Category: NSW News

A program to deliver 25 more electric vehicle fast chargers in regional NSW is almost complete.

The $6 million program was funded with a $3 million contribution each from the NSW Government and the NRMA to help deliver greener and cleaner travel.

This will extend the NRMA’s existing chargers to more than 100 in around 70 locations in NSW, creating the most comprehensive regional charging network in the country.

The program involves the installation of dual chargers ranging from 50kW to 150kW in key regional NSW locations. Most of these locations will be within no more than 150 kilometres from another in the NRMA fast charger network.

The range provided depends on the charger and the electric vehicle but for example a 75kW charger can charge an EV battery to provide up to 90km of range in 15 minutes, 180km of range in 30 minutes or 360km of range in 1 hour.

The fast chargers further unlock the state with a focus on regional corridors including the Newell, Barrier, New England and Kamilaroi highways as well as completing the Castlereagh, Hume and Kings Highway connections.

The northwest of NSW is the latest area to be rolled out with chargers at Inverell, Narrabri, Moree and Dorrigo switched on in recent weeks and another one at Walcha due by the end of the month.

This program also includes chargers at Casino, Tenterfield, Coonamble, Nyngan, Cobar, Wilcannia, Broken Hill, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, Gilgandra, Jerilderie, Temora, Armidale, Scone, Yass, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong and Braidwood.

Thanks to the efficiencies achieved in the co-funded program, there will be an additional 25th site in Moruya installed in 2024.

Find the location of all NRMA fast chargerslaunch

The Transport for NSW partnership with the NRMA to deliver more fast chargers in the regions follows last week’s announcement by the NSW Government of $10 million allocated under round two of the Destination Charging Program.

Around 3,000 EV chargers will be installed at tourist destinations under the program with applications now open.

Find out more about EV destination grantslaunch

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“It is great news that as a result of the NSW Government’s partnership with the NRMA we will deliver 25 additional fast chargers throughout regional NSW. The charger locations have been chosen strategically to connect major centres within the state and also to link up with major routes in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to extend the regional network of fast chargers in the lead up to the Christmas break and summer holidays. This will allow EV drivers to travel with confidence, further powering up local economies and investment in regional areas and increase the take up rate of EVs.

“This is a significant improvement for regional transport and in key regional hubs, like Wollongong where there is now a 150kW charger, which have an even greater and faster charging capacity to get people moving more quickly.

“In the last year, EV registrations have risen more than 140 per cent on average across NSW and with new charging infrastructure we are making it easier for drivers to travel longer, cleaner journeys.

“Along with other EV initiatives by the NSW government this is an important part of the decarbonisation of our transport system and essential to meeting our net zero by 2050 target.”

Carly Irving-Dolan Chief Executive – Energy at the NRMA said:

“The NRMA is pleased to deliver an additional 25 electric vehicle fast chargers across regional NSW in partnership with the NSW Government.

“As EV uptake continues to increase year on year, drivers expect to be able to navigate through NSW and find a charger with ease. The rollout of this program sees vital connections established across regional NSW.

“With our expanding network of EV chargers, we are empowering people to move whenever, wherever they want to safely and confidently in an EV.

“The NRMA knows the importance of connecting communities, whether it’s those from the city or the bush. We are committed to ensuring that no Australian community is left behind in the transition to EVs.”

The 25 new chargers are at:

• Armidale
• Bourke
• Braidwood – will be switched on by the end of the year
• Brewarrina
• Broken Hill
• Cobar
• Coonamble
• Casino
• Dorrigo
• Gilgandra – will be switched on by the end of the year
• Inverell
• Jerilderie
• Moree
• Narrabri
• Nyngan
• Scone
• Temora
• Tenterfield
• Wagga Wagga
• Walcha – will be switched on by the end of November
• Walgett
• Wilcannia
• Wollongong
• Yass

An additional charger at Moruya, NSW is expected to be operational from mid 2024.

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib has acknowledged the more than 50 volunteers who have taken surf and water safety messages to kids in the bush as part of a decades-long program run by Surf Life Saving NSW.

A record 100 schools are participating in Beach to Bushlaunch this month, in what is the 30th anniversary of the popular educational program.

To date, more than 285,000 regional and rural students have learned how to stay safe at the beach through Beach to Bush, which also teaches students about the hazards of inland waterways such as rivers, dams and pools.

Students learn about the role of surf lifesavers, the importance of swimming between the red and yellow flags, how to spot a rip current, what to do if they get into trouble at the beach and the different types of marine life along the coast.

The Beach to Bush program began as a result of research which highlighted that a large proportion of people rescued from the surf live more than 50km from the beach.

Children from regional and rural areas may be at greater risk at the beach because they are less familiar with the environment and potential surf dangers.

From Old Bonalbo and Mummulgum in the north-west, to Trundle and Tooraweenah in the Western Plains and Wakool and Finley in the Riverina, the Beach to Bush program will make a total of 16 tours this year.

The Beach to Bush program is partly funded by the NSW Government.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“I am very pleased to see Surf Life Saving NSW seeking to include as many people as possible in its safety messaging, and reaching rural and regional communities through Beach to Bush is a great example of this.

“Everyone should feel safe at the beach and in waterways, no matter how close they live to the coast. As more and more families head to the coast for holidays, educating young Australians in beach safety is vital.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Learning about water safety is a skill young students can carry with them for life, and it is wonderful to see hard working volunteers have helped to educate hundreds of thousands of regional students about being safe in the surf.

“This program reaches all corners of the state and on its 30th anniversary we continue to see the benefits it brings, particularly to students who live in the bush.”

Volunteer surf lifesaver from Dee Why SLSC Adrienne Lowe said:

“Presenting the program has been a labour of love for more than 2 decades.

“Beach to Bush is such an interactive preventative program, it really makes a difference to how children in rural and remote areas understand water safety.

“I remember one year I did the program with a school outside Burke in 42-degree heat under a tin shed. The students loved it. They love seeing real surf lifesavers.”

Surf Life Saving NSW President Peter Agnew said:

“Every year we get so many lifesavers putting their hands up to participate in Beach to Bush as it is such a unique and special program.

“Some volunteers still touring were there at the program’s inception 30 years ago.”

Close to 130,000 cubic metres of sand has been now delivered to Stockton Beach, in the first phase of a $6.3 million project to remediate the heavily-eroded coastline.

The project is being administered by the NSW Government, and jointly funded by the Albanese Government’s 2022-23 Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program, and the City of Newcastle.

Stage one of work to renourish Stockton Beach is now complete, with the volume of suitable sand dredged and placed in the past three weeks exceeding the initial 100,000m3 target, delivering an additional 30,000 cubic metres of sand.

During the works, it became evident that more sand had accumulated in the approved dredging area in Newcastle Harbour. The Trud R, the dredging vessel that collected and sprayed the sand onto Stockton Beach, was able to dredge this additional sand.

Investigations into sourcing further sand for Stockton Beach continue.

The NSW Government has steered this project while gathering key insights for a blueprint to help the Department of Planning and Environment map out the next steps for Stockton.

The Blueprint for Stockton, led by the Department of Planning & Environment, will be presented at the next Taskforce meeting in December as the NSW Government works to deliver on its $21 million promise to find long term solutions for coastal erosion at Stockton.

Attributed to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt:

“The Albanese Government is pleased to work with the local Council to fund such an important project for the region.

The NSW Government has made great progress with the sand renourishment project.

The Federal Government’s Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program recognises the need for coastal communities to have better resilience against the natural hazard induced events that we know will be coming in more frequency and more severity.”

Attributed to Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty:

“We anticipated we would get at least 100,000 cubic metres of sand onto Stockton Beach in this initial phase of work, but I am delighted to share that we have exceeded those expectations to deliver even more.

I know how important the beach is to the community, and how devastating it has been for them to see it washed away bit by bit, year after year.

This work is just the beginning, and what we have learned from this process will inform our Government’s commitment to Stockton and future investigations into longer-term solutions.”

Attributed to Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley:

“The people of Stockton have fought a long, hard battle to get this sand back on their beach and I am so proud the Minns Government has stepped in to offer this support swiftly.

Getting 130,000 cubic metres of sand onto Stockton is an incredible result for Stockton and the wider Hunter community, and while there is still more work to be done, we are on our way and moving in the right direction.”

Attributed to Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

“I am thrilled to see the Albanese Labor Government’s $4.7 million delivering such great dividends for the people of Stockton.

Today’s announcement that 130, 000 cubic metres of sand has been returned to Stockton Beach is welcome news. It’s an important first-instalment of our commitment to deliver 300,000 cubic meters in partnership with the City of Newcastle.

The Stockton community deserves full credit for their tireless advocacy to achieve. I look forward to the NSW government progressing plans for longer-term remediation.”

Attributed to Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes:

“Getting the first phase of sand back on Stockton Beach is an exciting milestone, only possible because of the collaboration with the local community and the NSW and Federal Governments.

With phase one now complete, planning is progressing for the next round of dredging to continue this work and ensure that we protect Stockton’s coastline for future generations.”

Budding athletes in Sydney’s South West will soon have the opportunity to pursue a sport-focussed education close to home, as the Minns Labor Government delivers on its election commitment to convert Eagle Vale High School to a sports school. 

A new selective sports stream will commence in 2025 at the school, which will run the Talented Sports Program with basketball, cricket and rugby league as the foundation sports.

Planning for a multi-purpose hall and new and upgraded sports facilities is now under way to support the delivery of the program at the school.

This announcement means families in the Macarthur region for the first time will have a school on their doorstep that caters to students excelling in sports, alongside a strong academic program.

Previously, up-and-coming athletes in the region have had to make long trips out of the area to pursue their athletic ambitions at other sports high schools.

The Talented Sports Program, which runs in another seven NSW public high schools, has a long tradition of nurturing some of the country’s best up-and-coming athletes.

Alumni of NSW public sports high schools include Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, soccer greats Harry Kewell and Alanna Kennedy, and former Australian rugby league captain Boyd Cordner.

Local and national sporting organisations, including Wests Tigers NRL club, have given in-principle support to partner with the school for the program. Formal partnership agreements are expected to follow.

These organisations include:

• Wests Tigers (NRL)
• Macarthur Rams, Camden Tigers and Macarthur District Football Associations (soccer)
• Campbelltown, Wollondilly and Roar Basketball Associations
• Campbelltown/Camden District Cricket Club and Camden District Cricket Association
• Macarthur Quake FUTSAL Club.

The school will continue to cater comprehensively to local students, with the program and upgrades offering increased academic and sporting opportunities through increased curriculum options.

Trials for the school’s foundation sports will be held in 2024. The program’s first cohort will begin in 2025.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Our commitment at Eagle Vale will mean children in south-western Sydney will finally get a real opportunity to follow their sporting dreams – without having to commit hours to travel every day.

“There is such a strong sporting culture and tradition in this part of Sydney, it’s time that was reflected in the opportunities available to local school children. 

“This is a project that Labor MPs in the region, especially Anoulack Chanthivong, Nathan Hagarty and Greg Warren, have championed for years and we’re proud that as a government we can now bring it to fruition.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The Macarthur region has produced a long line of great sporting champions and having a school to meet the needs of upcoming young athletes in the area is long overdue.

“Instead of spending hours each day getting to and from school, the region’s gifted young athletes will soon have more time to concentrate on both their studies and sport, with quality facilities easily accessible from home.

“The Talented Sports Program at Eagle Vale High School will see local students reap the benefits of the school’s partnerships with a wide range of sporting clubs, fostering excellence in sports like rugby league, soccer, basketball and cricket.”

NSW Health Pathology’s laboratory at Randwick is today celebrating 25 years as a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre.

The NSW Health Pathology laboratory at the Prince of Wales Hospital supports the WHO’s global efforts fighting sexually transmitted infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.

Health Minister Ryan Park said he was delighted to celebrate the milestone anniversary of the facility on International Pathology Day (8 November).

“NSW Health Pathology staff working at laboratories across the state are the hidden heroes of healthcare, working to ensure doctors have the diagnostic results and advice they need to make informed decisions about patient care,” Mr Park said.

“Many medical decisions rely on pathology, and most cancer diagnoses start with pathology.

“I want to thank all our NSW Health Pathology teams for the incredible role they play, often behind the scenes, in the NSW health system to help protect our lives. We simply couldn’t do without them.

“WHO Collaborating Centres are an international network of laboratory institutions designated by the Director-General of the WHO to help fulfil its mandated activities and harness international expertise, skills and resources.”

Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill said the 25th anniversary of the Randwick lab serves as an important opportunity to recognise the skills and significant contribution of NSW Health Pathology staff in monitoring antimicrobial resistance over many years.

“I’m incredibly proud of the staff at the Randwick facility, providing a service that is integral to care delivery across the whole health system,” Ms O’Neill said.

The NSW Health Pathology laboratory at Randwick works with the WHO on antimicrobial resistance surveillance and acts as the National Coordinating Centre for the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System. Since the 1980s the laboratory has also coordinated the national surveillance program for invasive meningococcal disease.

NSW Health Pathology’s Randwick Laboratory Medical Director Professor Monica Lahra congratulated her colleagues on the milestone, saying it was an honour to be working with the WHO as a collaborating centre.

“Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and is a major emerging health threat around the world.  It can affect anyone and can result in longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and cause long-term side effects or even death,” Prof Lahra said.

“Our world-leading experts are providing vital surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and working to keep all our communities safe.

“Our NSW Health Pathology team coordinates these programs and collaborates with partner organisations globally to support the WHO’s important work.”

Almost 20,000 drivers on overseas licences have converted to a NSW licence over the past 4 months, with some taken off the road altogether after running up enough demerit points to lose a licence almost 3 times over.

The Minns Labor government has welcomed the first tranche of foreign licence holders rolling over to a NSW licence but is determined to go further than the previous Coalition government, with all drivers on overseas licences in future to be directed to convert their licence.

Under the current regulation brought in by the Liberals, only drivers moving to NSW since 1 July 2023 must convert to a NSW licence.

This has led to 20,000 foreign licence surrenders since that date.

The regulation now allows for overseas drivers to be stripped of their driving privileges permanently if they accrue 13 demerit points or are convicted of certain speeding, drug and alcohol or serious driving offences.

In the past 4 months, drivers who have been hit with suspensions include:

• A driver who accumulated 37 demerit points since 2021 in 7 speeding offences and 3 mobile phone infringements was banned for 5 months and must apply for a NSW licence.
• A driver who had 33 demerit points and was still on the road after being caught speeding at 30 km/h-plus over the limit, as well as multiple other speeding and mobile phone offences, was banned for a minimum 8 months.
• A driver who had 29 demerit points from a combination of disobeying traffic lights, speeding and mobile phone offences has been able to pass a test to obtain a NSW licence and is currently under good behaviour conditions until September 2024.

In the first 10 months of 2023, there have been 5 fatal crashes involving a driver or rider with an overseas licence.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“It will be a relief for the nearly 7 million drivers in NSW on a state licence that we are seeing the beginning of a long overdue rollover of foreign licences. This will improve the overall standard of driving in NSW and therefore safety in general.

“It is frightening to say the least that some drivers on overseas licences have been able to chalk up demerit points almost with impunity.

“It is appropriate that people visiting the country are able to drive on our roads – just as Australians do when they travel overseas – but the Minns Labor government is determined to make sure that anyone residing in the state longer than 6 months is required to get a NSW licence. We will have more to say on this in future. 

“Sadly, there has been a rise in the number of lives lost on our roads this year. The impact of road trauma lasts a lifetime, so we are doing everything we can to put a stop to this upward trend.”

The NSW Government proposing at least 3000 new homes for Macquarie Park as part of a plan to create a lively community in the suburb.

The rezoning proposal would deliver 3060 new homes, 8 hectares of new public open space, a large multi-purpose indoor recreation facility, along with paths for walking and cycling.

The development is currently zoned to support commercial office space for up to 23,000 jobs.

Under this proposal, developers would be given flexibility and could choose to instead construct up to 5040 build-to-rent homes instead of commercial real estate.

This is a well-located part of Sydney that is bounded by 2 Sydney Metro stations (Macquarie University and Macquarie Park), is home to Macquarie University and the Macquarie Centre shopping centre, and is near the Lane Cove National Park.

Passengers from Macquarie Park Metro Station will be able to reach the CBD within 20 minutes when the City and Southwest Metro opens between Tallawong and Sydenham in 2024.

The Macquarie Park Innovation Precinct Stage 1 proposal would also create a lively community in one of Sydney’s biggest employment hubs.

Macquarie Park is the fourth largest office market in NSW, behind Parramatta, North Sydney and Sydney CBD, and is home to businesses from industries such as IT and pharmaceuticals.

The proposal is now open for consultation. It includes mixed-use commercial and residential development along Shrimptons Creek, Lane Cove Road and Epping Road and the renewal of Waterloo Road.

Along with residential development, the revitalisation proposal includes ground level retail for entertainment, dining, and recreation.

The new public open space would include play areas, sports fields, fitness stations, BBQ areas along with picnic tables and shelters.

The rezoning proposal builds on the vision set out in the Macquarie Park Innovation Precinct (MPIP) Place Strategy finalised by the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in 2022 which outlines a staged approach to the development and transformation.

Feedback received from the community and stakeholders will be taken into consideration to help inform the final plan in mid-2024.

To view the proposal and have your say, visit the NSW Planning Portallaunch.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“We are constantly searching for ways to ease our housing crisis, and this proposal can help.

“The construction of homes in NSW has simply not kept pace with our population growth.

“This area is already a good place to work, and we will make it a great place to live and work.

“More and more, we will ensure the construction of new homes happens in places with great transport links, like this area.

“We need to take full advantage of the investments our state’s taxpayers make into public transport.

“Proposals like this are important to change the trajectory of the housing supply crisis.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“We need more housing in established areas to improve affordability, reduce infrastructure costs, and limit the burden on taxpayers.

“This rezoning is an opportunity to deliver more homes on the doorstep of the CBD and near well-connected public transport including the new Macquarie Park metro station.

“We want to see density in precincts like this be part of Sydney’s future, supporting homes and jobs that are accessible to everyone in the community.

“The precinct’s growth has the potential to provide a huge economic boost and secure Macquarie Park’s reputation as a world-class place for business, innovation, research, and education.

“More homes and workplaces will also help support a 24-hour economy with more opportunities for late night entertainment, dining, and recreation.

“I encourage the community to view the proposal and have their say by Sunday 10 December 2023.”

Extraordinarily in Budget Estimates today, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Anoulack Chanthivong revealed that innovation and the start-up sector is not a priority for the Minns Labor Government.
 
Shadow Minister for Innovation, Mark Coure said since coming to power in March, the Minns Labor Government has failed the innovation sector, who have suffered from uncertainty, budget cuts and a lack interest from Minister Chanthivong in the issues affecting startups.
 
“Minister Chanthivong’s performance in Budget Estimates today confirmed he is a Minister who does not see value in the innovation portfolio, blaming the former government for his lack of advocacy to ensure there was a budget that appropriately supported founders in the innovation sector.” Mr Coure said.
 
“The Minister’s unwillingness to answer legitimate and important questions, including why he reduced the budget of the nation leading MVP Ventures Program from $10 million to $3 million, speaks volumes about his knowledge of the programs he is responsible for.” 
  
“In eight months since becoming Minister, Minister Chanthivong has also failed to meet with significant innovation sector stakeholders, instead, choosing pollsters and unions over innovators and entrepreneurs like Fishburners, an anchor tenant of the Sydney Startup Hub.”
 
“NSW based innovators and entrepreneurs make an enormous contribution to our economy, and reputation as a nation-leader in this space – they deserve a Minister who actually values this work.”
 
Liberal MLC Jacqui Munro said founders who had originally set up in NSW because of the strong support on offer were now looking interstate due to policy uncertainty from the Minns Labor Government.
 
“We no longer have a government in NSW that is willing to provide stability and reliability for a thriving innovation sector. Minister Chanthivong had an opportunity to correct the record today, but instead dodged legitimate policy and process questions, refusing to give certainty to founders who have been seeking information for months.” Ms Munro said.
 
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals will continue to call out the Minns Government and Minister Chanthivong for abandoning the innovation sector and will fight to keep NSW as the innovation capital of Australia.”

The NSW Opposition has slammed Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong for his decision to hand over control of Junee Correctional Facility to the heavily unionised Corrective Services NSW.
 
Mr Chanthivong was grilled over the move during a Budget Estimates hearing today. 
 
Shadow Minister for Corrections Mark Taylor said the Minister needs to come clean on his back door union deal that will result in a $15 million hit to the Budget.
 
“GEO Group has successfully managed the Junee Correctional Centre for over 30 years, as evidenced by the latest extension to their current contract,” Mr Taylor said.
 
“Junee Correctional Centre is one of the major employers in the Riverina region, where staff live and work locally.”
 
“Their extended families are well established in local schools, sporting clubs, or working in local businesses. These families will be torn apart as they are replaced by unionised staff from Sydney with no local community connection.”
 
“The Minister has not even visited Junee Correctional Centre. It’s like the Minister is wearing a Public Services Association issued ankle bracelet, and every time it buzzes, he rings the PSA head office for instructions.”
 
“It’s understandable people right across our State are saying they have voter remorse. The Minns Labor Government promises one thing before the election and does the exact opposite after.”
 
“There is a pattern here of looking after your mates rather than the community. In this case, people will lose their jobs, union officials win, and the NSW Community will pay.”
 
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that the decision is looking murkier by the day.
 
“Either the Minister is not across his brief, or he was deliberately avoiding questions around the government’s decision to take over the running of the Junee Correctional Centre,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“The Minster was unable to provide any credible rationale for the decision, and instead hid behind technical jargon to justify what appears to be a highly dubious move from this government.
 
“By his own admission, the Minister failed to consult the community about his decision, hasn’t even visited the Junee Correctional Centre and failed to commit to come to Junee and speak face-to-face with those that are impacted directly on the ground,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“When pressed on whether there would be any job losses, the Minister again danced around the question, which as a local member, concerns me greatly.”
 
“The Minister acknowledged the financial contributions the current operator GEO Group has provided to the Junee community over the years, but was unable to guarantee that the government would be able to provide a similar level of support going forward.”
 
“This is simply not good enough. The Minister must come out of hiding, clear his diary, and make every effort to get to Junee as soon as possible, front up and provide the vital answers the community deserves.”

The Minns Labor government is tuning in to the challenges faced by musicians, artists and venue providers as part of its commitment to revive a thriving music scene in NSW.

For the first time, the NSW Government will conduct a survey of artists and professionals working in the music industry in a bid to build a picture of the challenges faced and what can be done to restore the live scene to a position of strength in our cultural fabric.

NSW has lost half its live music venues over the past decade, with just 137 remaining, according to current Liquor and Gaming data.

As part of the music revival, the government will seek to ensure the survival of these venues as the recently established Sound NSW begins its work with the live music industry.

Launching during Australian Music Month, participants will be asked to assess the strengths of the industry as well as the factors that might be holding the industry back, from noise restrictions, venue closures, COVID-19 and cost of living pressures.

The survey forms part of a wider research project that will combine economic analysis, venue mapping data and audience research to inform the NSW Government’s first ever strategic policy for contemporary music and create a vision for a vibrant arts and cultural scene in NSW.

The survey is completely anonymous, with no personal information collected.

The data will lead the decision-making process to revolutionise the live music industry in the state and spearhead new policy that centres on supporting and invigorating NSW’s music scene.

People working in the industry are strongly encouraged to provide insights, including artists, managers, promoters, venue operators, roadies, audio engineers, lighting and technical teams, ticket and merchandise retailers and more. This feedback will shape policy decisions and have a direct impact on the future of the sector.

Participate in State of the Scene – Live Music Surveylaunch. The survey will be open until 15 January 2024.

Minister for Music John Graham said:

“The NSW Government is committed to reviving live music across NSW.

“The last decade of lockouts and lockdowns has led to a grassroots music venue crisis in this state. We know the live music sector is facing many challenges, and this research will help identify from firsthand experience of musicians and industry participants themselves what those challenges are.

“From artists and music workers to record labels, promoters, and managers, if you work in music, we want to hear from you. This consultative research will help us tune in to the policy priorities that will restore live music in NSW.

“I encourage all music industry professionals to share their ideas and insights to help us put together an evidence-based strategy for the future.”  

Acting Head of Sound NSW, Emily Collins said:

“Sound NSW’s mission is to see a new era when NSW’s musicians, live music venues and festivals can thrive, creating greater job opportunities, injecting vibrancy to our state, and exporting NSW-grown music across Australia and to the world.” 

“The data and insights from the Live Music Survey will help us better understand and support venues.”

“Following the launch of the NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries policy later this year, Sound NSW will develop and deliver the state’s first-ever 10-year contemporary music strategy. Just as Screen NSW does for film and TV, this is about bringing a cohesive and coherent government approach to growing the sector.”