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New jetty boosts access and safety on Wallis Island

The Minns Labor Government has delivered a new $1.37 million public jetty to improve boat access to Wallis Island on the state’s Mid North Coast, enhancing accessibility and safety for residents and visitors. 

The new jetty, built on the northern side of the island, will make it easier and safer for residents, visitors, emergency services and Traditional Owners to access Wallis Island, while helping protect the island’s sensitive foreshore from damage caused by informal boat landings.

Crown Lands worked with NSW Public Works and the Lakkari Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation on the jetty, which comprises a floating pontoon with a reinforced concrete shell and aluminium gangway, connecting via a footpath to a foreshore reserve.

The jetty, with disability access, can accommodate up to 20-person vessels, and will help minimise the environmental impacts from informal boat landings on the island. It will also better support emergency services responses, and provide ongoing cultural access for local Aboriginal groups.

The jetty has been fitted with solar-powered lighting to enhance navigation safety at night and the visibility of moored vessels.

This project reflects the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to delivering practical infrastructure in partnership with Aboriginal communities, while protecting the natural and cultural values of the places we all share.

The project was delivered by M&J Marine Services, a contractor from Port Stephens with strong experience in marine infrastructure.

An Aboriginal artist will be commissioned to produce images which will later be applied to the structure via aluminium panels along the gangway sides and a vinyl wrap at the top of the pontoon piles.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“I’m very pleased to see this jetty built in partnership with the Lakkari Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to improve access to the island and the appeal of an area so important to the Forster and Tuncurry communities.

“Wallis Island has rich Aboriginal cultural heritage and its pristine environment supports recreational activities like fishing, boating and nature walks.

“This is what good government looks like: working hand in hand with Traditional Owners to protect country while making it safer and easier for the whole community to enjoy.”

Minister for North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“This new jetty is a fantastic result for our Mid North Coast community. It replaces makeshift landings with a safe, accessible, and environmentally friendly gateway to Wallis Island.

“By working alongside the Lakkari Traditional Owners, we’ve delivered a space that protects the island’s sensitive environment while opening up safer access for local residents, visitors, and emergency services alike.”

Labor falls further behind on housing completions

Housing completions have fallen more than 30 per cent in the last quarter in a damning indictment on the Minns Labor Government’s approach to the housing crisis in NSW.
 
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Building Activity Data shows just 8,883 new homes were completed in NSW during the March quarter, down from 13,513 in the previous quarter.
 
Just 44,804 homes were completed in the 12 months to March 2026, well below the 75,288 homes required each year to meet Labor’s National Housing Accord target.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said government taxes, charges and contributions are challenging the viability of projects.
 
“Rather than making up ground Labor is falling further behind, now 40.8 per cent behind its National Housing Accord target,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“When taxes and charges make up almost half the cost of a new home, builders walk away, families miss out and NSW falls further behind.”
 
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Chris Rath said the Minns Labor Government had nothing for housing in the budget and had no plan to solve the crisis.
 
“Instead of pursuing real reform and delivering the homes needed, Labor is pushing forward with a broken model,” Mr Rath said.
 
“Labor makes a big song and dance about its approach, but the harsh reality exposed by this data shows that is not resulting in completed homes.”
 
Over the coming months, the NSW Liberals and Nationals will continue rolling out our plan for a stronger NSW. Housing policies already announced include:

  • Pausing Labor’s $13,000 tax on every new home until 30 June 2029.
  • Cutting payroll tax for small and medium construction businesses.
  • Repurposing the Long Bay Jail site for 12,000 new homes.
  • State-led rezoning in Erskineville, Macdonaldtown, Newtown and St Peters for 10,000 new homes.
  • Delivering the Camellia-Rosehill Place Strategy for a further 10,000 new homes.
  • Negotiating a new Western Sydney City Deal to provide a long-term plan that delivers the roads, parks, schools and essential infrastructure our growing city needs.

Businesses leaving NSW for Queensland

An exodus of businesses from NSW to other Australian states has again highlighted the need for important reforms to payroll tax proposed by the NSW Liberals and Nationals.
 
Analysis of Bureau of Statistics data by Business NSW has found NSW lost more than 3,000 businesses in the last three years, attributed to high operational costs and tax settings.
 
Queensland welcomed more than 4,000 businesses in the same period.
 
Under changes announced by the NSW Opposition, a Sloane Liberal and Nationals Government will create the most competitive payroll tax regime in Australia by:

  • Raising the payroll tax threshold from $1.2 million to $1.5 million.
  • Reducing the payroll tax rate from 5.45 per cent to 4.75 per cent for businesses with a total Australian payroll below $10 million.
  • Introducing CPI indexation to payroll tax thresholds to eliminate bracket creep.

These reforms will remove around 4,000 businesses from the payroll tax system altogether and ensure a further 25,000 businesses receive the lowest payroll tax rate of any Australian state.
 
Industry groups including Business NSW, the Pharmacy Guild, the Housing Industry Association, Australian Industry Group and Motor Trades Association of Australia have applauded the proposed reform.
 
Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said another 6,200 businesses permanently closed their doors last year alone and NSW had gone from top to bottom of all states on economic output.
 
“Businesses are voting with their feet because NSW has become too expensive to invest, employ and grow,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“NSW needs tax settings that reward growth, investment and job creation, which is exactly what our payroll tax reforms are designed to deliver.”
 
NSW Nationals Leader and Shadow Minister for Small Business Gurmesh Singh said businesses should be rewarded for hiring and encouraged to expand.
 
“When businesses are leaving the state in record numbers, that’s not just a statistic, it’s a warning that NSW needs reforms and businesses need us to back them.”
 
“Businesses are leaving, confidence is at record lows and Labor still has no plan to make NSW competitive again, but the NSW Liberals and Nationals do.”

Alliance with Papua New Guinea enters into force

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Honourable James Marape MP, have today announced the entry into force of the Pukpuk Treaty.

Australia and Papua New Guinea are now formally allies. This is Papua New Guinea’s first alliance with any country, and Australia’s first in more than 70 years.

The Pukpuk Treaty is underpinned by a mutual defence commitment, recognising that an armed attack on either country is a threat to both nations, and the security of the region.

It commits Australia and Papua New Guinea to consult, cooperate, and if required, act to meet a common danger, while explicitly safeguarding sovereignty.  

It also reflects a shared commitment to peace and stability in the Pacific, and affirms our mutual respect for the sovereignty, independence and the territorial integrity of our neighbours.

The treaty will strengthen integration between the Australian Defence Force and PNG Defence Force. It will enable our nations to quickly and effectively respond to shared security challenges, and support Papua New Guinea’s sovereign defence capability.

The treaty supports the expansion and modernisation of our defence relationship, including recruitment of each countries’ citizens into respective defence forces.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“The entry into force of the Pukpuk Treaty is a momentous step in the relationship been Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“Our alliance reflects the deep trust we share as the closest of neighbours, partners and friends. 

“In an uncertain world, this treaty demonstrates our shared commitment to a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous.”

Scoring tries and strengthening ties in the Pacific

The Australian Government is helping grow rugby league across the Pacific, committing $250 million over 10 years to the Pacific Rugby League Partnership.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today joined his counterparts from Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga in Brisbane to launch the new partnership, which aims to strengthen the link between sport and opportunities in education, leadership and employment.

The leaders were joined by the Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), Peter V’landys and representatives from a number of Pacific rugby league federations.

The Australian Government’s commitment to the partnership is part of its $600 million investment in rugby league across the Pacific, which includes support for the entry of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs into the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028.

Australia’s funding for the partnership will deliver more than just a pathway for emerging talent across the Pacific. The Pacific Rugby League Partnership has three main pillars – community and grassroots, pathways and academies, and elite and international.

Early initiatives of the partnership include: 

  • Expanding existing youth engagement and violence prevention programs to reach more communities.
  • Establishing primary and high school competitions in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, supported by a network of teachers accredited as coaches.
  • Setting up programs in each country to promote girls’ competitions.
  • Building men’s and women’s national competitions across age groups.
  • Continuing to deliver Pacific Championship matches and identify opportunities for NRL and NRLW matches to be played in the Pacific.

The Pacific Rugby League Partnership will be delivered by the ARLC in partnership with the national rugby league federations of Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“The Pacific Rugby League Partnership is about far more than a game – it’s an investment in people as much as it is sport.

“Through one of Australia’s favourite sporting codes, we are bringing our Pacific family closer together.

“In communities across Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, this will help create pathways – not just into sport but also education, leadership and employment.”

Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy

“Sport has a unique power to connect people in a way that few other things can.

“For decades we have watched talented players from the Pacific star in the NRL, and in more recent years the NRLW.

“The Pacific Rugby League Partnership will support player development at the same time as increasing school attendance and promoting healthy lifestyles and respectful relationships.”

Rebuilding the Hunter train manufacturing workforce begins

Work has officially begun on the first Tangara train to be refurbished at Newcastle’s Cardiff Maintenance Centre, marking an important step in rebuilding the Hunter as one of Australia’s leading train manufacturing hubs. Almost 40 years after they were manufactured in Newcastle, the first of 18 Tangaras to be refurbished in the Cardiff facility has rolled into the workshop and work to extend its life by 10-15 years is now underway. The refurbishment program will employ 100 skilled workers and 20 apprentices at Cardiff, helping rebuild the workforce and manufacturing capability needed to support the Minns Labor Government’s $12 billion commitment to bring large-scale train manufacturing back to the Hunter again, after 12 years of offshoring by the former Liberal-National Government. Announced on Saturday, this investment will deliver a new state-owned train manufacturing facility in the Hunter, operated by a private manufacturer, which will deliver at least a 30-year pipeline of new trains. Two potential sites have been identified for the Hunter facility – a former coal mine at Teralba and the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot near where the original Tangara fleet was manufactured. Site selection will be subject to due diligence and stakeholder consultation. The site is expected to employ up to 780 workers in construction and 550 ongoing jobs in the facility and supply chains and anchor more than 30 years of train manufacturing in the Hunter. Following construction of the new Tangara fleet, the pipeline will continue with the replacement of the Millennium and OSCAR fleets in the 2040s, before the Waratah fleet in the 2050s. It also delivers on the Minns Labor Government’s election commitments to set a target of a minimum 50 per cent local content for rolling stock contracts, and to begin procurement of the new Tangara fleet by the end of the first term in office.

The Tangara refurbishment program provides the bridge between today’s workforce and tomorrow’s manufacturing pipeline, ensuring skills, apprenticeships and capability continue to grow in the Hunter. The existing $447 million Tangara Life Extension Program includes replacing internal cladding, computer operating systems, installing more accessible emergency help points, emergency door release, passenger visual displays, upgrading to the passenger address system and CCTV. Across five production lines at Auburn, Flemington and Cardiff, 55 eight-car Tangara trains will be refurbished over the next three years. The first refurbished Tangara train is set to return to service imminently. Premier Chris Minns said: “For too long, New South Wales got out of the business of building trains. We lost thousands of skilled jobs, manufacturing capability and the opportunity to keep billions of dollars of investment here at home. We’re changing that. “The Hunter has a proud history of building the trains that kept New South Wales moving. Our job is to make sure it has the opportunity to do it again, and not just for one project, but for generations to come.” Minister for Transport John Graham said: “It’s fantastic to see the first old Tangara train roll into the sheds at Cardiff, 40 years after it rolled out of Broadmeadow and began serving the travelling public. “The Hunter has a rich history of building trains, and this refurbishment work is the perfect way to ramp up the workforce as we bring train manufacturing back where it belongs. “We know mining and manufacturing jobs have been hit hard in this community and that’s put pressure on families. That’s why we’re committed to building trains in the Hunter again, so more of the jobs and investment stays here in NSW.” Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said: “This spectacular milestone is the first part of our plan to build and maintain trains in the Hunter again. “The Hunter built the original Tangaras. Almost 40 years later, we’re working on them again – and this time, we’re building a pipeline of work that will last for generations. “We have the skills, the workers and the industrial muscle, and we have a government willing to back the Hunter.” Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said: “Seeing work begin on the first Tangara refurbishment is a major milestone for the Hunter and the start of an exciting new chapter for rail manufacturing in NSW. “The Minns Labor Government is proud to invest in local staff, apprentices and businesses so more of this work can be delivered in our own state. “This investment is all about backing homegrown talent, and ensuring the Hunter continues to play a leading role in NSW’s rail network.” Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said: “For too long, billions of dollars in transport contracts were sent overseas. We are turning that around by creating jobs, strengthening local industry and rebuilding our sovereign manufacturing capability right here in NSW. “The Hunter has the workforce, the skills and the proud manufacturing history to lead this revival. With a long-term pipeline of work, the future is incredibly bright for local manufacturers, local suppliers and the next generation of skilled workers.

“Manufacturers have consistently told us they need certainty to invest and grow. By committing to decades of train construction and a minimum 50 per cent local content target, we are giving industry the confidence to build capability, take on apprentices and create secure, long-term jobs.” Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said: “Our region has a strong and proud tradition of manufacturing trains. I’m pleased to see this refurbishment work being carried out right here in Cardiff, creating local jobs and economic opportunities locally.”

Greens call for ban on dodgy donations as wealthy property developers shopping for political influence over One Nation

The Victorian Greens are calling for a ban on developer donations as reports today say that wealthy property developers are pledging hundreds of thousands of dollars to One Nation in exchange for commitments to scrap Victoria’s vacant homes tax.

The report says that major property developers have pledged significant donations after receiving assurances One Nation would seek to repeal the vacant homes tax.

The Greens secured the vacant residential tax because there are over 100,000 homes sitting empty in Melbourne alone, which is unacceptable in a housing crisis where renters and first home buyers can’t find somewhere they can afford to live.

Other states have already banned donations from property developers, but the Greens say that the Victorian Labor Government has refused to do so.

The Victorian Greens have repeatedly called for a complete ban on political donations from property developers, gambling companies and other industries with significant financial interests before government.

In the face of vested interests attempting to lobby political parties ahead of this years’ state election the Greens are calling on Labor at the very least to follow New South Wales and the ACT by banning political donations from property developers and gambling corporations.

the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“This is exactly what’s wrong with politics. When Labor, the Liberals and One Nation all pocket donations in return for policies and kickbacks that favour their donors, it’s corrupt, it’s dodgy and it’s screwing over everyday Victorians.

“The Greens are the only party that doesn’t take big corporate donations. Unlike Labor, the Liberals and One Nation who sell off their policies to the highest bidder.”

Greens say Labor failing people in crisis as drug and alcohol treatment waitlist explodes

The Victorian Greens say new figures showing more than 5122 Victorians are waiting for alcohol and other drug treatment are a damning indictment on Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government who are failing to properly fund frontline health services. 

New data from the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association shows the number of people waiting for treatment has more than doubled since 2020, with around 40 per cent of people seeking support still waiting to be assessed. 

The Greens say that when someone reaches out for help with addiction, they should be able to access treatment immediately – not left waiting months while their health deteriorates.

The Greens say that access to mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment is essential for community safety and that proper investment in frontline services takes pressure off hospitals, police and prisons that are all currently being overwhelmed due to Labor’s reckless and reactionary policies that have been rolled out without proper planning and resourcing. 

The Greens have consistently called for greater investment in community-based mental health and alcohol and other drug services because getting people help early saves lives and reduces pressure on hospitals, police and the justice system.

the Victorian Greens health spokesperson, Dr Sarah Mansfield: 

“Investment in alcohol and other drug support should be a priority, and the fact that the waitlists have blown out like this is an indictment on Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government.

“Every month that a person is stuck on a waitlist, that person is at risk of losing their life. That’s the cruel cost of Labor’s failure to properly invest in treatment. 

“Every dollar invested in treatment reduces pressure on hospitals, police and prisons – and crucially, saves lives. If Labor is serious about community safety, it needs to stop treating drug and alcohol treatment as an afterthought. Helping people get well is one of the best ways to prevent harm before it happens.”

Australia Cannot Become a Dumping Ground for Big AI

Responding to reports that AI company Anthropic plans to secure 1.4 gigawatts of Australian data centre capacity, Senator for South Australia and Chair of the Senate inquiry into artificial intelligence and data centres, Sarah Hanson-Young, said:

“Big AI won’t seem to take no for an answer when it comes to destroying Australia’s copyright regime.

“Reports that Anthropic are continuing to lobby to undermine Australia’s copyright laws are deeply concerning. If they want to use copyrighted material to train their AI, they should pay for it like everyone else does.

“After strong pressure from rights holders, the Albanese Government has already ruled out a text and data mining exemption for AI. It would be a betrayal of Australia’s creative industries if they went back on that promise now.

“The building of 1.4 gigawatts of new data centre capacity could have a massive impact on Australia’s energy, water and environment. The community deserves to have a say on whether or not they want to become the data centre dumping ground for US based companies.

“We need a moratorium on the building of new hyperscale data centres until we get the regulatory settings right. 

“AI is the new extractive industry, and we cannot allow companies to lock in vast amounts of Australia’s energy, water and data resources before proper rules are in place. Strong regulation must come before sweetheart deals and backroom contracts.

“Australia cannot afford to sleepwalk into a big tech AI experiment. The public deserves a clear understanding of what these massive data centres will mean for our environment, our energy grid, local communities and Australia’s creative industries and copyright holders before any major decisions are made.

“The Senate Inquiry is now accepting submissions, and I encourage anyone concerned about the impact of AI and data centres on their community, industry or environment to make a submission. This inquiry is an important step in ensuring Australia gets the rules right before this industry becomes too big for governments to regulate properly.” 

Inquiry: The case for rent caps mounts

The fifth hearing of the Greens-led Senate Inquiry into intergenerational housing inequity, held in Sydney today, showed an increasing number of experts support the case for rent caps, as renters face runaway rent increases.

Additional evidence to the committee today showed:

  • Renters (31% of the population) face deep housing insecurity due to insecure rental contracts, unlimited rent increases and no-cause evictions.
  • Renters don’t feel they have options: they endure rent increases unchallenged and forego making maintenance requests to avoid facing evictions.
  • Lifelong renters don’t have assets to pass down to their children for a house deposit, which perpetuates intergenerational housing inequality.
  • Social housing has fallen from 5.7% of dwellings in the 1990s to 3.6% today, and Australia sits well behind the OECD average of 7.1%.
  • Current government investment in social housing is inadequate to reverse the decades-long decline in social housing stock.
  • Lack of government of investment in social housing has contributed to acute housing need and homelessness.
  • Working hard and saving no longer gets ordinary Australians into home ownership.
  • Younger people are giving up on the great Australian dream of ever owning a home.
  • Australia is becoming an inheritance society rather than a wage society.
  • People with parental support are nearly twice as likely to own a home compared to people who don’t have parental support.
  • Wealth is increasingly held by a minority of wealthy older households. People aged 65+ have received around 8 times the increase in overall wealth compared to people under 35 over the last two decades.
  • For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, housing inequity is about intergenerational dispossession. Housing shapes health, education, safety and connection to community and culture and it is an investment in self-determination.

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness and Senator for South Australia, Barbara Pocock: 

“This inquiry makes it clear that governments haven’t delivered relief for renters. 

“We’ve heard powerful evidence from young renters who are struggling to meet unexpected rent hikes, who are facing possible eviction.

“The current rental market is the most unaffordable in Australian history with some of the highest rates of rental stress.

“Too many renters are just one rent hike away from eviction or homelessness.

“Renters don’t have a buffer – they are the buffer. When interest rates rise, landlords pass the cost straight on.”

“House prices have skyrocketed – up three times faster than wages in just five years. The average home now costs $1 million. 

“For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, housing inequity is the legacy of intergenerational dispossession. Investing in housing is key to self determination.

“After four years in government, Australia’s housing crisis is now Labor’s housing crisis. 

“Labor has locked in existing tax breaks for wealthy property investors and super profits for big corporations – while renters pay the price.

“Labor’s priorities are clear: tax handouts for wealthy investors, super profits for corporations, and higher costs for everyone else.

“Labor’s plans to fix the housing crisis are not touching the sides. After four years of rapidly increasing house prices and astronomical increases in rents, we urgently need solutions.

“Labor needs to introduce rent caps and invest directly into building good quality homes and renting them to people who need them at prices they can actually afford.”