$15 million to boost water services across the state

The NSW Government is ramping up its support for regional and remote towns by injecting $15 million into supercharging a groundbreaking program that helps safeguards water and sewage services for thousands of people.

The investment is a huge win for country NSW funding the rollout of phase 3 of the government’s highly successful Town Water Risk Reduction Program building on more than $32.8 million for the initiative since 2023.

Over the past 2 years, the program has helped dozens of regional councils and local water utilities (LWU) tackle the most severe risks to town water, addressing critical skills shortages and improving the regulatory framework to give them the tools to better manage services effectively.

This next chapter of the initiative will focus on unlocking more opportunities to support local communities and provide safer and more reliable water.

It will: 

  • deliver $2 million in funding to enable 20 Local Water Utilities to carry out critical infrastructure upgrades that will lock-in a more secure, top quality water supply
  • address critical skills shortages and boost water operations by providing training and employment opportunities in regional NSW for school leavers, Aboriginal students and existing water operators
  • develop critical reforms in response to the Productivity & Equality Commission’s Review of Funding Models for Local Water Utilities enabling the sector to deliver more efficient town water services to regional NSW communities and more effective funding models
  • enable local water utilities to accelerate responses to dam safety audits and address water quality risks, leveraging the expertise of WaterNSW.

Work on phase 3 is now underway and will be implemented across the state over the next three years.

For more information on NSW Government’s support of local water utilities visit the Local water utilities web page. 

NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson said:

“The Town Water Risk Reduction Program is a game changer, enabling councils and local water utilities to better plan and manage water and sewerage services across NSW.

“We’re seeing an increase in climate extremes that have the potential to impact water infrastructure, so our remote communities need all the help they can get.

“By rolling out phase three, we can ensure the most at-risk towns have improved equipment and the best operators on the job who can respond immediately to emergencies. 

“The new funding is a massive win for country NSW and means we can charge ahead and give even more LWUs the tools they need to deliver cleaner and better quality drinking water.”

Uralla Shire Council Mayor, Robert Bell said:  

“The Town Water Risk Reduction Program is one of the most effective and valuable NSW Government initiatives that we have ever experienced. Uralla Shire Council and the community are deeply grateful for the program’s support and this new funding is great news.” 

Hay Shire Council Mayor, Carol Oataway said: 

“This collaboration is a strong example of what can be achieved when local leadership and the NSW Government work together hand-in-hand to tackle water quality issues and improve outcomes for regional communities.” 

New facilities open and on the way for Northmead’s public schools

The Students in Northmead can look forward to making the most of new world-class public school facilities, following a recently-completed upgrade at Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School, while a major upgrade of Northmead Public School is now underway.

The projects are part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education after a decade of Liberal and National neglect, with a record school infrastructure pipeline delivering new and upgraded schools to ensure every child has access to a world-class education at their local public school.

Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos officially opened the new commercial-grade kitchen and other upgraded facilities at Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School, before visiting Northmead Public School to mark the start of construction on a major upgrade that will replace demountables with permanent classrooms and return much needed playground space to students.

The new commercial kitchen at Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School is equipped with industry-standard appliances meeting updated Vocational Education and Training (VET) requirements, providing students with a modern learning environment to support food technology studies.

The high school upgrade also delivered a new multipurpose room within the school library, along with a brand new toilet block and change room facilities.

The upgrade underway at Northmead Public School will replace demountable classrooms with four new permanent classrooms and two new special program rooms, and deliver refurbished administration facilities.

The construction contract for the Northmead Public School project has been awarded, with the project due for completion in 2026.

As part of the NSW Government’s plan to rebuild public education, the 2024-25 Budget is delivering record education funding, including $3.6 billion for new and upgraded schools in Western Sydney.

This targeted investment in schools in Western Sydney will ensure growing communities get access to a world class public education.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“These important upgrades are part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to ensuring every child has access to the best educational facilities, no matter where they live.

“The new commercial kitchen at Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School will give students hands-on experience in an industry-standard environment, ensuring they are well prepared for careers in hospitality and beyond.

“Replacing demountables with permanent classrooms is a key priority of the Minns Labor Government after the Liberals and Nationals made them a permanent fixture, crowding out playgrounds in too many schools across growing suburbs in Western Sydney.”

Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School Principal Narelle Vazquez said:

“This upgrade will significantly enhance hands-on learning opportunities for our students, broadening the curriculum options to include Commercial Cookery and help them to prepare for real-world experiences in the hospitality industry.

“These state-of-the-art facilities are designed to enhance learning and foster creativity in the kitchen.

“We look forward to seeing our students thrive in this new learning environment, which offers them the opportunity to develop their culinary skills and passion for cooking.”

Northmead Public School Principal Elisa Baker said:

“We are thrilled to mark this milestone for our school community. This upgrade will give our students modern, permanent learning spaces that foster growth, curiosity, and success for years to come.

“Creating environments where students and teachers can thrive is an investment in our children’s future, which is why the start of construction is such an exciting moment for us.

“We look forward to watching the project take shape and seeing the positive impact it will have on our students, staff, and the wider community.”

NSW leads the way towards national solar panel reuse and recycling scheme

Commonwealth, state and territory governments have agreed to progress work towards a national product stewardship scheme for solar panels, ensuring they are managed from start to end of life.

At Friday’s meeting of the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council in Sydney, NSW presented a paper advocating a national mandated scheme to prevent solar panels ending up in landfill, instead directing them towards remanufacture or recycling. NSW is already developing a mandated stewardship program for batteries.

Annual solar panel waste volumes in Australia are predicted to nearly double over the next five years, from 59,340 tonnes in 2025 to 91,165 tonnes in 2030. The surge in waste is expected to be greatest in metropolitan cities from domestic use, with volumes beginning to grow in regional areas from large-scale solar facilities after 2030.

Energy Ministers recognised increasing calls for improved end-of-life management of solar panels, including those at large-scale facilities. Many solar panels are disposed of well before the end of their useful life and typically end up in landfill, stockpiled, or exported.

More than 95% of a solar panel is recyclable and contains valuable materials, including aluminium, glass, copper, silver and silicon, which can be beneficially recovered and reused.

The Smart Energy Council estimates that around one-third of solar panels could be re-used instead of being thrown away. This could contribute up to 24 gigawatts of energy by 2040, enough to power six million homes a year.

Energy Ministers agreed that NSW will lead preliminary work, together with other jurisdictions, in drawing up a Regulatory Impact Statement.

The draft will help the Government evaluate options for a national mandatory product stewardship scheme that could catalyse a national recycling and reuse sector for solar panels and their batteries.

The Commonwealth is also supporting low-cost recycling technologies for solar PV through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, to help support the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of industry approaches to solar product stewardship.

Minister for Energy and the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:

“We are proud to be leading the charge to create a unified approach to solar panel waste management and recycling.

“This work builds on the momentum of our nation-leading reform on batteries, and the new legislation already in place in NSW to enable a mandatory product stewardship scheme – ensuring suppliers take responsibility for the safe design, recycling and disposal of their products.”

Smart Energy Council CEO, John Grimes said:

“It’s been a decade since the federal government acknowledged solar panels going into landfill was a problem. Now, four million panels are coming off roofs a year with less than 5% being recycled.

“The time for talk has passed, an immediate first step is a national solar stewardship pilot to keep the industry alive and inform the Regulatory Impact Statement.

“The Smart Energy Council welcomes the restated focus from governments on the critical need for stewardship of solar PV, and particularly acknowledges the efforts of the NSW government for leading on this.’

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union NSW/ACT State Secretary Brad Pidgeon said:

“A national solar panel stewardship scheme is a major opportunity for Australian jobs.

“Remanufacturing and recycling panels here means more onshore work in the renewable energy supply chain instead of shipping valuable materials offshore or losing them as waste.”

Koala safety fences protecting our beloved urban wildlife

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to make koala safety on NSW roads a top priority, with new fauna fences and motorist warning signs going up at vehicle strike hotspots in western and southern Sydney suburbs.

It’s a critical time to protect the much-loved marsupials with breeding season running from August until the end of summer, meaning many more koalas will be moving around.

In Sydney’s south, koala protection on busy Heathcote Road has taken a major step forward with work on the $1.9 million project starting this month, thanks to funding from the NSW Koala Strategy.

More than a kilometre of fencing is being delivered around Deadmans Creek in strategic locations to prevent koalas and other fauna from entering Heathcote Road between St George Crescent at Sandy Point and Pleasure Point Road at Pleasure Point.

The koala fencing stands 1.5 metres high with non-climbable sheeting and will connect into existing fencing and safe fauna crossing points under the road.

Access for koalas under the existing Deadmans Creek Bridge will be improved with the installation of repurposed logs to help koalas climb across drainage lines.

A modified cattle grid – known as a koala grid – that impedes koala access and a pedestrian gate that stops koalas while allowing human access will also be installed at St George Crescent, along with one-way escape hatches in the fence.

This work follows the installation of six permanent koala warnings signs on Heathcote Road in 2023 and temporary electronic signs deployed during koala breeding seasons.

Construction is set to begin next year for a planned koala underpass with concrete rectangular tunnel (box culvert) and logs around Appin Road at Ousedale Creek in Sydney’s west, one of three underpasses to be built between Appin and Rosemeadow developed in partnership with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

The specifically designed koala-friendly underpass will be located 35 metres south of the Brian Road intersection and will be supported by grids, fencing and escape poles to allow koalas to climb to safety.

In response to community feedback, interim koala protection fencing is being installed along around 700 metres of Appin Road near Beulah Reserve.

This is designed to deter koalas from venturing onto this busy stretch of road and is in addition to other measures including warning signs and road markings.

Further south, 3.5 kilometres of new wildlife fencing is being added on both sides of Picton Road at Cataract between the Picton Road westbound rest area and Cordeaux Dam Road to adjoin the existing fence.

This fence extension is being installed with $6.3 million provided under the Safer Roads Program that has already delivered widening of the eastbound lane and centre barrier installation. It will be completed by the end of August.

This work follows the installation of a grid at Cordeaux Dam Road to deter koalas from entering the roadway.

This new fencing between the Picton Road rest area westbound and Cordeaux Dam Road will close a gap in the existing fencing and further help to prevent koala strikes.

The upgraded wildlife fencing used on all of these projects is designed to be durable and secure with the use of thick-gauge wire, strong mesh, and tie wires installed frequently to provide strength and longevity.

For more information on Heathcote Road, visit the Transport for NSW website. 

For more information on Appin Road, visit the Ousedale Creek Koala Underpass web page.

Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government has long been committed to koala protection.

“Vehicle strikes are both a tragedy for our threatened wildlife and a safety hazard for motorists, so we need to do more to prevent them through thoughtful improvements to our road infrastructure.

“Koalas live with us in our suburbs and bring nature into our lives. We have an obligation to protect them and to act as good neighbours.”

Southwest Metro works closer to completion

Construction work at stations along the Southwest Metro line conversion has hit two-thirds completion ahead of communities across Sydney’s south west getting their first metro services.

Due to open in 2026, the 13.5-kilometre metro line which includes stops in Bankstown, Wiley Park, Belmore and Canterbury will replace the bottleneck former T3 Bankstown rail line with a metro train running every four minutes in the peak – 15 trains an hour compared to eight trains an hour previously.

The installation of 182 kms of signalling cables and 210 kms of communication cables is now fully complete along the line.

At Marrickville, platform screen doors and mechanical gap fillers have been installed as overall completion passed 40% last week.

Security systems, poles and solar panels are installed, as well as work to upgrade the Illawarra Road and Livingstone Road overbridges, including bridge strengthening and the installation of bollards and anti-throw screens.

Passengers at Marrickville can look forward to travel times of:

  • Marrickville to Central: 10 minutes – saving three minutes
  • Marrickville to Gadigal: 12 minutes – saving 12 minutes
  • Marrickville to Chatswood: 25 minutes – saving 22 minutes
  • Marrickville to Macquarie University: 36 minutes – saving 22 minutes
  • the program of works to transform the 130-year-old line, between Sydenham and Bankstown, for modern metro trains has been a complex and difficult task.

The conversion means the metro network is separate from the existing Sydney Trains network between Sydenham and Bankstown, improving the reliability of services on the line which had been a bottleneck for the train system.

As the Southwest Metro conversion progresses, Tuesday marks the 12-month anniversary of trains on the M1 Metro Line between Chatswood and Sydenham.

More than 66.8 million passengers have tapped on and off at M1 Line stations in the past year – with almost 100 per cent running on time.

In the past year, patronage has almost doubled on the northwest section of the line with passengers enjoying their direct city services and no longer needing to interchange across the platforms at Chatswood.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“South west Metro is a massive city changing project, and it’s going to transform the way people move around Sydney.

“This service will change Sydney for the better delivering faster, safer and more reliable public transport for people living between Bankstown and Sydenham.

“We have to acknowledge this has been disruptive for the commuters in south western Sydney who used the heavy rail line we’re converting, but once this is completed and in place it will make life far easier.”

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“We have seen Sydney Metro transform how Sydneysiders get around – especially over the past 12 months of services running through the city. Next, it is the turn of south west Sydney.

“We thank the communities here for their patience in using replacement buses before this game-changing train service begins.

“Metro will open more doors to job and education opportunities while also bringing more business to this part of Sydney.”

Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:

“The Metro between Sydenham and Chatswood over the last year has changed the way people get around in our great city, bringing with it new patronage for local businesses and new pathways for education and employment.

“I know that people in the Inner West, Canterbury and Bankstown are eagerly awaiting the delivery of fast, reliable Metro services, and have shown great patience while work has been underway.

“The two-thirds completion of construction of the Metro line between Sydenham and Bankstown is an exciting milestone heralding the soon-to-come arrival of a public transport system set to expand the connections and opportunities for the people of the Inner West and Southwestern Sydney.”

Unfinished Business: Fired-Up Waradas Eye First Nations Netball Glory

With fire in their bellies and pride on their shoulders, the NSW Waradas are ready to make their mark at the 2025 First Nations Netball Tournament, kicking off in Melbourne on Wednesday 20 August.

After a breakout campaign in 2024 that saw the young side finish third overall-missing a win over Queensland by just one goal-the Waradas are heading into this year’s tournament with unfinished business and a clear target: go all the way.

Preparation has been intense, focused, and fast. With a limited window to bring the squad together, the team has wasted no time building cohesion on and off the court.

“It’s been a very short turnaround from when we started on court to tournament, but they’re going really well,” said Mardi Aplin, General Manager of Performance and Pathways at Netball NSW.

Athletes have been training once or twice a week at Netball Central, backed by individual strength, conditioning and fitness programs delivered outside of team sessions.

The Waradas Team Announcement

“It shows the level of commitment and professionalism expected – and delivered – by this group,” Aplin said.

With many players already connected through previous programs and competitions, team culture has come naturally – and it’s already showing on court.

“We’ve had hit-outs against the ACT and the 21U Tongan team preparing for the World Youth Cup,” Aplin shared. “Those games helped us lock in combinations, confirm positions, and get match-ready. The team looked strong and connected.”

These practice games provided more than preparation – they lit a competitive spark.

One of the most powerful moments in the Waradas’ journey came last week, when players were presented with their official team dresses – not by coaches or officials, but by a family member or family friend.

“It makes it a really personal celebration,” said Aplin. “We invited the Netball NSW Aboriginal Advisory Group and Alison Tucker-Munro from the Black Swans to speak with the group. Alison talked about the deep pride in wearing the NSW dress and honouring your culture.”

That moment brought the team together and set the tone for what’s to come – representing not just NSW, but Country, family and future generations.

The Waradas will face a gritty seven-game schedule over four days, with each match running 4 x 10-minute quarters. It’s a high-intensity format that demands both mental resilience and physical grit.

“A week at Nationals is intense for anybody, let alone someone who hasn’t experienced it before,” Aplin said. “You need the physical engine, yes – but the mental toughness is what gets you through.”

Now, with a year’s worth of experience, stronger preparation, and a fierce sense of purpose, the Waradas are determined to go further.

“We have high expectations,” Aplin said. “We’ve done the work. Now it’s about backing ourselves – physically, mentally, and culturally – to step up and perform across the whole tournament.”

NSW Waradas – 2025 First Nations Tournament Draw
Location: Melbourne
Match Format: 4 x 10-minute quarters, 3-min breaks (Q1 & Q3), 5-min halftime
Round 1 – Wed 20 Aug, 11:30am: NSW v NT
Round 2 – Wed 20 Aug, 6:30pm: NSW v SA
Round 3 – Thu 21 Aug, 9:00am: NSW v VIC
Round 4 – Thu 21 Aug, 7:45pm: NSW v TAS
Round 5 – Fri 22 Aug, 12:45pm: WA v NSW
Round 6 – Sat 23 Aug, 10:15am: NSW v QLD
Round 7 – Sat 23 Aug, 5:15pm: NSW v ACT
Finals – Sun 24 Aug

$1.6 million boost for Belmont Public Wharf

Lake Macquarie City Council has been awarded $1.6 million to deliver a major upgrade of Belmont Public Wharf in Swansea.

The project will see the removal of the existing structure and construction of a brand new wharf, improving safety and usability for local boaters, visitors and families.

The funding is part of the NSW Government’s $23 million investment in safer and more accessible waterways through the Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grant Program.

Across NSW, 46 projects will share in funding from the $44 million Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme.

A full list of successful projects is available at Boating Infrastructure for Communities | NSW Government

Further details on this grant program are available at Boating Infrastructure Maintenance | NSW Government

Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said:

“This investment will make a real difference for the community”.

“Projects delivered under the program mean safer launching and retrieval, better access for people of all abilities, and more reason for visitors to spend time and money in our local cafes, tackle shops and accommodation.”

“This program will support upgrades to public boating infrastructure, improve disability access, and fund strategic plans for future needs, delivering safer, more accessible waterways for communities across NSW.”

Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:

“These upgrades are about delivering better, safer, and more accessible infrastructure to communities who rely on our waterways for work, leisure and connection.

“From Macleay to Lake Macquarie, Ulladulla to the Hawkesbury, these investments will make a real difference, supporting tourism, local jobs and long-term economic growth in regional NSW.

“The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering infrastructure that matters – projects

Minns Labor Government supports national agreement to strengthen Working with Children Checks

The Minns Labor Government has backed national plans to strengthen Working with Children Checks (WWCCs) and shut down loopholes which put children at risk.

At today’s Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting, Attorneys-General from across Australia agreed to urgently work towards implementing mutual recognition of negative WWCC notices by the end of 2025. 

This will ensure anyone denied or stripped of a clearance in one state will be barred from working with children in other states.

The Minns Labor Government also agreed with other states and the Commonwealth to strengthen and improve consistency for a national approach to WWCCs and remove barriers for information sharing.

This will include a consistent risk-assessment framework and WWCC exclusion criteria for consideration at SCAG in late 2025.

Attorneys-General noted the Commonwealth’s commitment to deliver a new National Continuous Checking Capability (NCCC) – a secure system continuously monitoring WWCC holders against fresh criminal history information from national, state and territory datasets.

These national reforms follow major child safety legislation introduced in the NSW Parliament last week, including: 

  • Removing external appeal rights for denied WWCCs
  • Removing external appeal rights for denied NDIS Worker Checks
  • Transferring all appeals to the Office of the Children’s Guardian — the agency best placed to assess risk to children

Attorney General Michael Daley said: 

“NSW has already acted to close loopholes in our WWCC system. Today’s agreement ensures denied Working with Children Checks will be recognised nationally, so offenders cannot move between states to gain access to children.”

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

 “The NSW Government is determined to see the strengthening of the WWCC system across Australia. Because we want parents to know that people who prey on children can’t slip across state borders unseen.” 

First look at $9.35 million fire station improving community safety for Lithgow and the Central West

The Minns Labor Government has today revealed the designs for a new fire station for Lithgow, which will become one of the largest fire stations in NSW.

Lithgow’s new purpose-built facility will replace and merge existing Lithgow and Lithgow West Fire and Rescue NSW stations, bringing together both crews under one roof and modernising firefighting facilities in the region.

With Lithgow station built in 1915 and Lithgow West in 1956, the pair of stations has a combined age of 179 years.

The new facility will have five engine bays and be one of the largest fire stations in NSW, housing vehicles from both current stations.

The new station will accommodate up to 35 firefighters and deliver upgraded facilities including training space and staff amenities like modern locker rooms.

The station will also include dedicated clean and dirty zones, helping to prevent the spread of hazardous material from fire scenes.

The new facility will be located between the two existing stations, next to Club Lithgow on Lithgow Street.

Civil works are underway at the site and construction is expected to start next year.

The new station forms part of a $98.7 million capital investment by the Minns Labor Government, part of our work to keep people safe and better serve the community by supporting frontline emergency services.

The Minns Labor Government continues to upgrade and build new fire stations across NSW, including recently opened stations at Cessnock and Dungog, as well as refurbishing stations at Alstonville, Cooma and Cootamundra.

Design work continues for new stations at Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Charlestown, Goonellabah and Wentworthville as well as a $15.4 million capital investment to build a new station at Badgerys Creek to service the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The new Lithgow Station is expected to open in 2027.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“Lithgow’s new fire station is a significant investment in frontline services for Lithgow and the Central West.

“Our firefighters put themselves on the line every day, and we are backing our firies with this new build.

“We are backing these essential workers with modern, fit-for-purpose facilities to help them provide essential services for this community.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“This investment future proofs our response capabilities in the Central West while delivering a safer, modern workplace for our firefighters to protect the local community for years to come.

“By bringing the two Lithgow crews together under one roof, we can strengthen teamwork and training, streamline response operations and better support our people and the public.

“The new Lithgow Fire Station will play a key role in strengthening our emergency response capability in this region.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Deputy Commissioner Field Operations Cheryl Steer said:

“The new Lithgow Fire Station will be a vital hub for emergency response in the Central West.

“It’s also a reflection of our ongoing commitment to firefighter wellbeing through modern design and safety-focused infrastructure.”

New Independent Biosecurity Commissioner tasked with examining state’s cattle tick program

The Minns Labor Government has announced Dr Katherine Clift as the state’s new Independent Biosecurity Commissioner as part of the Government’s ongoing work to build a better New South Wales safeguarding the state’s economy against biosecurity threats.

Committed to during the 2023 election, the Minns Government established the role of Biosecurity Commissioner to provide independent, expert advice, which informs the government’s biosecurity protection, detection and response program.

In this year’s budget our Government has invested a historic $1.05 billion to protect the state’s primary industries to boost the economic growth of the sector.

Having held senior leadership positions for biosecurity in Victoria, Western Australia and overseas, Dr Clift brings valuable expertise to support the continued improvement of NSW’s biosecurity systems and programs.

The appointment of Dr Clift follows on from the incumbent Dr Marion Healy needing to finish her term early as Commissioner due to personal reasons.

Dr Clift will continue Dr Healy’s work in strengthening the NSW biosecurity framework, with a focus on improving the effectiveness and transparency of pest and weed management across the state.

One of Dr Clift’s first priorities will be to provide advice on the state’s Cattle Tick Program, which has been ongoing for more than 100 years with the aim to protect the state’s livestock operations along the border with Queensland from where cattle tick is an established pest.

The NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty has requested that the Commissioner determine the most effective approach for the future management of cattle tick in NSW.

In developing their advice, Dr Clift will undertake the following:

  • work with stakeholders in the beef industry and north-east communities
  • review the present program
  • recommend opportunities to improve the program for more effective biosecurity outcomes.

Dr Clift’s appointment reflects her proven leadership, technical expertise, and deep commitment to Australia’s biosecurity and animal welfare systems, while building public trust through strong partnerships and innovation.

Dr Clift’s appointment as Independent Biosecurity Commissioner is for a three-year term and will commence on 1 September 2025.

The NSW Government thanks Dr. Healy for her work, which saw her provide two important reports to government, that are presently being considered, covering the following:

  • an examination of governance structures to optimise the management of pests and weeds in NSW
  • opportunities to improve compliance and enforcement approaches to invasive species management in NSW.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“I would like to congratulate Dr Katherine Clift on her appointment to the role of NSW Independent Biosecurity Commissioner and look forward to the application of her career’s impressive experience in biosecurity and public sector leadership to our priority projects.

“There is important work to progress so that our farmers and regional communities can continue their work with the confidence that our Government is taking biosecurity seriously.

“The NSW Government extends its gratitude to Dr Healy for her work in the inaugural statutory role of Biosecurity Commissioner, and I thank her for the important contribution she has made to the role and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

“I look forward to Dr Clift’s advice on the state’s Cattle Tick Program, so that the NSW Government can continue to build a better program for our north-eastern cattle industry.

“The current program receives more than $4 million per year in funding and I want to ensure we keep on delivering what is best for industry, the community and government.”

NSW Independent Biosecurity Commissioner, Dr Katherine Clift said:

“It is an honour to accept the position of Independent Biosecurity Commissioner for NSW.

“My career has been grounded in a commitment to working closely with rural and regional communities, industry stakeholders, and across government to build practical, effective, and trusted systems.

“I understand the critical role strong partnerships and local capability play in achieving biosecurity outcomes and I am a passionate advocate for collaborative and community-informed approaches.

“Dr Healy’s work has been integral in building public trust, promoting accountability and transparency, and supporting better biosecurity outcomes for our communities and natural environment – I look forward to continuing this important work.”

Background for Dr Katherine Clift

Dr Katherine Clift is a nationally and internationally respected leader in biosecurity, animal welfare, and regulatory reform.

Dr Clift has a lifelong connection to primary industries, having grown up on a farm in South Australia before beginning her career as a rural veterinarian. Plus has a Master of Veterinary Public Health Management, is an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate, and Executive Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

Dr Clift recently held the role of Commonwealth Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports, where she provided independent oversight of the Commonwealth livestock export regulatory system.

Her previous roles include Executive Director of Biosecurity Victoria, where she secured major investment in biosecurity preparedness, delivered major improvements in regulatory capability, modernisation of service delivery and developed the state’s Biosecurity Strategy.

She has represented both Australia and New Zealand on the global stage, including as Counsellor in Brussels, representing the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries across Europe.