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The Minns Labor Government is continuing to deliver fair access to Wheelchair Accessible Taxis in NSW by offering $2,500 operational support grants and a new round of interest-free loans to eligible operators.  

The $2,500 grant for eligible Wheelchair Accessible Taxi vehicle owners is part of a $15 million emergency package announced late last year and it is intended to address the shortage of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis in NSW. 

It will help with the higher costs associated with operating a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi on the road compared to a standard taxi, and is now open to applications.  

A new round of the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Loan Scheme will also open for application this week and will assist taxi operators in NSW with placing new and additional accessible taxis into operation.  

The interest-free loans fund the cost of purchasing, modifying and/or retrofitting a vehicle for use as a compliant Wheelchair Accessible Taxi.  

The emergency funding package includes $2 million for an operational support grant program and the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Loan Scheme has made available $5 million including an increase to the maximum loan value to $125,000.  

Wheelchair Accessible Taxis are an essential part of the NSW transport system and help people with disability to get to health appointments, engage in employment and education and participate in social activities.  

NSW is experiencing an ongoing shortage in the supply of these taxis leading to service disruptions and longer wait times for customers who travel in their wheelchair or mobility device. This is because the previous government ignored warnings that its deregulation of the taxi industry would exacerbate the difficulties facing the Wheelchair Accessibility Taxi industry.  

The previous government took away the main incentive to become a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi driver because accessible taxis were no longer exempt from paying the licence plate fees. 

Early in 2025 the NSW Government began addressing the shortage of wheelchair accessible taxis by delivering an emergency funding package of $15 million over one year to support better services for people with disability. 

The funding package is designed to stabilise the current decline in service availability while longer-term reform actions, including options for funding a sustainable and viable accessible point to point transport sector, are developed. 

Further details on both the operational support grants and the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Loan Scheme are available on the Transport for NSW website.

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

“We heard from operators that rising costs have made providing accessible services less viable – these actions respond directly to those concerns. 

“Without additional support, the industry has warned it would struggle to retain existing vehicles, let alone attract new entrants. We are stepping in to change that. 

“This funding package lays the groundwork for long-term reform to build a sustainable, accessible point-to-point transport sector for NSW.” 

Minister for Transport John Graham said: 

“It’s become more and more difficult for wheelchair accessible taxis to operate across NSW. The number of these taxis has been dropping over the last few years, and that’s a situation that simply cannot continue. 

“So many people with a disability rely on wheelchair accessible taxis to get where they need to go – for many there is no alternative. That’s why this funding package is so important. 

“These actions will give operators a better incentive to stay in the industry, keep more wheelchair accessible taxis on the road and improve services for the people who need them most.” 

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said: 

“We’re working hard to clean up the mess left by the former government – their decisions literally left people with disability stranded.  

“We are acting to ensure there are more wheelchair accessible taxis on our roads so those who rely on them can go about their daily lives.

“These measures mean more than just transport – they are about independence, dignity, and ensuring people with disability can fully participate in their communities.”  

Nick Abrahim, Chief Executive Officer, NSW Taxi Council, said:  

“The NSW Taxi Council welcomes this new round of grants and interest free loans being announced by the Ministers’ involved as a positive step towards supporting Operators of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a better New South Wales by pulling every lever available to increase housing affordability and availability across New South Wales, today announcing $899,000 to Ballina Shire Council to remediate contaminated land to help unlock future housing.

The land’s former industrial use for cattle tick dipping left the soil contaminated by chemicals such as arsenic. Remediation of the sites will involve the safe removal of contaminated soil to a licensed waste facility and its replacement with imported clean soil.

Remediation Action Plans have been developed to clean up 3.9 hectares for future use.

Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will fund the remediation of a former cattle dip site and yards at 31 and 33 Canal Road, with Council contributing $100,000.

Remediation of this land is critical as it will enable a planned adjoining residential development to proceed.

This follows the announcement last week that the Minns Labor Government will deliver a historic pipeline, of over 355 public and community homes across the Northern Rivers over the next two years, including 48 planned in Ballina.

In the past year the Minns Labor Government has delivered 1,711 new social and affordable homes, the largest increase in government-built public, community homes in over a decade.

Minister for Land and Property Steve Kamper said:

“This is a great outcome for the North Coast and the local environment. Restoring this idle land not only protects our natural surroundings but helps unlock land for new homes.

“Housing affordability and availability are one of the biggest pressures facing families, particularly in the Northern Rivers, where repeated natural disasters have made the situation even harder.

“Reactivating land like this allows us to ease some of that pressure by creating opportunities for more homes and stronger, more resilient communities.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“There is a shortage of housing on the North Coast so it is vital that we take measures like this to activate unused land that can support more new homes for our growing community in Ballina.

“This land is also ideally located near the popular Fripp Oval, and will encourage community connectedness, recreational activity and support for our local sporting clubs like the Ballina Bears Cricket Club and Ballina Bombers AFL Club.”

The NSW Government has made an offer in response to the NSW Nurses and Midwives request for a historic increase to night shift penalties, as well as improvements to the working conditions of nurses and midwives.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association will take the proposal to their 80th Annual Conference this week, followed by a vote on the offer from their members.

The offer would see night shift penalties increased to 20 per cent, on par with what some of the highest paid nurses in Australia receive. Nurses and midwives have been campaigning for decades, across multiple governments, to increase this loading in NSW.

Nurses and midwives will also see improvements to their working conditions and work-life balance, including:

• Two consecutive days off
• No night shifts before annual leave unless requested
• No changes on published roster without consultation 

Nurses and midwives would receive a 3.5 per cent interim pay increase (including the recent 0.5% increase to super) back paid to July 1 2025, while the Industrial Relations Commission considers the remainder of their special case for gender equity and other improvements to salaries.

The NSW Minns Government acknowledges concerns about gendered undervaluation of work and was proud to have legislated in May to improve the gender equity objectives under the Industrial Relations Act, which the Industrial Relations Commission will be required to consider.

Nurses and midwives deserve a way for their wages to be set independently, after 12 years of the Liberal-National’s unfair wages cap.

While the IRC determines this, the Minns Government still wants to recognise nurses and midwives with movement in pay and conditions now.

This improvement to night shift loadings and interim pay rise follows an 8 per cent increase to pay (including a 1% increase to super) for nurses over the first two years of the Minns Labor Government.

The interim offer forms part of the NSW Government’s comprehensive plan to deliver the long-term repair of healthcare across NSW.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:

“The offer on night shift penalties and improvements to working conditions is an important step towards the long-term repair of healthcare across NSW.

“We now look forward to the independent umpire delivering a wages agreement for nurses and midwives, after 12 years of the Coalition’s unfair wages cap.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“After 12 years of neglect and a lack of investment in our health system, the NSW Government is rebuilding essentials service by investing in the workers that deliver them.

“As a show of good faith, we are offering another interim pay increase of 3 per cent and boosting the night shift penalty rate for our hard-working nurses and midwives across NSW.

“We look forward to having the remaining wage claims being resolved through the Industrial Relations Commission process.”

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis:

“This offer is long overdue recognition for nurses and midwives who have been campaigning for a long time. We are proud to support those who care for our communities day and night.

“The Minns Labor Government continues the work of rebuilding the state’s essential services and reforming the industrial relations system.

“That work began with the scrapping of the Coalition’s wages cap which was in place for 12 years, introducing a fairer, modern bargaining framework, setting up an Industrial court and amending the Industrial Relations Act to include a new Object to achieve gender equality in the workplace

“Our offer to a historic increase in night shift penalties and improved working conditions for nurses and midwives reflects our commitment to valuing frontline workers.”

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on another election commitment by commencing consultation on an independent peak body to represent the interests of the State’s more than one million recreational fishers.

This is part of the NSW Government’s plan to build a better NSW and to boost economic activity in regional NSW.

More than $1 million has been earmarked to fund the new body and to assist it drive on ground outcomes for the State’s recreational fishers.

The recreational fishing industry is major contributor to our coastal and inland communities and generates about $3.4 billion of economic activity in NSW each year. The industry also creates the equivalent of about 14,000 fulltime jobs.

The NSW Government made an election commitment to establish a peak body for the State’s recreational fishers and has worked with the fishing representatives to develop their vision for a peak body that is:

• a viable and respected professional body: to deliver representation that effectively champions the future of recreational fishing
• representative of all NSW recreational fishers: including affiliated and unaffiliated fishers from diverse backgrounds
• independent of Government: to enable apolitical representation to advance the priorities and needs of recreational fishers
• collaborative and solutions-oriented: to work constructively with Government and other bodies to deliver solutions for recreational fishers.

The people of NSW are now encouraged to have their say on this important process. Public consultation is open from 6 August 2025 to 1 October 2025.

To learn more and provide your feedback, visit the NSW Government’s Have Your Say website.

Our culturally and linguistically diverse fishing community are encouraged to use the translate feature on the Have Your Say website, which offers access in multiple languages and provides a contact for support with submissions.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“Recreational fishing is a vital part of life for many people in NSW.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting a thriving, inclusive and sustainable recreational fishing sector that encourages participation across all communities.

“This peak body will work closely with the NSW Government to effectively represent the interests of for all NSW recreational fishers.

“The recreational fishing industry is vital to the NSW economy and one the NSW Government is committed to supporting in a cohesive, productive and positive way.”

Peak Body Working Group member, Karl Mathers said:

“The model for this peak body has been designed to ensure an inclusive and collaborative organisation to help advance the priorities and needs of NSW’s recreational fishers.

“Your feedback is important to ensure the final model reflects the needs and perspectives of recreational fishers from all corners of the state.”

The Minns Labor Government has cut 1,515 public sector jobs in just two weeks, gutting essential services across WaterNSW, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Transport for NSW and TAFE NSW.
 
These are not back-office roles. These are the flood mitigation teams, dam safety experts, pest response officers, public transport staff and TAFE support workers who keep the state safe, moving and educated.
 
The Premier and his Treasurer didn’t front the public. Instead, staff were told by email and department secretaries were sent to answer the media while ministers went missing.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Chris Minns and Daniel Mookhey make the cuts, then hope no one notices.
 
“They sack workers in silence, then roll out a distraction with an easel board and a media release about something already announced or still just a thought bubble,” Mr Speakman said.
 
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said the gutless decision shows a complete lack of understanding of what the regions need.
 
“Not only will this leave our country communities more vulnerable when it comes to natural disasters like the recent devastating flooding, but it will also risk our primary industries and the food and fibre people rely on every single day,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“It’s a brutal one-two punch where it’s ripping hundreds of jobs out of the bush and removing years of knowledge and experience at the same time, which will have a very real impact on our front-line defences when it comes to things like biosecurity.”
 
The Minns Government has flagged $279 million dollars in so-called internal labour savings but has refused to release any detail about where the next round of cuts will come from.
 
While essential jobs are being stripped away, Labor continues to hold media events and issue press releases for rehashed ideas and recycled promises.
 
This is not a government focused on delivering. It is a government focused on distraction.
 
The Premier and Treasurer must now come clean. What other services are being cut? How many more jobs are going? And why are they hiding it from the public?