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From today, public transport passengers will enjoy savings when traveling on Fridays, with prices now matching the discounted weekend fares.

As part of the Opal changes that came into effect this week, Friday fares are now slashed by 30% on all metro, train, bus and light rail services across the entire network.

This means a Friday train ride from Parramatta to Central drops from $5.72 to $4.

The Friday travel cap will also be halved, meaning passengers can have unlimited travel on Friday for no more than $8.90, and $4.45 for child/youth and concession passengers. Seniors can still access their $2.50 maximum daily fare.

The new discount is being applauded by Sydney’s business community, with hopes it will encourage people to visit the CBD on Fridays for work, food and drink, shopping, and socialising.

The latest Opal data shows last month there was an average of 480,000 trips into Sydney’s CBD on Fridays across all modes, down 25% compared with September 2019.

Cheaper Fridays are available to all Opal passengers across the network. Daily fare caps will automatically be applied. Passengers using a contactless card or device to pay their fare are reminded to always tap on and tap off with the same card or device for each trip to ensure they unlock the $8.90 all-day travel cap as well as other Opal benefits like transfer discounts.

On Monday 16 October, the annual Opal fare update came into effect, with an average increase of 3.7%, which will see an out-of-pocket difference of around $1 per week.

Visit Transport NSW for more information about Opal fareslaunch and fare estimates for multimodal tripslaunch.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: 

“Fairer fare Fridays start today, meaning every weekend will be a long weekend for passengers on the Opal network.”

“Last month there was an average of half a million trips into Sydney’s CBD on Fridays, down 25% on pre-pandemic patronage. We want to see that number grow to enliven our city and deliver a bump to businesses that have been calling for help.

“This this will benefit the 1.9 million commuters who travel across our network on Fridays. With this discount, we hope to see even more passengers tapping into cheaper fares and making public transport their mode of choice.

“No matter where you’re coming from or going to, from Newcastle to the South Coast or Blue Mountains, your travel on the Opal network will be capped at $8.90.”

Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper said:

“This is a great initiative which will provide a much-needed boost for businesses, by encouraging more people to work from the office and kick their weekend off in the CBD.

“We want to see Sydney at it’s vibrant best, and to do that we need to have the customer base to support our fantastic hospitality, retail and tourism businesses.”

Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou said:

“Anything that encourages people to come into the city for work, entertainment and retail is a fantastic initiative.

“The many CBD businesses desperate for the return of foot traffic will be among the first to applaud the Friday fare savings. It will certainly help restore Sydney’s mojo.

“We have endured a situation where Sydney has become a 3 days a week city with Mondays and Fridays agonisingly quiet.

“It was always going to take an incentive to encourage workers to come back to the office and the Friday Opal card saving is a great step in that direction.”

Table – Opal fares caps

Card type	Mon to Thu daily fare cap	Fri to Sun daily fare cap	Weekly fare cap
Adult	$17.80	$8.90	$50.00
Child/Youth	$8.90	$4.45	$25.00
Concession	$8.90	$4.45	$25.00
Senior	$2.50	$2.50	$25.00

Aboriginal people living in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) will be better supported to find a job or grow a business, under updated First Nations Guidelines announced today by the NSW Government.

The update streamlines the engagement process for renewable energy generators seeking to consult with First Nations stakeholders on NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap projects.

The Central-West Orana guidelines are the first of five region-specific guidelines for each REZ in NSW. They have been co-designed with a working group consisting of local Aboriginal community representatives to reflect the economic aspirations of the region. They provide detailed socio-demographic information about the REZ, outlines approaches to engaging with the local Aboriginal communities, and identify priority areas of employment and income opportunities.

They also inform procurement targets for project developers, aligned with targets in the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy. These requirements include opportunities for Aboriginal people and businesses to be involved in Roadmap projects, as well as funding for education and community projects.

The guidelines also outline EnergyCo’s new First Nations Outcome team, which will support the Central-West Orana First Nations Working Group to engage with project developers and set out aspirational employment and training goals.

The Central-West Orana guidelineslaunch will be shared with Aboriginal communities, landowners, industry, councils and government agencies and will be reviewed every two years.

Tim Stevenson, Chair of CWO First Nations Working Group said:

“The opportunity for local Aboriginal participation in the renewable energy zone projects has the potential to enhance skills and build capacity for local mob.

“The relationships established through the Aboriginal Participation Plans with project developers and Aboriginal community organisations will deliver great outcomes for First Nations people.”

Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“I asked for these guidelines to be updated after receiving feedback from a Central West Orana workshop with local Aboriginal stakeholders in June.

“The overall framework and implementation have been strengthened to make the consultation process clearer and support jobs and economic opportunities.

“The NSW Government wants consultation with the Aboriginal community to be genuine, and for Aboriginal people to benefit from the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“Closing the Gap is a top priority for the NSW Labor Government.  

“In NSW we have developed our own unique Closing the Gap priority focused on better employment, business growth and economic prosperity outcomes, which these new guidelines help deliver.

“Our government will continue to work in partnership, because we know that Aboriginal people having a say on issues that affect them, delivers better outcomes for all.”

Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe has today announced communities in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone will receive $128 million over the next four years to deliver community projects and employment opportunities.

The funding is the first downpayment to bring forward community and employment benefits, to ensure benefits flow before construction of new transmission and renewable generation projects commences in late 2024.

Statewide, hundreds of millions of dollars of funding will become available over the next 30 years, leaving a lasting legacy for the communities hosting renewable energy projects in their area.

In the next six months the NSW Government will work closely with local councils, community and First Nations organisations, renewable energy companies and other stakeholders to identify and fund community priorities and long-term legacy programs in the region.

The types of projects that could be funded include:

• public infrastructure upgrades
• housing and accommodation
• training and employment programs
• health and education programs
• support for energy efficiency and local rooftop solar, and
• initiatives for First Nations people.

The Community and Employment benefit fund will be administered by NSW EnergyCo. Upfront funding will come from the Transmission Acceleration Fund, and after 2028 will be funded through access fees paid by renewable energy generators connecting to new transmission lines in the Central-West Orana REZ.

Over time, this program will be expanded to the other four REZs in NSW; New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra.

The Central-West Orana REZ will become the renewable energy power plant of the future, delivering clean, affordable energy to NSW. The REZ is part of the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap to deliver 12GW of renewable energy generation and 2GW of storage.

Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“The transformation of our electricity system is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to foster long-term prosperity in our regional communities which are central to the Roadmap.

“This funding will ensure the communities hosting the Central-West Orana REZ start receiving benefits well before construction begins.

“The NSW Government will work with local communities and councils to ensure they have a say about how funding is allocated, so projects reflect community priorities.”

The NSW Government has delivered the mechanism to establish the new Regional Development Advisory Council, announced during the State Budget, which is a critical step to mobilising the new $350 million Regional Development Trust Fund investment program for regional communities.

The regulation enabling the establishment of the Advisory Council and its objectives was approved by the State’s Executive Council on Wednesday 18 October 2023.

Under the new regulation up to seven interim members will be appointed for an initial period of 12 months so that work can begin as soon as possible to provide the Trust’s independent evaluation process for funding projects.

Members will be recommended to the Minister based on relevant skills and experience in a range of areas such as: regional and rural economics, regional service delivery, climate adaptation and resilience, finance and public administration, and natural resource management.

The Council will always include at least one Aboriginal representative with knowledge and experience in economic development for Aboriginal communities.

Minister Moriarty has also written to her federal counterpart, Minister McBain seeking a nominee from the Commonwealth to foster a coordinated approach to regional investment between New South Wales and the Commonwealth.

The Regional Development Advisory Council will provide a fresh approach for regional grants decision making by providing independent advice to the Minister for Regional NSW to ensure valid projects and rural communities are at the centre of government decision making.

Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“After a decade of waste and poor decision making by the former Government, the establishment of the Regional Development Advisory Council is an important step towards the provision of independent and expert advice on what projects and programs should be funded.

“Our intention is to ensure rural, remote and regional communities receive their fair share and money is spent on projects that are actually needed and will be delivered.

“This reform process ensures a transparent allocation of investment across regional NSW as communities face the challenges of workforce attraction, modernising facilities and drought.

“The establishment of the Regional Development Advisory Council ensures that future investment in regional communities is guided by local knowledge and expertise.”

Trade leaders from all States and Territories gathered in Sydney today to discuss pressing issues and deepen Australia’s collaborative approach to trade and investment priorities locally and internationally.

NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong welcomed Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism and co-host Don Farrell to NSW parliament for the second meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment (MCTI).

Minister Chanthivong said hosting the meeting provided the state the unique opportunity to showcase its strengths and capabilities to Commonwealth, State and Territory representatives.

“It was an honour to host the second meeting of the Ministerial Council in NSW and welcome my esteemed colleagues to Sydney,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“NSW continues to be a leading advocate for improving national effectiveness in attracting quality foreign investment and growing Australia’s international trade through government collaboration.

“We welcomed the opportunity to step forward and play our role, and I commend the Australian Government for its commitment to seeking collective solutions on common challenges.”

Minister Farrell said the focus of today’s meeting was on national collaboration and action across priority areas, including the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2024, the clean energy transition to net zero and First Nations economic uplift.

“I was delighted to co-host Australia’s council of trade and investment ministers here in Sydney, to develop a common plan to boost Australia’s standing as a trusted, reliable trading nation,” Minister Farrell said.

“This meeting of trade ministers is an important opportunity to collectively advance Australia’s trade and investment diversification priorities,”

Following the official meeting, the delegation were given a tour of the University of Sydney’s Southeast Asia Centre, experiencing firsthand the active approach by Sydney University to lead ASEAN research initiatives.

Trade leaders from all States and Territories gathered in Sydney today to discuss pressing issues and deepen Australia’s collaborative approach to trade and investment priorities locally and internationally.

NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong welcomed Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism and co-host Don Farrell to NSW parliament for the second meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment (MCTI).

Minister Chanthivong said hosting the meeting provided the state the unique opportunity to showcase its strengths and capabilities to Commonwealth, State and Territory representatives.

“It was an honour to host the second meeting of the Ministerial Council in NSW and welcome my esteemed colleagues to Sydney,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“NSW continues to be a leading advocate for improving national effectiveness in attracting quality foreign investment and growing Australia’s international trade through government collaboration.

“We welcomed the opportunity to step forward and play our role, and I commend the Australian Government for its commitment to seeking collective solutions on common challenges.”

Minister Farrell said the focus of today’s meeting was on national collaboration and action across priority areas, including the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2024, the clean energy transition to net zero and First Nations economic uplift.

“I was delighted to co-host Australia’s council of trade and investment ministers here in Sydney, to develop a common plan to boost Australia’s standing as a trusted, reliable trading nation,” Minister Farrell said.

“This meeting of trade ministers is an important opportunity to collectively advance Australia’s trade and investment diversification priorities,”

Following the official meeting, the delegation were given a tour of the University of Sydney’s Southeast Asia Centre, experiencing firsthand the active approach by Sydney University to lead ASEAN research initiatives.

The NSW Government is marking Cyber Security Awareness Month and Small Business Month this October with a new resource for small businesses to help them prevent identity theft and data breaches.

There is a growing need for businesses to better understand their risks online and to be proactive against scams, email attacks, and malicious software.

ID Support NSW has developed a webpage containing information and tips on how to stay cyber secure, as well as free interactive learning modules and printable checklists to help businesses regardless of their size or budget.

ID Support NSW also runs a free fortnightly webinar where business owners can learn directly from experts on how to keep customers’ personal information safe.

Digital technology gives small businesses a unique opportunity to expand their reach, communicate with customers, track trends and allocate resources. However, if not managed appropriately, it can also open the door to cyber criminals and allow them to access private and personal information.

According to an Australian Cyber Security Centre survey released in 2020, 62 per cent of small businesses across Australia have experienced a cyber security incident.

Almost half of those surveyed also rated their cyber security understanding as ‘average’ or ‘below average’ and had poor cyber security practices.

Cyber security incidents are often costly to business owners and challenging to recover from. In the national Annual Cyber Threat Report, it was found that more than $98 million was lost because of business email compromise in 2021/2022 and customers took 34 hours on average to recover their identity. 

For more information on how small businesses can stay cyber secure visit small business.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“For small businesses, even a minor cyber security incident can have devastating impacts. It might even prove to be something a business can’t recover from, so taking steps to learn how to keep information secure is important.”

“ID Support NSW is making it easier for small businesses to find the information and resources that might make the difference in preventing a cyber security incident.”

“In this highly digital world, keeping clients’ personal information secure is incredibly important to businesses. It makes sense that small businesses would want to arm themselves with information to stay cyber secure, and ID Support NSW has done the work to make it easier to find the right resources in one place.” 

Minister for Small Business Stephen Kamper said:

“The theme of this Small Business Month is ‘My Small Business,’ with events tailored to help small business owners and operators learn new skills and strategies to improve their business.”

“In an ever-evolving landscape, cybercrime is constantly changing and becoming more intelligent, making it imperative for businesses to stay vigilant and informed about new scams to safeguard their operations.”

“I encourage all businesses to ensure they understand cyber security and make it a priority to utilise the resources on ID Support NSW so they are set up for success.”

The Blue Mountains’ historic Zig Zag Railway is now back on track thanks to a $3.6 million restoration of its locomotive workshop.

The official grand reopening is today thanks to local councils choo-choo-choosing to work together collaboratively with Crown lands and the Zig Zag Railway co-op.

The workshop restoration, funded by the NSW Government through Crown Lands, has included replacement of major structural components, new cladding for walls and roof, installation of stormwater drainage, and fire safety upgrades.

The complex project has been chugging along through a range of challenges, requiring teams to work through difficult logistic and access issues given the workshop’s location alongside the main Sydney train line.

Passenger services have resumed at the Zig Zag Railway to the delight of locals and visitors, but reinstatement of the workshop was key to the railway’s continued operations and maintenance of its locomotives and carriages.

The railway has been moving for 154-years and first opened on 18 October 1869 as part of the Main Western rail line serving mountain runs until 1910 when a track deviation was installed.

The not-for-profit Zig Zag Railway Co-op resurrected the heritage-listed railway in 1975 but was stalled by severe bushfire damage in 2013 and 2019 and storm damage.

The fires and storms damaged the locomotive workshop, trains, passenger and accommodation carriages, rail lines, about 3,500 sleepers, electrical equipment and the railway’s office including decades of records.

Zig Zag Railway and its dedicated volunteers restored the railway and rebuilt its safety management system, network rules, procedures and rail policies to get accreditation to resume passenger services by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The NSW Government contributed over $5.9 million through Crown Lands and the Department of Regional NSW, which includes $3.6 million to help restore the locomotive workshop, as well as additional funding to construct a car park, pedestrian crossing and amenities block to support the fantastic work of the railway’s volunteers.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said: 

“I was lucky to attend the re-opening of the Zig Zag railway in May this year and it was great to see this iconic tourist attraction welcome back families and rail enthusiasts alike after several setbacks including bushfires, floods and storm damage.

“The restoration and opening of its locomotive workshops today will ensure this much-loved historic railway will be able to showcase Australia’s steam train era to a new generation of young trainspotters.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Heritage Trish Doyle said:

“It’s great to see the Zig Zag railway’s workshop back on track, keeping its trains and carriages running so this restoration project was critical to its continued operations.”

“This tourism icon attracts up to 80,000 visitors each year so having it back in full operation will boost tourism, business and jobs in the Blue Mountains and Lithgow regions.”

Zig Zag Railway CEO Daniel Zolfel said:

“Rebuilding of the workshop has been a special project not only for Zig Zag Railway but the people who delivered the work. Without this team we absolutely wouldn’t have been able to undergo such a large scale and intricate project.”

“Having the workshop back to its former glory will allow Zig Zag to maintain its rolling stock including steam locomotives, diesel locomotives and carriages and give it the ability to recommission additional locomotives and carriages in its fleet.”