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Changes to inmate intake and remand operations across metropolitan Sydney will improve the movement of prisoners through the correctional system, support police operations and help manage growing demand across correctional centres.

The Minns Labor Government is strengthening the state’s correctional system, announcing a major overhaul of remand reception and prisoner intake operations in metropolitan Sydney to better manage the state’s prison population.

The changes will improve the movement and management of inmates, helping Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) support the Government’s commitment to holding serious offenders accountable while maintaining a safe, secure and efficient correctional system.

As more serious offenders are being held on remand, the current intake system is no longer fit for purpose. The state’s main reception centre, the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) at Silverwater, stops accepting new inmates each afternoon, meaning police can be left holding bail refused prisoners until space becomes available.

From 1 October 2026, MRRC will become the central 24-hour, seven-day-a-week metropolitan intake hub allowing police to transfer bail refused prisoners directly into the correctional system at any time, improving the movement of inmates, reducing pressure on police cells and making better use of prison capacity across metropolitan Sydney.

The changes come as the NSW prison population continues to grow, with more than 1,100 additional inmates entering custody since December 2025 and an increase in the number of people being held on remand.

This growth reflects stronger action across the justice system, with police, courts and Corrective Services NSW continuing to hold more serious offenders to account, particularly domestic and family violence offenders, following the Minns Labor Government’s tougher laws.

With the transition of MRRC to 24/7 operations, the much smaller Amber Laurel Correctional Centre, which currently operates as a 24-hour intake and transit facility for people on remand, will cease operations.

Additionally, Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre will transition to a 30-bed facility, as previously announced on 20 March 2026, and Mary Wade Correctional Centre will transition back to housing female prisoners with a focus on external leave and work release for women.

Parklea Correctional Centre will operate as a predominantly remand-focused facility once it transitions from private to public management on 1 October 2026.

Together, these operational changes will deliver a more coordinated and efficient remand network, improving the management of inmate admissions and movements while ensuring correctional capacity is available where and when it is needed most.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“The first responsibility of any government is keeping the community safe, and that means ensuring serious and violent offenders are held accountable and kept off our streets.

“Police are arresting more serious offenders, the courts are remanding more people into custody and we’re making sure Corrective Services has the capacity to respond. That’s what these reforms are about.”

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Community safety comes first, and these reforms will ensure our correctional system has the capacity and flexibility it needs to meet growing demand.

“More offenders are being held on remand and more serious criminals are being taken off our streets, including perpetrators of domestic and family violence.

“That’s a positive outcome for community safety, and these changes will support the system by improving efficiency across our correctional centres and ensuring resources are being used where they will have the greatest impact.

“This is about planning for the future, so we can continue holding serious offenders accountable and keeping communities safe.”

CSNSW Commissioner Gary McCahon PSM said:

“This plan represents a bold and crucial step toward building a correctional system that recognises and responds to the unique needs and experiences of people entering custody.

“This new model has been designed in consultation with government agencies, non-government partners and other important voices.

“By addressing the systemic issues we are facing, we envision a future where these operational transformations support staff as they work help keep our community safe.

“Due to the significance of the changes at MRRC, we will focus on workforce readiness, safety and operational excellence to ensure the centre is prepared to meet current and future correctional needs.”

The Minns Labor Government has unveiled the final concept design for Anzac Park in West Ryde, delivering on a $6 million election commitment to transform the treasured 90-year-old park into a vibrant and accessible green space for the growing community.

The Minns Labor Government has unveiled the final concept design for Anzac Park in West Ryde, delivering on a $6 million election commitment to transform the treasured 90-year-old park into a vibrant and accessible green space for the growing community.

The upgrade will revitalise one of West Ryde’s most valued open spaces while protecting the ANZAC memorial at its heart, making sure it remains a place for recreation, reflection, and community connection for generations to come.

Key features of the park will include:

• upgraded pedestrian paths,
• more seating, shade, and gathering spaces,
• a new fitness zone,
• a welcoming park entrance,
• improved BBQ facilities, and
• a new, modern, and accessible amenities building.

The final concept design was developed in close collaboration with City of Ryde Council, with two rounds of community consultation undertaken to inform the park’s masterplan.

More than 300 community submissions, together with detailed technical site investigations, have helped shape the final park design, creating a more welcoming and connected park for residents and visitors while meeting the needs of a growing population.

Anzac Park forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s broader investments in delivering more open spaces and community infrastructure that keeps pace with housing growth and helps create liveable neighbourhoods where people can stay active, connected, and close to nature.

The Minns Labor Government is investing in parks and open space across the state with:

• $520 million for open space and active transport in Transport Oriented Development precincts to complement broader investments in liveable communities,
• $200 million through the Faster Assessments Incentive Program to support councils in high- and medium-growth areas over the next three years, and
• $40 million through the Better Open Spaces program for parks, sports fields, swim spots, and town squares.

City of Ryde Council will manage and deliver construction of the upgrades, with completion expected in 2028.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“Ryde is continuing to grow, with thousands of new homes expected over the coming years, and projects like this help existing and future residents have access to the quality green spaces that make neighbourhoods great places to live.

“Delivering the Anzac Park masterplan was a key election commitment and reflects our commitment to creating communities where people can stay active, connect with others and enjoy the benefits of quality open space close to home.

“This upgrade will enhance the park’s recreational facilities while preserving its important heritage values, ensuring it continues to serve as both a place of remembrance and a vibrant community gathering space for generations to come.”

City of Ryde Councillor, Lyndal Howison said:

“I’ve heard from so many local families about how much this park means to them, and it’s fantastic to see that feedback reflected in the final design.

“Ryde is growing fast, and projects like this are exactly what our community needs, quality open space that keeps pace with new housing and gives people somewhere to stay active and connected.”

New legislation introduced to Parliament will strengthen the powers of police and the NSW Crime Commission to investigate organised crime, access critical evidence and disrupt criminal networks.

The NSW Government is today introducing new laws into Parliament to modernise the fight against organised crime, giving the NSW Police Force and NSW Crime Commission stronger powers to investigate sophisticated criminal networks, disrupt their operations and hold offenders to account.

The reforms respond to the changing nature of organised crime, with criminal syndicates increasingly outsourcing violence, relying on encrypted technology, exploiting the illicit tobacco market, recruiting children to carry out offending and using layers of associates to distance themselves from the crimes they orchestrate.

These tactics are designed to frustrate investigations and shield offenders from accountability. The new laws will ensure law enforcement has the modern powers it needs to respond to these evolving threats.

Strengthening police investigations

Digital Evidence Access Orders

Police increasingly rely on mobile phones and other digital devices to investigate organised crime. However, current laws can delay access to critical evidence.

In an Australian-first, a new Digital Evidence Access Order will allow police to compel an individual to supply access information for digital devices suspected to be associated with organised crime.

Currently, a device can only be ordered to be unlocked if it is seized as part of a Search or Crime Scene warrant. This significantly limits the circumstances in which police can access devices.

Our bill extends these orders for prescribed serious offences linked to organised crime, including drug supply, the illicit tobacco trade, fire-bombings and public place shootings.

This means police can quickly access digital devices and gather critical evidence to assist with fast-moving investigations.

The bill also increases the maximum penalty for non-compliance from five to seven years.

Access to unredacted images captured by toll cameras on public toll roads

It will also enable police investigating suspected serious indictable offences, or responding to missing person cases, to access unredacted images captured by toll cameras on public toll roads.

If the Bill passes Parliament, the Government will commence preparations for a staged implementation of these reforms, beginning with cameras on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel.

The changes are targeted and will not affect law-abiding motorists, with access to unredacted toll camera images only available for investigations into suspected serious indictable offences or missing person reports.

These proposed changes are the latest in a suite of reforms and funding aimed at giving NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission the tools they need to disrupt and dismantle organised crime networks.

They recognise that organised crime today rarely involves a single offender. Instead, criminal networks increasingly rely on third parties and technology to try and evade the law.

Doubling penalties for obstructing Crime Commission investigations

The legislation will also strengthen the powers of the NSW Crime Commission by doubling the maximum penalties for failing to comply with Commission orders – including refusing to answer questions, providing false or misleading evidence, or obstructing investigations – to up to 10 years imprisonment, while streamlining contempt processes.

NSW to participate in the Commonwealth face-matching service

The Bill will enable NSW to participate in the Commonwealth’s national Face Matching Services to help prevent stolen identity documents being used for organised crime purposes, including being sold on the dark web.

NSW will join Western Australia and South Australia, which are already connected to the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution, strengthening the national effort to combat identity crime.

This works by allowing Transport for NSW to securely share driver licence and photo card images through the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution, in accordance with Commonwealth identity verification laws.

If a person’s driver licence, Medicare details or other identity information are exposed in a data breach and obtained by organised criminals, the Face Matching Service can help prevent those documents being used to create fraudulent identities.

For example, where a criminal attempts to use stolen identity documents to open a bank account, facial verification can identify that the person presenting the documents does not match the legitimate owner, preventing the fraud attempt.

About 1 in 4 Australians every year are impacted by identity theft, which costs Australian business about $2.2 billion annually. Face Matching Services provide a critical tool to combat identity theft.

Backing police with stronger laws and greater capability

The package builds on the Minns Labor Government’s work to combat organised crime, including:

• Cracking down on ‘kill cars’ and targeting public shootings and fire-bombings
• Introducing new offences targeting the recruitment of children into organised crime
• Providing law enforcement with additional powers to tackle emerging criminal threats

This includes a $126.6 million investment in the 2026/27 NSW Budget, $108.8 million to continue our nation-leading ICT infrastructure and capability to fight criminals through major enhancements to cyber security, vital policing technology systems and digital evidence management, and $17.4 million for the NSW Crime Commission to disrupt organised violence and confiscate proceeds of crime. 

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“Organised crime has changed, and our laws need to change with it. Criminal syndicates are exploiting encrypted technology, the dark web and layers of intermediaries to distance themselves from the violence they commission.

“Often, the people directing serious offences are nowhere near the crime scene. They’re recruiting others to steal cars, source weapons or carry out shootings while they hide in the background. We are making it harder for those criminals to operate.

“We’re giving police stronger powers to access critical evidence stored on encrypted devices that have been lawfully seized, ensuring technology can’t be used to shield organised criminals from justice.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“The operating model of organised crime is evolving and we’re ensuring police have the powers they need to stay ahead of threats.

“Criminals are increasingly facilitating and coordinating their crimes online, thinking they can distance themselves from the law. This couldn’t be further from the truth: the NSW Government is giving police every tool to come after them hard.

“We’ve listened to NSW Police, we’ve listened to the NSW Crime Commission and this is what they’ve told us they need to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks and keep our streets safe.

“We will continue to be informed by law enforcement and support them with the tools, laws and budget necessary to continue targeting serious and organised crime.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“Organised crime is evolving and we need to make sure that our laws keep up.

“These are innovative measures that will give investigators strong and effective powers to combat the threats posed by new technologies that can be exploited by criminals.

“Our Government’s message is clear: If you try to block the Crime Commission’s work in disrupting and reducing organised crime, you will face significant penalties. If you engage in or facilitate organised crime in this State, you can expect to be caught and prosecuted.”

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Our toll road network generates information that can be valuable to police – supporting investigations into serious criminal offences, organised crime, coronial matters, and helping to reunite missing people with their families.

“These changes will give investigators access to another important source of evidence when examining serious crimes, strengthening their ability to identify offenders, progress investigations and help keep the people of NSW safe.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals are calling on the Minns Labor Government to expand veteran housing support to stop former ADF members falling through the cracks.
 
An estimated 5,800 former Australian Defence Force members experience homelessness over the course of a year.
 
During Homelessness Week, Shadow Minister for Veterans Tim James said it was a national disgrace that Australians who had served their country faced the risk of homelessness almost three times higher than the broader population.
 
“These are people who were prepared to risk their lives for our country. We should not accept veterans who have finished their service being left without a safe place to live,” Mr James said.
 
“NSW already has valuable programs and support staff, including Rent Choice Veterans and RSL LifeCare’s Homes for Heroes. But the continuing rate of veteran homelessness tells us we need to do more. Existing programs cannot be the limit of our ambition.”
 
Mr James called on the NSW Government to expand the capacity of veteran-specific services and provide more pathways into secure, long-term housing.
 
“Veterans face unique challenges and are at particular risk when they transition to civilian life. Some leave Defence without a conventional rental history. Others are dealing with injuries, unemployment or the breakdown of a relationship,” Mr James said.
 
“Homelessness is getting worse across NSW under Labor and veterans are among those at particular risk,” Mr James said.
 
Mr James also called for the potential conversion to veterans housing to be considered before the Commonwealth moves to divest dozens of Defence properties.
 
“Where Defence land is genuinely surplus and suitable for housing, governments should consider setting aside part of it for veterans before simply selling it to the highest bidder,” Mr James said.
 
“A home provides the foundation for recovery, employment and rebuilding family relationships. Veterans have already served Australia. Supporting them when they need a home is the very least Australia can do.”
 
Shadow Minister for Homelessness Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the Minns Government has failed to get a grip on the homelessness crisis, with a 42 per cent increase in the number of people sleeping rough across the state since 2023. 
 
“Rents are skyrocketing, homelessness services are at breaking point, and tens of thousands are trapped in a system that can’t cope.”
 
The 2026 NSW Street Count recorded 2,308 people sleeping rough across the state, a five per cent increase in one year. The number has risen by more than 40 per cent from the 1,623 people recorded in 2023.
 
The next Census will be held on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 and will provide the next national snapshot of veteran homelessness. This will be a key statistic that policy makers must take note of and action.

The 2026 NAPLAN results for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 released today show the Minns Labor Government is failing our students on the basics of reading, writing and numeracy.
 
Some of the damning NAPLAN results include:
·        the number of NSW Year 3 students needing additional support for numeracy increasing by over a quarter in the three years since NSW Labor came to office
·        increases over last year, and in the three years since NSW Labor came to office, in the numbers of students needing additional support in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 for reading and writing
·        around 30 per cent of NSW Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students not meeting national benchmarks for reading, writing and numeracy.
·        NSW being outperformed by Victoria, the closest comparable state, on 11 of the 12 NAPLAN averages for reading, writing and numeracy.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said the Minns Labor Government should stop congratulating itself and focus on the children who are being left behind.
 
“Every parent expects their child to develop strong foundations in reading and writing, but almost one in ten Year 3 students in NSW now require additional support in reading, with the proportion also rising in writing,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Improvement at the top cannot be used to ignore a growing problem at the bottom.”
 
Shadow Minister for Education Mark Speakman said the Government’s failure to improve reading, writing and numeracy outcomes is undermining confidence in public schools.
 
“The Government seems to have thrown in the towel – this year’s Budget cuts education employee expenses by around five per cent after inflation and assumes falling public school enrolments and teacher numbers,” Mr Speakman said.
 
The Government must snap out of its complacency and urgently review its approach across the board including:
·        teaching methods for mathematics
·        initial and ongoing training of teaching maths
·        ensuring explicit teaching and phonics policies are actually being implemented
·        ensuring teachers are being given enough support for classroom behaviour management
·        ensuring technology is not being counter-productive in classrooms
·        support for children with disability
·        the primary school mathematics curriculum.

This morning, the Minns Labor Government has voted with the Greens against giving police the power to conduct knife wanding operations anywhere, anytime, making the job of our hardworking police harder, not easier.
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals moved an amendment in the Legislative Assembly which would have removed the bureaucratic requirement for police to make a formal declaration before commencing a knife wanding operation, while retaining the existing safeguards governing the exercise of those powers.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said Labor had chosen bureaucracy over backing frontline police and making it easier for them to keep the community safe.
 
“Knife crime doesn’t wait for paperwork, and neither should police,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Police don’t have to tell motorists where RBT is being conducted because this would simply encourage drink drivers to avoid detection while failing to keep the community safe.”
 
“Labor’s insistence that police tell those carrying concealed knives where a wanding operation will be conducted helps criminals and fails to protect the community.”
 
Acting Shadow Attorney General Susan Carter said Labor had sought to create a false choice between police powers and safeguards.
 
“Our amendment retained the existing safeguards governing knife wanding powers, including requirements for police to identify themselves and explain the search,” Ms Carter said. 
 
“The only safeguard Labor is really defending is unnecessary paperwork.”
 
“Every day police exercise discretion across a wide range of powers. There is no reason to suggest they cannot be trusted to exercise the same professional judgement when deciding where knife wanding is needed.”
 
“Arising from the inquest into the six knifing deaths at Bondi Junction, the Coroner recommended considering allowing wanding without any prior declaration in crowded places.”
 
“Yesterday the Attorney General claimed the Government had accepted this recommendation – by considering this idea and then rejecting it. Instead the Government gave in to calls from groups that oppose wanding entirely by retaining the unnecessary, clumsy, declaration system.”
 
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism Anthony Roberts said Labor’s argument that police had already issued hundreds of declarations simply demonstrated the administrative burden was unnecessary.
 
“If police have already been required to make hundreds of declarations, that doesn’t prove the process is essential. It proves they’re spending time repeatedly completing paperwork before getting on with protecting the public.”
 
“The question is simple: should police be filling out declarations, or should they be focusing on finding knives before they’re used? Labor’s answer is more paperwork.”: