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The Minns Labor Government is continuing its work to rebuild public education across NSW, with construction underway on a brand new public primary school and public preschool for the growing Thurgoona Wirlinga precinct in Albury.

The new school and preschool will ensure families in this growing community have access to the world-class education facilities they deserve.

The new public primary school will feature 18 modern classrooms, specialist support learning facilities, a library, multipurpose hall, canteen, a sport field, and multipurpose sports courts.

The new school is set to open on Day 1, Term 1, 2028 with capacity for at least 400 students, and is being master planned for future growth.

The co-located public preschool is planned to open on Day 1, Term 1, 2027, and will provide access to quality early learning whilst the new public primary school is completed.

The public preschool will accommodate up to 120 children per week and is being delivered as part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to deliver 100 new public preschools by 2027, including 49 in regional NSW.

The investment doubles the number of public preschools in the state, the largest expansion of early learning in NSW history.

During their 12 years in government the Liberals and Nationals failed to deliver these much-needed facilities for the community, only promising a school on the eve of the 2023 election with no land acquired or plan to deliver.

These brand-new facilities are being delivered as part of the Minns Labor Government’s record education investment, including $2.1 billion for new and upgraded schools in regional NSW.

This targeted investment will ensure growing communities have access to a world-class public education, close to home.

In addition to building new schools where they are needed, the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education is being matched with more teachers in NSW public schools, with teacher vacancies at a 12-year low for the beginning of the 2026 school year.

Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The Minns Labor Government is investing in our regional communities, and these projects are part of our commitment to ensure all NSW students can access a world-class public education.

“The Liberals and Nationals let down families in Albury, failing to deliver a new school for the growing community during their 12 years in office.

“Our government is investing in local public schools to provide benefits to local children and their families for years to come.”

Minister for Regional NSW and Duty MLC for Albury Tara Moriarty said:

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering the essential education infrastructure required to ensure families have access to world-class schools, close to home.

“The new school and preschool will help meet the needs of this rapidly growing community, providing much-needed modern facilities.

“Our government is committed to making sure every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to learn in a quality, modern classroom.”

The Tibooburra community is set to benefit from upgraded Key Health Worker Accommodation, which will help attract and retain essential healthcare staff to the region, following the completion of refurbishment works.

Tibooburra is just one of more than 20 Key Health Worker Accommodation projects in rural, regional and remote NSW, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s $200.1 million program.

The newly renovated accommodation at the Tibooburra Health Service blends contemporary design and comfort with the buildings 1900s heritage-style features.

The refurbishment included upgrades to the kitchen, living and bedroom spaces, and improvements to the heating and cooling systems to provide better comfort for outback living.

Far West Local Health District is one of one of nine local health districts to benefit from the Minns Government’s investment to deliver accommodation for health workers under the Key Health Worker Accommodation Program.

The funding includes the building of new accommodation, refurbishment of existing living quarters, and the purchase of suitable properties such as residential units.

This investment builds on the $45.3 million in accommodation for key healthcare workers in the Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW, and Far West Local Health Districts, which is now complete with all units delivered and now fully operational.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The Minns Government is committed to strengthening our regional, rural and remote workforce and this newly renovated accommodation in Tibooburra is doing just that.

“Ensuring facilities are modern, comfortable, and affordable is vital to attracting and retaining healthcare workers in remote, regional and rural areas.

This is why the Minns Government has invested $200.1 million to deliver more Key Health Worker Accommodation in the Far West and across NSW.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler:

“The availability of safe, new, fit for purpose accommodation can be a game changer when you are a prospective health worker seeking a position in a remote community. 

“I appreciate the investment under the Key Worker Accommodation Program for Tibooburra, one of the most remote communities in the electorate of Barwon. They may be remote, but the community is very friendly and welcoming.”

The Minns Labor Government is introducing further legislation to strengthen integrity and crack down on crime and corruption across NSW.

It follows the Opposition and the Greens last week teaming up to block the passage of these important reforms to remove barriers to investigate wrongdoing. 

The Liberals and Nationals must explain why they have so far refused to give our investigative agencies the tools they need to combat crime and corruption.

On Thursday, the Government will introduce a fresh public interest exception to shield from prosecution those who come into the possession of an unlawfully made recording and share it promptly with an investigative agency.

As with the previous bill, this exception will only apply if the person or body was not involved in making the unlawful recording.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) currently has an exemption by way of regulation under the Surveillance Devices Regulation 2022 which allows it to utilise unlawful recordings.

This expires in June 2026 and does not extend to other investigative agencies. There is also no protection for anyone who seeks to report unlawfully obtained surveillance recordings which contain evidence of wrongdoing to ICAC or any other authority.

It will allow agencies such as ICAC and NSW Police to receive and rely on otherwise unlawful surveillance recordings to prosecute criminal and corrupt behaviour.

The reforms will not allow someone to record another person without consent and trespass will remain a criminal offence.

The Minns Labor Government hopes sense prevails and NSW Parliament facilitates the passage of measured, sensible reforms to fight crime and corruption.

Special Minister of State John Graham said:

“These are sensible reforms aimed at fighting corruption. It’s difficult to understand why the NSW Liberals would continue to stand in the way of that.

“This will give our integrity agencies more power to investigate crime and corruption, and people who come into possession of otherwise unlawful surveillance will be able to pass it on to the appropriate authorities if they were not involved in creating the recording.

“This is about making the people of NSW safer from crime and corruption, and when it does occur, this legislative gives our investigative agencies more power to hold bad actors to account.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“The Opposition and Greens should explain why they voted down efforts to protect those seeking to report evidence of crime and corruption in the public interest.

“Why don’t they want our investigative agencies to have every tool possible to investigate corruption and crime?

“This bill enshrines in law a temporary exemption that exists for ICAC, makes it permanent and expands it to other investigative agencies like the police.

“It is a commonsense reform to strengthen our ability to fight crime and corruption in NSW.

“The Opposition should stop playing silly political games and allow the Government to do the job it was elected to do.”

Work to restore the flood damaged drainage network at Cornwallis and rebuild the missing section of Cornwallis Road is now complete. 

Led by Hawkesbury City Council, in partnership with NSW Public Works, the restoration of the drainage network and levee delivers robust and resilient protection for landowners along this low-lying and flood-prone section of the Hawkesbury River. 

The $11 million project was jointly funded by the Federal and NSW governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The initial damage at Cornwallis was caused by the March 2021 flood in the Hawkesbury River, with the 1970s drainage system failing because of the severe flooding event. 

As repair works to the drain were about to start, subsequent flooding in 2022 caused further erosion and the breaching of the riverbank, resulting in a small bay forming. An 180-metre section of Cornwallis Road was also lost, necessitating a full redesign and significant expansion of repair plans.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority, Transport for NSW, NSW Public Works, and the EPA have worked alongside Hawkesbury City Council and local landholders to design a resilient and effective drain repair and road restoration. 

Even as works were underway, the site has been inundated by minor floodwaters on five occasions, including in the May 2025 flooding event. 

To rebuild the damaged network it took: 

• 232 precast 2.4m x 2.4m concrete stormwater box culverts
• 2,880 tonnes of concrete
• 25 kilometres of steel reinforcing bar
• 15,000 tonnes of sandstone foundation boulders and
• 28,000m³ of backfill
• 2 tonne steel floodgates. 

Two hundred and fifty metres of Cornwallis Road was also reconstructed to return the road to its original state.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain:

“This project is a great example of how we can all work together to address long-term issues for communities at risk of the impacts of severe weather.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved with this project on this incredible milestone.”

NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison:

“The Minns and Albanese Labor Governments are proud to have delivered this project for the people of the Hawkesbury. 

“For far too long, residents have been forced to take lengthy detours, sometimes adding half an hour or more to their daily journeys. Completing this project restores a safer, faster and more reliable connection for Hawkesbury communities. 

“Reconnecting a critical road link that families, workers and local businesses depend on.”

NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin:

“After enduring repeated and destructive floods, the people of the Hawkesbury deserve solutions that strengthen their resilience for the long term. This project is a testament to what collaboration across government can achieve when we put communities at the heart of our work. 

“Even with minor flooding occurring during construction, the teams pushed through to deliver a solution the community can rely on – one that will better protect them and offer peace of mind for years to come.” 

the Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman:

“This damage had a profound impact on local turf growers and farmers more than anyone else, and I advocated from the start for them to have full access restored. 

“Finally, they’ll be able to travel to and between their properties without a detour and I celebrate that outcome with them.”

Hawkesbury City Council Mayor Les Sheather:

“Reconstructing the Cornwallis drain network and road has been a challenging and technically complex project, made all the more difficult with repeated flooding over the past five years.

“What has been achieved though is a resilient safeguard against future flooding.

“I thank local residents and businesses for their patience during what has been an unimaginably challenging five years; as well as NSW Reconstruction Authority, Transport for NSW, NSW Public Works and the NSW EPA for their collaboration in making this important project happen.” 

The Armidale community is a step closer to receiving new key health worker accommodation with a site close to Armidale Hospital selected for new housing, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s $200.1 million program.

Rusden House, an ageing dorm-style staff accommodation block located a short 200-metre walk from the hospital, will be repurposed into contemporary, self-contained units, and will help attract and retain more healthcare workers to the region.

The designs for the new building are expected to be completed in the coming months and will include accessible accommodation and improved energy efficiency initiatives.

Armidale is one of more than 20 key health worker accommodation projects being delivered in rural, regional and remote NSW, as part of the $200.1 million program.

The Minns Government’s investment will support the building of new accommodation, refurbishment of existing living quarters, and the purchase of suitable properties such as residential units.       

The Key Health Worker Accommodation Program will deliver fit-for-purpose, comfortable and convenient accommodation for healthcare workers across nine local health districts, including the Hunter New England.

This investment builds on the $27.9 million in accommodation for key healthcare workers in the Hunter New England and Western NSW Local Health Districts (as part of the $35 million Regional Housing Package), which is now complete with all new accommodation delivered and fully operational.    

Construction of the new Armidale accommodation will begin following the appointment of a main works contractor.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park: 

“Providing affordable, safe and convenient accommodation for essential health workers is critical to attracting and retaining skilled staff in regional and rural areas.       

“This is why the Minns Government has invested $200.1 million to deliver more Key Health Worker Accommodation in Armidale and across NSW.

“By investing in high-quality and modern accommodation, close to workplaces, we’re helping to remove barriers to working in a regional setting and supporting a stronger workforce.”     

Government Spokesperson for Northern Tablelands Peter Primrose:

“The Minns Government is delivering dedicated accommodation for staff at Armidale Hospital, providing them with more certainty and flexibility.

“This $200.1 million program ensures we are continuing to attract and retain healthcare workers to the region, so that people in Armidale can continue to be supported by a strong local health workforce.” 

The Minns Labor Government has failed to adequately address even in the face of public scrutiny and parental pressure. Today’s release of the Productivity Commission’s report into early childhood education and care has laid bare an alarming increase in serious incidents for children across NSW.
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals have echoed the concerns of parents as serious incidents continue to rise, with our children at risk of harm.
 
Shadow Minister for Early Education Felicity Wilson said, “as parents, we expect that when we send our kids to preschool, childcare, or out of school hours care that they are safe and cared for, but the data released by the Productivity Commission is beyond startling with the massive increases in serious incidents showing that parents’ concerns are not being met with the urgency required.”
 
Today’s Productivity Commission report shows that in 2024–25, New South Wales recorded 9,430 serious incidents across early childhood education and care services. That equates to a rate of 154 serious incidents per 100 centres and represents an increase of almost 1,000 cases since 2023.
 
A serious incident has profound consequences for a child and can include death, serious injury or trauma, emergency services being called, or children being unaccounted for.
 
The data also show that there were 18,743 breaches of the National Quality Framework recorded – an increase of 859 breaches from 2023 and a decline in staff lacking an ECEC-related qualification with an increase of 3,723, or 35%, since 2021.
 
“Having sat in the emergency room following an early learning centre incident with my own child last year, I know that parents are concerned that NSW is at a crisis point,” Ms Wilson said.
 
“The growing number of breaches should be a wakeup call and demonstrates that more needs to be done to address this crisis, because every breach is a risk to the safety of a child.”
 
“This Government is relying on a waivers culture to avoid meeting required staffing levels. Staffing levels are legislated for a reason – to ensure safety and attention to care.”
    
“While the Minns Labor Government talks about reform, the reality on the ground tells a very different story. You cannot claim success when children are at risk. Every child deserves to be safe, and every parent deserves peace of mind. Right now, this Government is not delivering either.”