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NSW Government partners with NRL and PCYC to keep kids on the right track

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build better regional communities and address concerning rates of regional youth crime with a new partnership with the National Rugby League  and PCYC to help keep kids on the right track. 

Over $270,000 is being invested into the program which will see senior NRL players including Brad Fittler, PCYC staff and NSW Police representatives engaging with young people across a series of events including Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Cup games, PCYC centre events and Fit for Life sessions.

Designed to support social cohesion, collaboration and skills building, the program will also engage young people in important conversations about mental health, physical fitness and nutrition.

As the Government continues to pull every lever to increase community safety across regional NSW these programs will be rolled out in all corners of regional New South Wales, including Dubbo, Cessnock, Queanbeyan, the Central Coast, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing work to engage young people and crackdown on crime across the state, which has included:

  • Amending the Bail Act to include an additional bail test for young people between 14 and 18 charged with committing a ‘serious break and enter offence’ or motor vehicle offence while on bail for a similar offence.
  • Creating a new ‘post and boast’ offence under the Crimes Act, criminalising the filming and disseminating of footage of certain serious offences to publicise or advertise the commission of that offence.
  • Paying recruits to attend the Goulburn Police Academy and welcoming 294 probational constables to the NSWPF ranks in December, the largest class to graduate in a decade.
  • Passing and enacting ‘Jacks Law’ which provides NSW Police with powers to scan people for knives without a warrant and raised the age from 16 to 18 for the sale of knives to young people.
  • Doubling the maximum penalty for certain knife crimes.

Further, this follows the launch of Project Pathfinder last year, a partnership between the NSW Police Force, National Rugby League and Youth Justice NSW which provides at risk teenagers from regional areas with mentorships and opportunities to reach their full potential.

Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:

“This is a great initiative and one the NSW Government is really proud to support.

“We want our regional communities to be safe, which is why we are working around the clock to take every action we can from legislative reform, to supporting grassroots interventions.

“Programs like this are vital to keeping kids engaged with their local community and on the right track.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said:

“The NSW Police and Government are doing everything we can to keep our regional communities safe – we don’t want to see anyone living in fear.

“Our police are working around the clock to not only investigate crimes but to engage with young people and show them positive alternatives to crime.

“I thank the NRL and PCYC for their continued support for our young people and regional communities.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is putting resources into initiatives like this that are ready to go, and use methods which regional youth will relate to and engage with and then experience activities and learnings which can create conversations that help build a brighter future.

“This partnership means more kids in regional NSW will have the opportunity to come together, learn, stay fit and grow through a shared love for rugby league.

“This initiative is about opening doors for regional youth by turning sport into platforms for connection, resilience and community empowerment.”

Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper said:

“The outcome of sport is so often greater than the scoreboard. Sporting communities in many cases are the heart of our regional communities and they can be great ways to engage our younger generations and promote positive role models.”

Andrew Abdo, National Rugby League CEO said:

“Rugby league changes lives and this new partnership will harness the power of government, community and sport to positively impact on young people across NSW.

“Supporting youth in regional areas is important to us and this funding will help us reach even further into communities to provide opportunities and a support network to young people who need a helping hand.”

Ben Hobby, Police Citizens Youth Club NSW (PCYC NSW) CEO said:

‘’The PCYC has a strong and enduring tradition of working with youth in regional areas across NSW, and we know how impactful the role models in the NRL can be to these communities – young people look up to these incredible athletes and sports stars.

“We value our partnership with the Government and the NRL and know that having current and former players of the NRL and WNRL working with regional youth will be life-changing for the rising generation and the broader communities we support.”

New sports high school for South-West Sydney

The Minns Labor Government have delivered on another election commitment with Eagle Vale High School becoming Australia’s newest sports high school, as work continues to ensure families in Western Sydney have access to world class public education opportunities.

The school’s Talented Sports Program kicked off on day one term one this year with 60 students who successfully competed in the athletic trials last year excelling across Rugby League, Basketball and Cricket.

The delivery of this election commitment means for the first time families in the Macarthur region have a school on their doorstep catering for students excelling in sports alongside a strong academic program.

Previously, aspiring athletes in the region had to travel up to an hour to pursue their athletic ambitions at their nearest sports high school.

To support Eagle Vale High School’s students the NSW Government is funding multimillion-dollar upgrades to the school with new cricket nets and upgraded change rooms already delivered.

Further upgrade works are also underway including for a new running track, resurfacing the school’s full-sized playing field, new lighting for the sports field, new pickleball courts, a new multipurpose hall, a new Health and PE Learning Hub and a new PE Fitness Laboratory.

The Talented Sports Program has a proven track record of nurturing some of the country’s best up-and-coming athletes, including more than 170 national senior level representatives in NRL and AFL, and professional basketballers, golfers and surfers.  

Successful alumni of NSW sports high schools include Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, former national cricket captain Michael Clarke, soccer greats Harry Kewell and Alanna Kennedy, and former Australian rugby league captain Boyd Cordner.

This investment is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education in NSW, ensuring families in growing Western Sydney communities have access to world-class schools, no matter their postcode. This ongoing work includes:

  • Investing a record $3.6 billion to deliver new and upgraded schools in Western Sydney
  • Delivering five new public schools across Western Sydney which welcomed students for the first time day one, term one 2025
  • Valuing the workforce by delivering the largest pay rise in a generation to NSW’s 95,000 teachers
  • Giving teachers job security by making 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contacts permanent
  • Reducing teacher vacancies by 40 per cent, ensuring more students have a qualified teacher at the front of their classrooms.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“No matter the postcode we want to ensure that children across New South Wales are given every opportunity to achieve their dreams.

“This means kids in South-West Sydney will have a real opportunity to pursue their sporting aspirations without their parents having to commit to hours of travel each day.

“For both budding athletes and their parents, this is a game changer.

“There is such a strong sporting culture in this part of Sydney and it’s great that the opportunities available to local school children finally reflects that.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car said:

“The population in the Macarthur region is continuing to grow, and the Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting young people to reach their potential in their local area.

“Previously, Macarthur students had to travel an hour or more each way to access a Talented Sports Program. Now, these students can follow their sporting dreams in their local area.

“Eagle Vale High will be a school where some of South-West Sydney’s most talented athletes get their start as possible future Olympic champions.”

Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty said:

“It is fantastic to see the upgrade works underway at Eagle Vale High School.

“Delivering a selective sports stream for the Macarthur community is giving talented young athletes from our local area more opportunities.

“I cannot wait to see the dividends this investment delivers for our strong local sporting community.”

Eagle Vale High School principal Craig Butler said:

“The community is very excited about the new sports facilities. They think it’s wonderful that we’re supporting our kids and showing a commitment to the Macarthur area.

“We are going to have kids who will become Olympic champions and professional athletes, but as a sports high school, we can allow them to manage their study so they don’t have to make a choice between academic success and sport.

“The students know they are part of something special and talk about the school with pride.”

The Minns Labor Government lets inmate harass victim from prison

A shocking failure in the prison system has allowed a high-risk domestic violence offender to harass his victim with more than 1,500 phone calls while behind bars at John Morony Prison.
 
The serial offender was allegedly able to add his victim’s phone number to an approved call list, making an average of 20 calls a day over three months—an outrageous breach of protocol that should never have been possible.
 
Shadow Minister for Corrections Adam Crouch said the Minns Labor Government has serious questions to answer.
 
“This is an appalling breakdown in the system. The government has failed in its most basic duty—to protect the community, especially victims of crime.
 
Corrections officers should be stopping offenders from contacting their victims, not handing them an open line to continue their abuse. The Minister has announced an ‘investigation’ and offered an ‘apology’—but that does nothing to fix the problem or reassure victims that they are safe.
 
The offender’s phone access must be suspended immediately, and the government must be upfront with the public about how often these breaches are occurring,” Mr Crouch said.
 
With thousands of inmates given access to phones, how many other victims are being harassed right now? The Minister needs to come clean—how many times has this happened under his watch?
 
How can we expect victims of crime to come forward if the government can’t guarantee they won’t be harassed in this way.

Rail disruption expected to continue from Monday

Passengers are urged to avoid non-essential travel and allow extra travel time tomorrow (Monday 17 February) as lengthy delays and cancellations are expected to continue on the rail network next week due to industrial action.

Last week saw severe disruption to train services due to an unprecedented level of unplanned and unnotified staff absences.

Significant impacts are expected to continue into next week. However, the nature of this action is very unpredictable and we won’t have clarity on the impacts until the morning when train drivers and guards start to report for their shifts.

Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink are urging employees to turn up to work tomorrow and help run a regular timetable. There is no ‘lockout’ in place and all staff undertaking their normal duties will be paid.

For parents of school children who would normally catch the train, our advice is to arrange alternative travel if possible.

We urge passengers to avoid non-essential travel, use alternative forms of public transport, and plan ahead by checking the latest updates on transportnsw.info and live travel apps.

Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink apologise to our passengers once again for the disruption as our staff work hard to minimise the impacts of industrial action.

The matter will be heard in a full bench hearing of the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday (19 February).

Seven injured in Hunter crash, witnesses sought 

Inquiries are continuing into a crash in the Hunter region which resulted in seven people being taken to John Hunter Hospital this morning.

Emergency services were called to Bromage Road, Abermain, shortly after midnight (Sunday 16 February 2025), following reports of a crash involving multiple people.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended and found a 2003-model blue Subaru Liberty AWD sedan was driving east when it hit two parked vehicles, a white LDV and a champagne-coloured Mazda 6. The AWD then struck a group of people.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated seven people at the scene, with one airlifted to John Hunter Hospital and the remainder taken by road ambulance.

• An eight-year-old girl remains in hospital with suspected internal injuries, while a 10-year-old girl has been treated for minor injuries and released.

• Two women, aged 25 and 31, also remain in hospital with the older woman being treated for a head injury.

• Two men, aged 24 and 25, were also taken to hospital; the younger man has a fractured leg while the older man has been treated for a foot injury and released.

• The driver, an 18-year-old man, is being treated for facial injuries and remains in hospital under police guard.

A crime scene was established and specialist officers attached to the Crash Investigations Unit (CIU) have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Appeal for information after vehicle hits seven people – Cessnock

An investigation has commenced following a pedestrian crash in the state’s Hunter Valley.

About 12.05am today (Sunday 16 February 2025), emergency services were called to Bromage Road, Abermain, following reports of a crash.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended and were told a vehicle was allegedly performing a burnout in front of a crowd when it lost control – crashed into a parked vehicle – which hit onlookers.

The driver, an 18-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and taken to hospital for further assessment where he remains under police guard.

Two children – aged 5 and 6 – were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Five adults were also injured and were taken to hospital for further treatment.

A crime scene was established and Crash Investigations Unit have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

Supporting Papua New Guinea’s maritime infrastructure growth

The Albanese Government is supporting a $95 million upgrade of Papua New Guinea’s Kimbe Port to improve freight services and resilience to climate change, while fostering economic growth and creating local jobs.

The upgrade is financed by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), and will involve the demolition and reconstruction of wharf structures and the rehabilitation of existing facilities.

This project forms part of the broader AIFFP-funded PNG Ports Infrastructure Investment Program, which aims to strengthen connectivity and supply chain efficiency across Papua New Guinea.

The program, developed in partnership with the PNG Government, will also upgrade Oro Bay, Daru, Lae and Kavieng facilities.

Pacific Marine Group Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract by PNG Ports Corporation Ltd for Kimbe Port Marine improvement works.

The Kimbe Port upgrade is supporting local jobs via local construction companies and supply chains, with a minimum target of 30 percent expenditure on local content.

The works are scheduled to begin in early 2025 and conclude in 2026.

More information can be found on the AIFFP project page.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

“Since the Albanese Government was elected, we have made the Pacific, including our relationship with Papua New Guinea, a priority.

“Through this project, and the broader Ports Program, we are responding to PNG priorities, and helping our neighbour become more economically resilient and secure.

“Australia is a trusted partner for major infrastructure projects in the Pacific, with transparent investment to support high quality construction and utilising local labour to create jobs and support the local economy.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy:

“The Albanese Government has been working hard with Pacific nations to shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

“With more than 90 per cent of internationally traded goods in Papua New Guinea transported by sea, maritime infrastructure is critical.”

“Pacific countries look to us first to support their development and economic needs. Australia is proud to support the re-development of Kimbe Port, particularly as PNG marks the historic milestone of 50 years of independence.”

40th anniversary of the Torres Strait Treaty

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Torres Strait Treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea, which entered into force on 15 February 1985.

In addition to defining the maritime boundaries between Papua New Guinea and Australia, the Treaty protects the ways of life of traditional inhabitants in the Torres Strait Protected Zone.

The Treaty’s unique provisions allow Torres Strait Islanders and Papua New Guineans from Treaty Villages free movement across borders for traditional activities, such as traditional fishing, cultural and religious ceremonies, social gatherings and trade.

It is particularly important to reflect on the Treaty’s success this year as we look forward to marking the 50th Anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence in September.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

“The Torres Strait Treaty recognises the kinship between our two countries and our people, reflecting the deeply important relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea as neighbours, friends and equals.

“We will continue working closely together to advance our shared interests and ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy:

“The arrangements in the Treaty are a reflection of the thousands of years of engagement and cultural connection that exist between Papua New Guinea and Australia.

“Australia remains committed to the Torres Strait Treaty, and its assurance to empower our First Nations people and preserve their traditions, as the longest continuous culture on earth.”

PM a “sell out” to toxic salmon industry: Greens

The Greens have slammed the Prime Minister’s announcement today that he will cave in to the Tasmanian salmon industry by weakening Australia’s environment laws if re-elected. The Greens will stand up for the environment and community this election against vested interests.

Nick McKim is Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania:

“Labor has backed in the profits of foreign salmon-farming corporations over Tasmania’s environment and the survival of the Maugean Skate.

“Australia’s environment laws are already too weak. To water them down even further to underpin corporate profits is an outrage and a betrayal.

“The Greens will fight any attempt to erode the protection of Australia’s environment with everything we’ve got.

“This will play very badly for Labor at the election, because right around the state Tasmanian communities are fighting to defend their coastlines from pollution and privatisation by industrial salmon farms.

“Tasmanians have always voted for the environment, and will do so in even larger numbers after this shocking environmental sellout.”

Australian Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The Prime Minister has bulldozed environment laws and his Environment Minister, again. Last week it was caving in to the fossil fuel industry, today it’s the multinational salmon corporations.

“It is clearer than ever that Labor is too weak to stand up to vested interests and protect the environment and native species. They simply can’t be trusted to do the right thing, by the law or by nature.

“Instead of applying the law, the Prime Minister has told industry he will change the rules to suit them at the expense of the community and the environment. This is not leadership, this is a weak capitulation.

“Whether it’s protecting our marine ecosystems, native forests or koalas, neither Labor or Mr Dutton can be trusted – they will sell out to the corporations every time. Only the Greens in balance of power can save our native species and force Labor to act.”