in charge. The Labor MPs and MLCs shook hands and smiled for cameras before the election , but that promise was tossed aside in the early hours of this morning.

Debate on the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 began at 2:35pm yesterday and dragged on until almost 5am today. When it came time to call a division on the WPI clauses, Labor MPs refused. They would not have their names recorded. They knew that their vote betrayed the very frontline workers they claimed to stand up for. They also knew it betrayed the unions who fund their campaigns.

Their behaviour exposed what really goes on in this Government, when issues hit too close to home. Their instinct is to ignore the substance, attack the messenger and pretend the problem doesn’t exist.

What makes it worse is the Premier’s refusal to face Sydney media today to explain what is going on with his Government in the Legislative Council. Instead of fronting up and explaining why his Government is trying to sell out injured workers, he is running off down the South Coast to prop up a Labor MP who has delivered nothing for her community.

Labor’s cowardice sits on top of one of the most shameful parliamentary weeks in years. The Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe was formally censured yesterday for failing to comply with multiple orders for papers relating to the Premier’s secret Moore Park deal with Clover Moore and Bob Carr. If the Government refuses to comply, the Legislative Council retains the option of suspending her from the Parliament.

This is the transparency standard of the Minns Labor Government. It is a Government that blocks scrutiny, filibusters debate and runs from accountability every chance it gets.

The Minns Labor Government has failed the transparency test and now the basic decency test.

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said what we have seen from Labor is a disgrace, breaking their election promise while also hiding from their record.

“When the moment came for a division, they refused. If you cannot put your name to a vote that affects injured workers across NSW, you are in the wrong job,” Mr Tudehope said.

Future Hawks to spread wings at Kennedy Community Centre

Dingley Village in Melbourne’s south-east is home to new, world-class sporting facilities with the opening of the Kennedy Community Centre.

Opened today, the first stage of the sporting complex includes elite facilities for south-east Melbourne’s AFLW athletes and aspiring girls and boys participating in pathway football programs.

The complex also includes the Harris High Performance Centre, which has a fully flood-lit oval, an indoor training field, aquatic facilities and unisex change rooms.

The new three-level pavilion features covered seating, doctors’ rooms, player rooms, coaching boxes, radio and TV broadcast boxes, areas for umpires and timekeepers, change rooms and community areas – ensuring it’s immediately fit for spectator sports at the highest levels.

The complex also features a function centre including a servery area, kitchen, storage facilities, public amenities, first aid area and capacity for 140 guests.

Stage 1 of the Kennedy Community Centre has been funded through all three levels of government, with the Australian Government contributing $15 million to construction.

The $113 million complex was also funded through the Victorian Government, Kingston City Council, the AFL and Hawthorn Football Club.

Construction of the Kennedy Community Centre supported 500 jobs and will create 10 ongoing roles across the Football Club and wider Dingley Village community to service the demand generated by these new world-class facilities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“To all of you who have worked so hard to deliver this project, you have done something extraordinary.

“Our Government is proud to have supported the work of the Hawthorn Football Club, the Victorian Government and the Kingston City Council.

“I am so pleased this is a place that belongs to the community because that is what sport in Australia is all about – bringing people together and building that sense of community.”

Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan:

“Victoria is the home of the AFL, and this is a landmark moment for Hawthorn Football Club and for women’s sport in Victoria. These elite facilities will give the Hawks a home to train, play, and inspire the next generation of players for many years to come.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The Hawk’s new nest in Dingley Village won’t just be the administrative base for the AFLW and AFLM teams, but a key match day ground for the women’s Hawks, shared green space and facilities for the local community.

“Our co-investment ensures the budding superstars of tomorrow can lace up their first set of footy boots at quality facilities, close to home and kick goals for years to come.”

Minister Housing, Homelessness and Cities Clare O’Neil:

“As a proud Melburnian and Hawks fan this is a tremendous project that will help develop a new generation of AFL and AFLW stars.”

Member for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus:

“The kids, families and the wider community in my electorate of Isaacs love their AFL footy. Having these new facilities in their own backyard will make a real difference for so many locals.”

Beyond the Court Roadshow Inspires Goulburn Netball Community

Netball NSW’s Beyond the Court Roadshow wrapped up in Goulburn on Saturday after two days of school visits, leadership development, community engagement and workshops designed to strengthen and celebrate the region’s netball community.

Held from 14–15 November, the Roadshow brought GIANTS Netball athletes Amy Sligar and Erin O’Brien to town, joined by senior Netball NSW executives and Board Members, including Chair Sallianne Faulkner.
The program connected directly with local students, coaches, umpires, volunteers and young leaders, delivering education, inspiration, and practical support for those who power the sport in regional NSW.

School students celebrate GIANTS Netball in Goulburn.

On Friday, the GIANTS netball athletes visited Mulwaree High School, leading Q&A sessions with students before heading to the Goulburn Netball Courts for a community meet-and-greet attended by fans of all ages.

The evening concluded with the Youth Ambassador Program at the Goulburn Soldiers Club, where young local leaders took part in leadership activities, discussions, and mentoring with the athletes and the newly elected Chair of the inaugural Netball NSW Youth Advisory Group, Sofia Novak.

Netball NSW Executive General Manager – Community, Trish Crews, said the Roadshow reflected Netball NSW’s commitment to being present, accessible and connected with communities across the state.

Goulburn has embraced the Roadshow with enthusiasm and we’ve been thrilled to see so many young athletes, volunteers and families engage with the program.

Beyond the Court is about supporting every part of the netball ecosystem — not just the players on court, but the coaches, umpires, administrators and emerging leaders who make regional netball strong.

We’re committed to continuing to invest in communities like Goulburn, where the passion for our sport is as vibrant as ever.”

Saturday saw many community members take part in full-day Beyond the Court Workshops at Veolia Arena, featuring sessions for coaches, umpires, administrators and volunteers delivered by Netball NSW facilitators and executives.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council Mayor Nina Dillon welcomed the initiative and praised its impact on local participation.

We are proud to host the Netball NSW Regional Roadshow, showcasing the passion and talent that drives our regional sporting community. Events like this strengthen our local connections and inspire the next generation of athletes.”

The 2025 Roadshow forms part of Netball NSW’s broader commitment to strengthening regional pathways, developing future leaders, and celebrating the volunteers who underpin the sport across NSW.

Greens’ Rattenbury to Canberra Liberals: Ditching climate action a path to failure

As the Liberal Party flounders headfirst into electoral oblivion with their announcement to ditch the goal of reaching net-zero emissions to protect our planet, the Canberra Liberals have been mincing words on their stance.

Leader of the ACT Greens and Greens Climate Spokesperson Shane Rattenbury said the Canberra Liberals have a lot to answer for if they want to be taken seriously by Canberrans looking for real climate leadership.

Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens:

“Today’s announcement from the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party is a bad omen for the direction of the Canberra Liberals—because the fact of the matter is that the climate-sceptic wing in their federal party are feeling emboldened by Donald Trump’s cowboy approach to international climate politics, and they want to replicate it right here in Australia.

“Sussan Ley’s decision to ditch a policy of net-zero emissions in Australia isn’t just a policy for the Federal Liberals, it’s a stance we’ve seen the Canberra Liberals refuse to condemn—with their new leader and their new candidate for the Senate failing to rule out the idea of abandoning net-zero policies in this city.

“To put it bluntly, this is criminal. For a party wondering why they’re not being taken seriously by the electorate in Canberra, they need to have a serious look at their refusal to acknowledge the real world financial, environmental and social impacts of climate change on people who live in Canberra and around the world.

“Last election, the Canberra Liberals went to the electorate with a policy of ditching the Greens ban on fossil fuel gas connections and ditching the Greens phase-out of fossil-fuel cars. The question is: will they continue to resist the renewable energy revolution?

“At the same time, local Labor went to the election with no new climate policies and over the past year, we’ve seen the consequences—with Canberra rolling backwards on our emissions reduction targets – targets the Greens fought hard to secure and deliver.

“Right now, we need real accountability to the actions of this government, and we need real climate action. And it seems that it will be up to the Greens to do this job while the Labor Party stalls and the Liberals flounder.

Community singers expected to flock to Last Christmas mashup in Wheeler Place

Registrations are now open for Newcastle’s favourite festive community chorus, with Civic Theatre’s One Song Sing event returning to Wheeler Place next month.

This will be the third year Novocastrians have been given an hour to learn a special Christmas song before joining together in a one-off public pop-up performance led by community music group The Sum of the Parts.

More than 1,000 community members joined voices to take part in Civic Theatre’s One Song Sing event in Wheeler Place last year.

Following two hugely successful renditions of Paul Kelly’s Christmas classic ‘How to Make Gravy’, this year’s mashup will blend the nostalgia of Wham’s holiday hit ‘Last Christmas’ with the modern pop song ‘Birds of a Feather’ by Billie Eilish.

Executive Manager Civic Theatre Leonie Wallace said the event is a way of celebrating the Christmas season with the community.

“One Song Sing is our way of saying thank you to the community for their support of the theatre during the past year,” Ms Wallace said.

“We look forward to welcoming the community back to Wheeler Place on 22 December for another wonderful celebration in the heart of the Civic precinct.”

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee Cr Jenny Barrie said the event offers a unique opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to share in the fun of a festive community sing-along.

“One Song Sing has attracted around 3,000 combined registrations during the past two years and has become a festive favourite, uniting locals in a relaxed, joyful singing experience that connects and celebrates community spirit,” Cr Barrie said.

The free sing-along will start from 5.30pm on Monday 22 December. Visit the Civic Theatre website to register for the event.

No prior singing experience is required as the event is inclusive, welcoming and designed to make everyone feel part of something special.

The performance will also be recorded and shared online, allowing the wider community and those who are unable to make it on the day to experience the festive spirit. A link to last year’s performance can be found here.

New social homes to support growing cohort of homeless older women

More older women in Southwest Sydney will have a safe, secure place to live as the NSW and Commonwealth governments partner together to build more social homes for seniors.

Women aged 55 and over are the fastest-growing group at risk of homelessness, creating urgent need for more social homes for seniors across New South Wales.

Two renewal projects in Rosemeadow and Airds-Bradbury are delivering more than 100 new social homes for seniors, most of which will be allocated to women, including:

45 in Rosemeadow
31 in Bradbury
Another 31 in Airds on track for completion by end of year.

In Rosemeadow, the NSW and Federal Governments have delivered 45 beautiful, modern homes for people aged 55 and over with lift access and tailored design to support independent living.

The Rosemeadow Estate Redevelopment has transformed a 1970s public housing estate into 230 new homes within a vibrant, mixed-tenure community, with potential for more homes now being investigated.

The Airds-Bradbury Renewal Project, delivered by the NSW Government, is one of the state’s largest public housing redevelopments, building more than 2,100 modern homes in the Campbelltown area.

The project is transforming a 200-hectare site into a thriving, mixed community with at least 30 per cent social housing, including these new homes for older residents.

So far, 165 new social homes and 843 private lots have been completed, alongside new community spaces, parks and playing fields. With several stages still to come, including another 31 seniors’ homes by the end of 2025, the renewal is expected to be complete by 2030.

These developments are an example of what is possible under the Minns Labor Government’s record-breaking $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program, which is delivering:

8,400 new public homes
21,000 affordable and market homes
Upgrades to 30,000 existing social housing properties.

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“Older women are becoming the leading demographic of people most at risk of homelessness, whether it’s because of relationship breakdowns, the superannuation gap, or any number of other life challenges.

“Most of them are experiencing first-time homelessness at age 60, 70 or even older – it comes as a big shock and many women don’t know where to turn.

“That’s why this type of housing is so important. Everyone deserves to age with dignity, safety and independence, and these new homes are making that possible for more people in Southwest Sydney.”

Federal Member for Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander said:

“These new homes for seniors are a fantastic example of what can be achieved when the Commonwealth and NSW Governments work together to deliver real outcomes for our community.

“The renewal projects in Rosemeadow and Airds-Bradbury are transforming our suburbs for the better, giving seniors the opportunity to stay close to family, friends and local services.

“This is exactly the kind of investment that builds a fairer, stronger future for Macarthur.”

State Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said:

“Many of the new homes are going to women aged over 55, the fastest-growing group at risk of homelessness, and that’s exactly who we need to be supporting with secure, long-term housing.

“These are high-quality, modern homes close to shops and services, giving seniors in Southwest Sydney the security and comfort they deserve.”

And the homeless men?