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Construction is now underway on 113 social and affordable homes in Padstow, one of fourteen projects made possible under round two of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF).

This development is part of the Albanese and Minns Governments’ joint effort to tackle the housing crisis by building more homes, including the largest investment in social and affordable housing in a generation.

This latest project in Padstow will deliver 64 social homes and 49 affordable homes, providing secure housing for key workers, people on low incomes, and those at risk of homelessness.

Located near the Padstow train station, the project will transform four vacant parcels of land into a modern eight-storey development with new homes, retail and commercial space, alongside shared green areas for residents.

These homes have been made possible by the Albanese Labor Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), which is co-funding the project.

Funding secured through the second round of the HAFF program is helping Homes NSW to supercharge the delivery of more than 2,500 new homes across 14 developments.

The joint investment will support people on low incomes, key workers, women and children escaping domestic violence, and others in need of stable housing.

Projects will be delivered in collaboration with Housing Australia, community housing providers, and the private sector to achieve strong tenant and community outcomes.

The Padstow project is being delivered in partnership between Homes NSW and Traders In Purple.

Under the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program, the Minns Labor Government is building homes at scale and restoring public housing as a core part of the housing system.

The Minns Labor Government has already delivered more than 3,500 new public, community, and affordable homes since April 2023 and is on track to deliver the largest expansion of public housing in modern NSW history.

These homes are some of the 55,000 social and affordable homes being delivered by the Albanese Labor Government across the nation – including more than 6,500 in NSW with many more to come in the next round of the HAFF program.

It’s all part of the plan to build a better NSW with more homes where people can live close to jobs, transport, and services.

Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said:

“I’m thrilled to be announcing that work has started on another major housing project in NSW, this time delivering over 113 new social and affordable homes for southwest Sydney.

“Last week I was at a housing site in the city’s northwest, today it’s the southwest, next week we’ll be somewhere else – that is what tackling the housing crisis looks like. It’s brick by brick, street by street, suburb by suburb, getting shovels in the ground to build the homes we desperately need.

“We are delivering on our promise to utilise the Commonwealth’s Housing Australia Future Fund to create as many new homes in NSW as possible.

“Real collaboration between all levels of government is critical and I’m proud that the NSW Government is leveraging Commonwealth investment into real delivery.”

Federal Member for Banks Zhi Soon said:

“These 113 new homes in Padstow supported by the Albanese and Minns Governments mean a safe roof over the heads of 113 more local families.

“Across New South Wales we’re delivering thousands of new social and affordable homes just like these ones – making sure locals have a place to call home when they need it the most.”

Member for East Hills Kylie Wilkinson said:

“This project is a massive win for Padstow. It’s great to see construction underway on a development that will transform vacant land into 113 much-needed homes. These homes will provide affordable housing for the people in my community who need it most.

“Dozens of essential workers, families and others doing it tough across southwest Sydney will be able to live affordably close to public transport, shops and local services.”

Housing Australia CEO Scott Langford said:

“We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with Homes NSW and the private and community housing sectors to bring this important project to life in Padstow.

“This development is a great example of what can be achieved when governments, industry and not-for-profit partners work together with a shared purpose – delivering more safe, secure and affordable homes for people facing the greatest housing pressures.

“Through the Housing Australia Future Fund, we’re able to support projects like this that not only increase housing supply, but also create well-connected communities close to transport, jobs and essential services.”

Traders In Purple Director Charles Daoud said:

“Traders In Purple looks forward to delivering the homes that Sydney so urgently needs, in partnership with the NSW and Federal Government.

“We are incredibly proud to continue our long-standing relationship as a trusted Development Partner with Homes NSW. It is a further demonstration that collaboration between government and industry is the most effective way of creating life-changing secure and affordable housing.

“This one is particularly special having attended St Therese Primary School, Padstow and spending a lot of time in the town centre in my youth. These quality homes with purpose will enrich the community and provide a foundation from which residents can live their best lives.”

The Minns Labor Government has blitzed more than 100 building sites from Coffs Harbour to Tweed Heads to help lift construction standards and boost confidence in the home building industry.

‘Operation Broadwater’ visited Casuarina, Coffs Harbour, Corindi Beach, Cudgen, Cumbalum, Goonellabah, Kingscliff, Lennox Head, Moonee Beach, Mullumbimby, Southwest Rocks, Terranora, Toormina, Tweed Heads South, Valla Beach, Woolgoolga and Yamba with a focus on compliance with licensing and signage rules, specialist plumbing and electrical work.

While most builders welcomed inspectors onto site and exhibited high standards of work, the visits saw 35 fines and 40 Written Direction Notices (WDNs) issued for a range of non-compliance issues. This included 23 fines issued for unlicensed work and contracting, as well as another five penalties for incorrect display of signage.

A further five fines were issued for non-compliant plumbing in heat pump installations, and two fines were also issued for non-compliant electrical work on heat pump installations.

The main issues covered by WDNs issued by inspectors were for missing Safety Data Sheets for battery systems (26), inadequate main switch labelling (16) and insufficient signage detailing battery system voltage and currents (11).

Since it was established as the dedicated regulator in 2023, Building Commission NSW has prioritised proactive, targeted enforcement action around issues like these to protect homeowners and raise industry standards.

Alongside inspections, Building Commission NSW delivered targeted industry seminars in Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads, engaging local tradespeople and contractors.

The seminars focused on licensing and supervision requirements, Home Building Compensation Fund obligations and recent changes to regulatory requirements.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to lift building standards across the sector as we deliver more homes and build better communities across NSW.

Building Commission NSW will conduct further industry seminars this year, visiting Queanbeyan, Dubbo, Bathurst, Port Macquarie / Forster, Albury and back to Tweed Heads / Coffs Harbour.

Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“It’s fantastic to see the North Coast community engaging with Building Commission NSW to deliver high-quality homes in the region.

“Operation Broadwater is one of the biggest compliance campaigns Building Commission NSW has conducted this year, demonstrating the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing commitment to lifting standards across the building industry.

“We set up Building Commission NSW in 2023 to do exactly this kind of work – and there has never been a more important time to support local practitioners in their work to build a better NSW.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“Our North Coast communities are growing rapidly, and local families investing their hard-earned money into building a home deserve absolute peace of mind. They need to know that every dollar they spend is buying a safe, compliant, and structurally sound property.

“We know the vast majority of tradies are doing the right thing, Operation Broadwater shows why proactive enforcement is so critical.

“We want to protect local home buyers and ensure our regional construction industry remains safe and fair for everyone which is why we are cracking down on unlicensed work and poor standards now.”

NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard:

“While most tradespeople were doing the right thing, unlicensed work and electrical compliance remain an issue that Building Commission NSW continues to see throughout the state.

“I want to re-iterate to the industry, especially on the Mid North and North Coast, that we take a strong regulatory approach to these issues because they can pose serious risks to homeowners.

“Building Commission NSW will continue to undertake proactive inspections and engagement across the state to support a fair, compliant and safe residential construction industry in NSW.”

The Minns Labor Government is transforming how it protects the environment, investing $221 million in a new, holistic approach to threatened species conservation.

For the first time, conservation efforts will take a whole-of-ecosystem approach, better protecting not just individual species, but the habitats and natural systems they depend on to survive and thrive.

There are well over 100 types of ecosystems in NSW, but many are under pressure and our biodiversity is in crisis. This new approach to conservation will focus on protecting what essential habitats are left and restoring what has been harmed.

This investment in the 2026 NSW Budget will reform the Saving our Species program for the future and unify existing conservation work, including koala conservation.

Over three years, $195.2 million will support targeted conservation action under the Saving our Species program. This includes feral animal control, tree planting, weeding and riverbank management and restoring landscapes for our most-at-risk species.

An additional $26 million will support delivery of the NSW Nature Strategy. This new work will use years of scientific research to set targets for nature recovery across the state. Consultation on the Nature Strategy is ongoing with conservation experts.

This expanded ecosystem approach will:

• increase the number of species that are actively managed through ecosystem recovery
• protect and restore the habitat that supports our endangered species
• acquire important habitat for inclusion in the national parks estate
• reconnect wildlife corridors with private, public and traditional owners
• integrate knowledge systems and practices, including Aboriginal cultural knowledge and perspectives.

Together with major initiatives such as the Great Koala National Park, this investment represents a step-change in conservation that will restore ecosystems, protect wildlife and secure the natural heritage of NSW for future generations.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:

“There’s no point protecting a regent honeyeater unless you’re also protecting the woodland it lives in, and that’s exactly what our plan does.

“This investment marks a new era for conservation in NSW. For the first time, we are taking a holistic approach by protecting entire ecosystems, not just individual species.

“We’re securing the future health of the NSW environment by investing in the protection of threatened species and the habitats they call home.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Biodiversity matters in NSW and this investment demonstrates our commitment to put nature on a path to recovery.

“Healthy ecosystems underpin our economy, our communities and our future prosperity. Securing their future delivers benefits for regional economies and climate resilience.”

A new collaboration between NSW Ambulance and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) is helping patients receive the right care in the right place while easing pressure on emergency departments (EDs).

Since the deployment of two additional Extended Care Paramedic (ECP) vehicles on 7 March 2026, the region has seen a 142 per cent increase in the number of patients safely managed in the community rather than transported to hospital.

In the two months since commencing on 7 March 2026, with two additional ECP vehicles in operation, ECPs attended to 520 patients, helping 201 of those avoid an emergency department presentation. During the same period in 2025, the two existing ECP vehicles attended to 310 patients in the region, helping 83 avoid the ED.

ECPs are highly trained paramedics with additional skills to assess and treat patients with low acuity conditions suitable for alternative clinical pathways to an emergency department.

Their work reduces ambulance transports and supports patients to receive timely, appropriate care closer to home.

A new joint pilot between NSW Ambulance and ISLHD launched from 30 May aims to further increase the proportion of Triple Zero (000) patients who can receive safe care while avoiding a trip to the ED.

The pilot tests enhancements to the existing ECP model, including providing ECPs access to ISLHD patient medical records and care plans.

ECPs are now also able to provide new non-emergency transport options and new referral pathways for patients.

The pilot is supported by a suite of initiatives designed to improve utilisation of ECP resources and enhance clinical decision‑making.

NSW Ambulance has also strengthened support for the region through its Virtual Clinical Care Centre (VCCC), which has increased monitoring of the Illawarra Shoalhaven region since February.

The VCCC enables experienced clinicians to remotely assess suitable patients and, when appropriate, connect them with alternative care options such as a general practitioner, pharmacist or community health service. This ensures patients receive care from the most appropriate provider while preserving frontline ambulance crews for emergencies.

These initiatives build on the work the Minns Labor Government is doing to ease pressure on hospitals by increasing access to care through alternate pathways and avoiding unnecessary ED visits. This includes:

• Investing in virtual and urgent care services
• Supporting geriatric outreach and Hospital in the Home.
• Expanding scope of practice for pharmacists to treat uncomplicated skin conditions and UTIs, and resupply the contraceptive pill
• Expanding scope of practice for GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD

Minister for Health and Member for Keira, Ryan Park: 

“Extended Care Paramedics are making a real and measurable difference for patients and for our hospitals.

“The expansion of Extended Care Paramedic crews in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region has delivered a 142 per cent increase in patients safely cared for in the community instead of being taken to an emergency department.

“This pilot is the next step in strengthening the care we provide outside hospital walls, ensuring people get the right care in the right place while easing pressure on our frontline EDs.

“The Minns Government is investing in more alternative pathways to care, so more people can access the treatment they need, when they need it.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:

“The impact of the additional Extended Care Paramedics, since commencing work in the Illawarra in March this year, highlights how a relatively small but well-targeted investment in regional healthcare can deliver significant benefits.

“Assisting more than 200 people to avoid a visit to the emergency department not only improves outcomes for patients and their families but also eases pressure on emergency department staff, allowing them to focus on patients requiring urgent care.”

Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart:

“These highly trained paramedics, reducing ambulance patient transport, will alleviate pressure off our ED’s and ensure care is provided closer to home.

“This is a further initiative by the Minns Labor government with new modern medicine practices like virtual health care and pharmacists expanding their scope of practice,  making health care in the Illawarra and right across NSW effective and affordable.”

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:

“This partnership between NSW Ambulance and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is delivering better healthcare outcomes for people across Shellharbour and the broader Illawarra Shoalhaven region.

“The expansion of Extended Care Paramedic services means more patients can receive safe, high-quality care in their own homes, avoiding unnecessary trips to emergency departments and allowing hospitals to focus on those who need urgent treatment.

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving access to healthcare across our region, and initiatives like this are helping to build a more connected, responsive and sustainable health system for our community.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler:

“People deserve the right care, in the right place, at the right time, and this partnership between NSW Ambulance and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is delivering exactly that.

“By giving Extended Care Paramedics access to new referral pathways, patient information and alternative transport options, more patients can be connected directly with the healthcare services they need, without an unnecessary trip to hospital.

“The results are already impressive, with more than twice as many patients able to avoid an emergency department presentation while still receiving safe, appropriate care.

“This means less pressure on our hospitals, shorter waits in emergency departments and better access to care closer to home.

“This is practical example of the Minns Labor Government improving patient care, making better use of our highly skilled paramedics and expanding access to community-based healthcare services across NSW.”

Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney:

“We know that when people get the healthcare treatment for mild or uncomplicated health concerns this prevents unnecessary hospital presentations.

“This crucial investment in additional ECPs is delivering real healthcare outcomes for our regional communities.”

NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech: 

“Our partnership with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District is delivering real benefits for patients and for the health system.

“With four Extended Care Paramedic vehicles now operating in the region, we’re attending more incidents and avoiding more unnecessary transports than ever before.

“The upcoming pilot will give our teams, and our ISLHD partners, better tools, information and pathways to make the safest clinical decisions for every patient. It’s about smarter use of our resources and delivering care that truly meets people’s needs.”

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Executive Director, Clinical Operations Marg Martin: 

“This partnership is already transforming the way care is delivered across our district, providing the right care, in the right place.

“By connecting Extended Care Paramedics with improved clinical information, streamlined referral pathways and stronger links to our community services, we can support more patients to receive high quality care without needing to go to hospital.

“This pilot will deepen service integration and help us build a more connected, responsive and sustainable system for our community.”

The Minns Labor Government is giving fans the chance to enjoy early-morning matches and provide a boost to local hospitality venues with extended trading hours for licensed venues statewide during the FIFA World Cup.

The biggest and most watched sporting event on the planet is being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, with 48 nations competing for the Cup.

Pubs, clubs and bars statewide can operate extended hours when they broadcast Australian group stage matches, all the knockout rounds (16 and 32) and the finals.

There are also two free public live sites operating, Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour and Cathy Freeman Park at Sydney Olympic Park.

Both will host live broadcasts of every Socceroos match on giant screens, beginning with Australia vs Türkiye on 14 June at 2pm (AEST), USA vs Australia on 20 June at 5am, and Paraguay vs Australia on 26 June at 12pm.

Finals matches are also scheduled at Tumbalong Park from 10 July through to 20 July, including quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

Extended trading will also apply to licensed premises when the Darling Harbour live site screens afternoon games. This applies to the City of Sydney local government area, including Sydney, Pyrmont, Ultimo, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Haymarket, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Dawes Point, Millers Point, Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and Woolloomooloo.

This is part of the NSW Government’s Special Event Extended Trading initiative, which allows venues to trade outside regular times during major cultural and sporting events. It is just one of several measures supporting the government’s broader Vibrancy Reforms aimed at enhancing the night-time economy in NSW, catering to industry and consumer needs.

The extended trading covers on-premises alcohol service only, not takeaway, and venues cannot operate gaming machines unless already authorised to do so.

For the full list of extended trading, please visit: nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/liquor-and-gaming/licensed-venues/special-event-extended-trading

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet and expected to draw strong crowds to venues across NSW, supporting the NSW Government’s commitment to a safe, vibrant and responsible night-time economy during major global events.

“Extended trading hours mean fans can come together and enjoy ‘the beautiful game’ while supporting local venues.

“With many World Cup games screening in the early hours of the morning, this is a great opportunity for fans to get together at their local pub or club, get behind the Socceroos and hopefully celebrate some big wins.  

“These extended hours also provide a vital boost to our hospitality industry, a key pillar of our night-time economy, by enabling venues to serve more patrons, create more jobs and increase business activity.  

“Venues operating under extended hours must continue to meet responsible service of alcohol requirements and put the right measures in place to keep patrons safe.”

Australian Hotels Association NSW, Director of Policy Chris Gatfield said:

“Sydney is a vibrant, international city. There are a lot of football fans here, both homegrown and visiting from overseas, and the extended hours mean they won’t miss a moment of the action.

“We’re particularly pleased hotels will also be able to apply to trade earlier or later for the group matches through an application process.

“Get out of the cold and into a venue – there’s no better place to watch the World Cup than down at the local with your mates.”

The Minns Labor Government’s reforms cracking down on organised crime, with new offences and tougher penalties for public shootings, firebombings and the recruitment of children for criminal activity, have passed NSW Parliament.

The new laws create a new aggravated offence targeting the use of ‘kill cars’ which are used to facilitate organised crime and then torched to destroy the evidence.

The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Bill 2026 also makes it harder for organised criminals to profit from violence and intimidation. Authorities will have up to five years, instead of one, to seek forfeiture of assets held by people subject to Drug Trafficker Declarations.

The legislation includes important bail reform which enhances the ability of the courts to take an accused’s organised crime links into account when making bail decisions.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

This is a major blow to organised crime across New South Wales. These laws go straight to the criminal operating model: the guns, the cars, the money and the cowards who recruit children to do their dirty work.

If you fire a gun in public, torch a business, burn a kill car or use a child to commit crime, our cops are coming for you with tough new powers.

Police are disrupting these networks every day. These reforms give them a harder edge and stronger backing.

Organised crime thrives when it thinks the system is too slow, too soft or too narrow. Not anymore. The Parliament has sent a clear message that we will not tolerate criminal networks terrorising our streets.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

These new offences and tougher penalties send a clear message to organised criminals whose brazen behaviour puts the public at risk: you will be caught and have the book thrown at you.

This legislation also gives the courts more tools to keep the community safe by making involvement in organised crime an explicit factor in bail decisions.

We’re targeting gangs whose vendettas are putting innocent members of the public at risk through shootings and firebombings. We’re also going after criminals who recruit children to break in and steal cars which then torched in a bid to destroy the evidence.”