Category: NSW News

NSW is celebrating a bumper year for business events, with the sector forecast to inject more than $192 million into the state’s visitor economy in 2025.

Tourism Research Australia data confirms NSW and Sydney were Australia’s number one region and city for business events in 2024. With 2025 already tracking strongly, NSW is poised to extend its lead as the nation’s business events capital.

Business Events Sydney has already secured 57 events for 2025, expected to generate $186 million in direct expenditure, with additional events still in the pipeline. 

Destination NSW’s regional business events program, Business Events NSW, has also helped secure 57 events, forecast to deliver 14,500 visitor nights and more than $6 million in direct expenditure.

Leading events on the 2025 calendar include the International Astronautical Congress 2025, which will attract 4500 delegates to Sydney in September and generate an estimated $21 million in direct expenditure for the NSW economy.

Business events are a high-value driver of the NSW visitor economy. The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy Review identified the sector as a priority growth opportunity with business events delivering visitors who stay longer and spend more, and create year-round demand for hotels, venues and visitor experiences across the state.

In 2024, NSW welcomed 6.48 million business events visitors, including 3.41 million to Sydney. By comparison, Victoria recorded 4.84 million business events visitors and Melbourne attracted 3.06 million, reinforcing NSW’s national leadership in this space.

The state’s major events calendar is also stimulating demand for international conferences and corporate events. Hundreds of business events were hosted during Vivid Sydney 2025 (23 May to 14 June), including a harbour cruise for delegates attending the 16th World Congress on Endometriosis.

Secured by BESydney, the congress was held at ICC Sydney from 21-24 May 2025, drawing 1100 participants from 60 countries and generating an estimated $3.9 million in direct expenditure over four days.

Destination NSW highlighted the growing value of business events and corporate travel at its annual Business Events NSW Showcase at Machine Hall, Sydney on 25 June 2025.

The event presented Destination NSW’s refreshed ‘Feel New’ positioning for business events in regional NSW. Under the banner ‘Corporate events that feel anything but’, Business Events NSW spotlighted the distinctive venues, experiences and communities that offer a compelling alternative to traditional business event formats and experience.

Minister for Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“Business events attract high-value visitors to NSW and the NSW Government has ambitious plans to turbocharge its domination in the sector.

“The annual Business Events NSW Showcase is a fantastic initiative to drive sector growth by spotlighting the diversity of transformative visitor experiences on offer in regional NSW.

“The opening of Newcastle Airport’s international terminal and Western Sydney International Airport will make it even more attractive for organisations to choose Sydney and regional NSW as immersive destinations for their next conference, corporate meeting or incentive event.”

Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones said:

“The business events sector is a powerhouse for the NSW visitor economy, driving high-yield visitation and long-term growth.

“Through the Business Events NSW Showcase, Destination NSW was proud to partner with industry across the state to reimagine what corporate events can be – engaging, meaningful, and distinctly NSW.

“With world-class venues and unique visitor experiences, regional NSW offers business events that spark real connection and deliver stronger outcomes for delegates and destinations alike.”

BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith OAM said:

“BESydney recently launched its ‘The Sydney Series: Beyond the Icons’ featuring some of the city’s leading experience providers as a guide for delegates who enjoy the road less travelled and want to experience something new and exciting in Sydney.

“Sydney is brimming with events and experiences that are geared towards visitors and locals alike and we want delegates who come to our city to feel at home and enjoy our warm Sydney welcome.

“We find major events like Vivid Sydney are particularly popular with our corporate and incentive groups that are seeking ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences with the wow factor to inspire and reward their top performing team members and distributors with cultural pursuits that showcase Sydney ‘beyond the icons’.”

The Minns Labor Government has secured the future of an important wildlife corridor in the Sutherland Shire with the purchase of more than 30 hectares of ecologically valuable bushland.

The Woronora Heights site is a habitat haven, with recent surveys showing the land is home to several vulnerable species including the Powerful Owl, Red-crowned Toadlet, Greater Broad-nosed Bat and the Eastern Pygmy-possum.

The area is also known to have a variety of koala feed trees. Locals have observed koalas taking a snack stop as they use the corridor to travel safely through suburban bushland.

The Minns Labor Government is proud to deliver this election commitment, to protect the environment and ensure our precious native creatures and plants exist here for generations to come.

The corridor, previously owned by Sydney Water, is well known for its walking track along a heritage pipeline. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will reserve the area as a regional park, which will allow for the continued walking of dogs on a lead.

Sydney Water will retain access rights to carry out essential maintenance of the pipeline while ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“I want to thank Maryanne Stuart and her community for their campaign to protect this land.

“There are so many important species that call this bushland home, and I’m thrilled it will now be protected forever in our National Parks system.”

Minister for Water, Rose Jackson:

“This is a win for the local community and the environment. By transferring this land into the hands of National Parks, we’re locking in long-term protection for precious bushland and vital koala habitat.

“It shows how the government can make better use of what we have – protecting nature while keeping our essential infrastructure running smoothly. Sydney Water can keep doing its job, and we can safeguard a key wildlife corridor for generations to come.”

Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart:

“I am so happy to see this land saved as a wildlife corridor. I thank the residents and all who campaigned. During COVID we know how vital this bush land was for our community, our health and wellbeing.

“We are grateful to the Minister, Penny Sharpe and the National Parks and Wildlife Service for the action they’ve taken to protect this vital habitat for so many vulnerable species for generations to come.”

The Minns Labor Government is launching a $2.9m SafeWork NSW ‘irreplaceable’ campaign highlighting the importance of staying safe at work and the impact of workplace injuries and fatalities on families, communities, and businesses.

The SafeWork campaign reinforces that while everyone is important at work, they are irreplaceable at home, whether they be a parent, son or daughter, sibling, partner, friend or teammate.

According to recent figures, there was an annual average of 52 work-related fatalities reported in NSW in the past three years. That’s one death every week over 12 months.

The initiative will be rolled out from Sunday 29 June across television, radio and social video platforms and caters for various Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) audiences.

The campaign follows the NSW Government’s 2025-26 Budget announcement to strengthen the state’s work health and safety regulator with a major $127.7 million investment over the next four years to address psychosocial hazards and compliance and enforcement of safe work practices.

The Budget investment will see SafeWork NSW inspector numbers bolstered from 370 to 469 in total over the past two years which amounts to a 27 percent increase.

51 new inspector roles will be recruited, which includes 20 psychosocial-focused inspectors and five psychosocial investigators.

An expanded SafeWork NSW inspectorate sharpens the agency’s focus on psychological health at work, provides dedicated resources on psychosocial injury prevention, investigations and prosecutions, and ensures employers meet their return-to-work obligations to injured workers.

It also strengthens SafeWork NSW’s capacity and capability as the agency becomes an independent regulator on 1 July 2025.

The funding will also see SafeWork NSW establish a new Psychosocial Advisory Service, which will connect NSW workers with expert support, and where needed, escalate work health and safety breaches to dedicated psychosocial inspectors.

The service will be staffed by a team of seven appropriately qualified staff and deliver up to 25,000 consultations or assessments each year.

The targeted reform is part of a broader $344 million Workplace Mental Health package, strengthening mental health support and injury prevention strategies in NSW workplaces.

For more information, or for access to free advice, toolkits and resources to stay informed on workplace health and safety, visit the SafeWork NSW website here or call 13 10 50.

More information on how businesses should manage psychosocial risk at work is available on the SafeWork NSW website: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/mental-health

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“I welcome this advertising campaign and new funding as we continue to reform and reshape SafeWork NSW into the strong and robust regulator needed to secure safe and healthy workplaces. 

“We will take a firm stance to address persistent issues, working with industry, unions, workers and their representatives to secure compliance with our work health and safety laws.

“Every worker has the right to go to work and come home safely to their family and friends.”

SafeWork NSW Executive Director Strategic & Corporate Services Petrina Casey said:

“We hope this campaign can drive home the message that while we may be important at work, the people we go home to at the end of the day are what matters most and if this can help drive some behavioural changes in the workplace, it’ll go a long way to saving lives.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people believe workplace safety doesn’t impact them and that accidents at work happen to other people. We hope this campaign drives home the message that workplace safety affects everyone.

“Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility because ultimately, we are all irreplaceable to the ones we love.

“This campaign will no doubt help SafeWork NSW continue its important role in addressing persistent issues, by working with workers, industry and unions to secure compliance with our work health and safety laws.

“We are continuing to reform and reshape SafeWork NSW into the strong and robust regulator needed to secure safe and healthy workplace in NSW.“

Eight teenage girls have the future of women’s and girls sport in their hands following their selection to the Minns Labor Government’s first Teenage Advisory Committee, as part of the Play Her Way Strategy.

The teenage girls – ranging in ages 16 to 19 from across NSW – were chosen following a state-wide process to identify a group who could be a voice on some of the biggest issues affecting young women in sport. 

The Teenage Advisory Committee is an initiative of the Minns Labor Government’s Play Her Way Strategy, a four-year plan to get more NSW women and girls involved and staying in sport. 

Play Her Way has a focus on addressing the low rates of participation among adolescent girls after research found a 23 per cent gap in participation rates among boys and girls aged 15-17 in NSW. 

The Teenage Advisory Committee will provide advice to the NSW Government on how to break down the barriers preventing teenage girls participating in sport and propose new and innovative ways to keep teenage girls involved.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The Teenage Advisory Committee is a fresh approach for the way government develops sporting programs for women and girls.  It flips the script by letting women and girls control their destiny and determine how they play sport. 

“The committee members come from a range of backgrounds, experiences and locations to represent the voices of teenage girls aged 16–20. 

“By giving them a voice, we’re providing a platform to create, advise and inspire change in sport for teenage girls. 

“The Teenage Advisory Committee will shape initiatives that increase participation and retention across NSW. 

“Through the Teenage Advisory Committee, Play Her Way is delivering on what it says: ensuring every woman and girl in NSW can play sport her way.” 

Teenage Advisory Committee Member Matilda Webb, 16, from Bella Vista said:  

“I’m so excited to be chosen as part of this incredible group of diverse girls from across NSW to work on a really exciting strategy and government program to help empower girls and women in sport.  

“Hearing all the diverse voices in the group, it really highlighted that there are common themes that we all value in sport.” 

Teenage Advisory Committee Member Sadida Wilson, 18, from the Central Coast said:

“There are so many opportunities for girls in sport right now, whether they are playing or whether they are looking for a job working in the sports industry – it’s a really exciting time.”

Teenage Advisory Committee Member Jasmine Patankar, 18, from Kellyville said:

“I’m most excited to be able to contribute to offering better and more positive experiences for girls in sport.  

“I’m involved in coaching, so to be able to see the opportunities and experiences the girls I coach are wanting to have, and to be able to have a positive impact on that, will be really cool.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib has appointed a new Commissioner, Trent Curtin, to lead the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS).

The RFS is the lead emergency service agency in NSW for bushfires, providing support for communities through its 70,000 volunteer members across a network of almost 2,000 brigades.

The RFS also provides fire and emergency services to protect homes, attend motor vehicle incidents and during search and rescue operations. The RFS works closely with other emergency services in responding to emergencies and natural disasters including recent events like Cyclone Alfred and the mid-north coast floods.

Mr Curtin commenced his career 30 years ago as a volunteer firefighter with the Country Fire Authority in Victoria and has served in senior leadership roles in the emergency services in both Victoria and NSW. These roles included Acting Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner at Fire and Rescue NSW with responsibility for Community Fire Unit volunteers. He also served as Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Fire Rescue Victoria between 2015 and 2020.

Mr Curtin has extensive experience battling major fires, floods and coordinating large-scale responses involving multiple agencies to significant emergency incidents.

The incoming Commissioner will also bring to the RFS a strong track record in crisis management, organisational strategy and a lifelong commitment to safety. He joins the RFS from SafeWork NSW where, as head of SafeWork, he led efforts to reestablish the agency as a strong and independent work health and safety regulator.

The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process undertaken by the Department of Communities and Justice. Mr Curtin will take up his role as Commissioner from Monday, 14 July 2025.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“I am pleased to announce Trent Curtin will be the new Commissioner of the NSW RFS.

“Mr Curtin has extensive experience as an emergency services leader in NSW and Victoria, where he has been involved in managing significant fires and large-scale natural disasters and working with volunteers.

“RFS volunteers are at the forefront of the State’s natural disaster response. From the 2019-20 bushfires to more recent flood events, they are a reassuring presence for communities in need.  

“Mr Curtin started his firefighting career 30 years ago as a volunteer and I look forward to working with him as he brings his emergency service expertise to an organisation at the frontline of bushfire response.

“I thank the outgoing Commissioner Rob Rogers who will finish in the role on 4 July for his four decades of service to NSW communities.”

Incoming Commissioner for NSW RFS Trent Curtin said:

“Having spent most of my life as a firefighter, I am honoured to be appointed Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service and to work alongside the committed volunteers and staff who represent the very best of community spirit.

“The RFS plays a vital role in our communities, responding in the most difficult circumstances to help others in their time of need.

“I look forward to honouring the legacy of the RFS as a community-centred agency, while ensuring we remain ready to meet the challenge of more frequent and intense natural disasters.”

The Minns Labor Government is taking the next step in the heritage revitalisation of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, confirming Richard Crookes Constructions has been awarded the main works contract to deliver the $300 million renewal of the Ultimo site.

Richard Crookes Constructions was selected through a competitive tender process and have extensive experience delivering complex cultural infrastructure projects for the NSW Government – including Naala Badu (Sydney Modern) and the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct revitalisation.

During construction, the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo Revitalisation project will create around 750 jobs, and inject $225 million into the local economy.

Infrastructure NSW, who are responsible for delivery of the project, and the Powerhouse Museum collaborated with award-winning architects Durbach Block Jaggers, Architectus, Tyrell Studio and Youssofzay + Hart to reimagine and renew the iconic 146-year-old cultural institution.

Key features of the new design include:

• Conservation and restoration: Preserving the heritage-listed Power Station buildings for ongoing adaptive reuse by the Powerhouse Museum.
• New and improved exhibition spaces: Designed to meet international museum standards for exhibitions across the applied arts and sciences, exhibition spaces will increase to 7,500sqm, (up from 6,850sqm)
• Reorientation: Aligning the museum to face The Goods Line, enhancing connections with the Sydney CBD, including easier access to the Museum from major public transport options. The new entrance will reveal the heritage facades of the original power station built in 1899 and the 1902 Turbine Hall.
• Activation of the Harris Street façade: Enhancing the museum’s contribution to the Ultimo streetscape, including subsidised workspaces for NSW practitioners across the applied arts and sciences, and a community meeting space.
• Central circulation system: Establishing an intuitive and accessible circulation system to support a high-quality visitor experience.
• Reimagined public domain: Delivering a 2,000sqm public space at the northern end of The Goods Line, a landscaped courtyard adjacent to the former Ultimo Post Office, and an internal courtyard accessible from Macarthur Street.

During the tender process, all three contractors advised that parts of the Wran and Galleria buildings’ internal steel structure are unsafe, with design of steel structures, load capability, fabrication and erection found to be non-compliant with the National Construction Code if retained. As such the internal steel structures will need to be disassembled and replaced to ensure the safety of construction workers on site and the long-term structural integrity of the buildings.

Following feedback, a modification to the development’s approval will be lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure next week which will include allowing for the dismantling and replacement of the Wran and Galleria building’s non-compliant internal steel structures, while continuing to maintain the heritage requirements of the built form.  

These modifications are covered within the existing budget.

Site preparation works, approved under the State Significant Development Application, continue to be carried out with main works construction expected to take up to three years.

The 1899 Ultimo Tram Depot (The Harwood Building) will continue to be used for museum operations including conservation laboratories, workshops and staff offices.

Following the conclusion of the revitalisation, the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo will continue to exhibit its iconic objects from the collection, including the Boulton & Watt Steam Engine, the Catalina flying boat Frigate Bird II and Locomotive Number 1.

For more information visit the Powerhouse Ultimo website.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“We are confident Richard Crookes Constructions, with their extensive experience and proven track record in delivering complex heritage revitalisations and renowned Sydney cultural institutions, is the perfect choice for this project.

“The Minns Labor Government committed to preserving and enhancing this iconic institution for future generations and confident this revitalisation will deliver the best and safest outcome for the museum and the passionate community of visitors who eagerly await its completion.

“Importantly the shape and scale of the iconic Wran and Galleria buildings will be safely replaced and future-proofed, so they can be enjoyed by visitors and the community for decades to come. 

“Keeping the structures is not only unsafe and non-compliant, it would cost the taxpayer more and give a limited warranty on the buildings, which isn’t justifiable given the end product will look the same.”

Minister for the Arts and Minister for Music and Nighttime Economy John Graham said:

“As custodians of one of the largest and most exceptional collections of objects in Australia, the Powerhouse Museum plays an important role in bringing the arts, design, science and technology and their history together.

“That is why the Minns Labor Government is investing in the heritage revitalisation, to secure the future of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, and make sure the museum is equipped with a range of exhibition spaces to meet international standards and showcase the Powerhouse Collection to its fullest potential.

“We always maintained we will preserve the Wran legacy with this project, and that is why some materials in the Wran and Galleria buildings will be replaced and rebuilt, to ensure a long future for these buildings.”

The NSW Government is reducing emissions and moving closer to reaching its Net Zero targets. The state will bridge the gap with a new plan to get to net zero by 2050.

The legislated climate targets for NSW are to reach 50% reduction by 2030, 70% reduction by 2035, and net zero by 2050.

Latest updates from the emissions projections show a strong improvement to the state’s reductions, with NSW estimated to reduce emissions by 46% in 2030 and 62% in 2035.

A new Net Zero Plan will be designed to ensure NSW can meets the 2030 & 2035 targets.

The plan will take a sector-by-sector approach to decarbonisation and for the first time bring together all the relevant portfolio Ministers to provide guidance and input.

While all sectors must contribute and do their bit, different parts of the economy will decarbonise at varying rates.

Data from the tabled State of the Environment Report shows that NSW’s largest emissions source by 2030 will move from the energy sector to the transport sector. This shows the rapid progress of rollout of renewables. The Transport and Built Environment sectors will be key focus areas, as they have huge opportunities to reduce emissions.

The NSW Government supports the findings of the recent Net Zero Commission’s 2024 Annual Report and supports all four recommendations from the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future’s inquiry report.

NSW Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“Our first priority is to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. We are very close – only 4% off with five years to go. But we aren’t naive – meeting our targets will be hard.

“We are not shying away from the challenge, and we are determined to meet the targets; that’s why we enshrined the targets in law, that’s why we’re transitioning to renewables, that’s why we’re creating the Net Zero Plan.

“Every part of government must take action to ensure our climate response is truly comprehensive and effective.

“Every step we take towards our targets improves our health, our environment, our biodiversity and our air quality.”

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to keep communities safe across NSW with record funding to protect our most vulnerable children and new investments to improve access to justice, address violence against women and children, and bolster the safety of people in their communities and online.

A landmark $1.2 billion child protection package cements our commitment to protect the state’s most vulnerable children.

For the first time in 20 years, the Foster Carer Allowance will be substantially increased to recognise the critical work foster carers do to keep children safe across NSW.

The tax-free allowance will rise by 20 per cent, delivering the carer of a typical 14-year-old an additional $176 per fortnight.

We are investing a record $1 billion to rebuild the out-of-home care system, providing support to vulnerable children while we reform a neglected system. That includes 44 new purpose-built or upgraded homes, building on the work we have already done to keep at risk children from living in hotels and motels.

In addition, we are recruiting and retaining case workers with higher pay and more specialised training.

The 2025-26 Budget invests more than $650 million to support victim-survivors and provide better access to justice across NSW. This investment builds on a $6.1 billion social housing injection in our second budget, which included historic funding for new social housing that prioritises women and children fleeing domestic and family violence, as well as $527.6 million for homelessness services.

This year’s Budget includes $272.7 million for domestic, family and sexual violence services working to support victim-survivors and reduce violence against women and children. Of this, $11.2 million will go towards long-term reform to build a more sustainable system so we can intervene earlier and continue doing the crucial work of helping victim-survivors.

A further $49.4 million will fund a trauma-informed hub to support victim-survivors, including those who have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence, who are participating in legal proceedings.

We are also addressing the increase in demand for the Victims Support Scheme, with $226.8 million to ensure continued access to counselling and financial support.

We are enabling better access to justice with $34.5 million for five additional courtrooms and 10 new virtually-enabled courtrooms to be added in Sydney’s CBD. Plus, $61.1 million in new funding to bolster the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program, and an additional $6.7 million to prosecute industrial manslaughter. This boost will allow the DPP to hire additional staff including prosecutors, solicitors and witness assistance officers.

Community safety is a top priority of the Government and our tough new domestic violence bail laws have seen record numbers of alleged offenders held on remand.

In response, the budget provides an additional $100.5 million to ensure Corrective Services NSW is resourced to supervise offenders, while supporting rehabilitation and integration in line with community expectations.

We are also investing in crime prevention with $5.5 million in early intervention and diversion programs for young people in contact with criminal justice system.

At the same time, we are delivering critical upgrades for NSW Police. These include upgraded surveillance systems to support major investigations and more than $100 million to fund cutting-edge digital policing technology and resources. A new Patrol Vessel (the Nemesis) that provides Police the ability to conduct extended offshore operations including search and rescue, maritime and counter-terror protection that targets maritime crime and illegal drug importation, is also being funded.
This Budget builds on our historic investment in NSW Police, including a once in a generation pay increase and the decision to pay recruits to train, which has seen applications to join the NSW Police surge by 70 per cent.

We are also increasing our investment in keeping NSW safe online. $175.1 million will support cyber security across government agencies to prevent, detect, and when needed, recover from cyber incidents.
The Minns Labor Government is building a better NSW by investing in the safety of our communities and the protection of our most vulnerable people.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering the largest investment in out-of-home care (OOHC) and child protection in NSW history, with a commitment to rebuild the neglected system and keep our most vulnerable children safe.

A landmark $1.2 billion Child Protection Package in the 2025-26 Budget will increase support and protection for children and young people in out-of-home care, significantly increase allowances for carers, and deliver reforms that ensure every dollar spent delivers better outcomes for vulnerable families.

Significantly, the package includes the first real increase to the Foster Care Allowance in 20 years, with $143.9 million budgeted to recognise the critical role of foster carers to keep NSW children safe.

The tax-free allowance will rise by 20 per cent, meaning the carer of a typical 14-year-old will receive an increase from $880 per fortnight to $1056 per fortnight, equating to $4,576 more per year.

For the carer of a typical 5-year-old child, the tax-free allowance would rise from $656 to $787.20 per fortnight, meaning a $3,411.20 increase per year.

A record $1 billion investment to rebuild the out-of-home care system also includes:

• $797.6 million to continue supporting children and young people in out-of-home care as reforms are designed and implemented, while also setting aside investment for a reformed OOHC program. This will improve the out-of-home care system and ensure all children and young people can thrive in supportive and stable environments
• $49.2 million for 44 government owned, purpose-built or upgraded residential care homes that will deliver safe and stable housing for children over 12 years of age with complex needs
• $10 million to support the Office of the Children’s Guardian to continue to oversee organisations and uphold children’s rights to be safe

In addition, $191.5 million will ensure we can recruit more than 200 new caseworkers and retain 2,126 caseworkers with higher pay and more specialised training, including 100 new leading caseworker roles. 

This record investment provides stable funding for the child protection system for the first time in at least a decade.

It underscores the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to improve the lives of children and young people in a system that was neglected under the Liberals and Nationals for too long.

We know we have more to do, but this announcement builds on strong foundations. In our first two years, the Minns Labor Government has:

• Ended unaccredited emergency accommodation for vulnerable children – meaning no children are living in places like hotels and motels as of April this year
• Reduced the number of children placed in all types of High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEA) by 35 per cent since November 2023
• Restarted the recruitment of foster carers in the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), a critical program which was disgracefully abandoned by the Liberals and Nationals more than a decade ago
• Recruited more than 240 emergency carers so far, who have kept hundreds of children out of emergency arrangements
• Delivered a record $350 million investment for family preservation programs delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
• Created DCJ-managed Waratah Care Cottages to better support children and sibling groups who would otherwise be stuck in emergency placements
• Redeployed our best and brightest casework specialists back to the frontline. Already this means more than 300 additional vulnerable children have been given support
• Insourced 300 family time workers, directly employing staff to keep children in OOHC connected to their parents
• The Minns Labor Government has released a comprehensive roadmap for reform. 

This includes a commitment to overhaul the former government’s failed Permanency Support Program (PSP), a model that outsourced the care of our most vulnerable children to non-government providers, without the oversight or accountability needed to keep children safe.

As part of these reforms, key services will return to direct government delivery through the Department of Communities and Justice, restoring public accountability and responsibility for children’s care.

With reform underway and historic funding now secured, the NSW Government is focused on building a system that delivers the care, stability and support that every child deserves.

The Minns Labor Government is today announcing a Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee to accelerate housing construction and help tackle the state’s housing supply challenges as part of the 2025-26 Budget.

Under the five-year Pre-sale Finance Guarantee, the NSW Government will leverage its strong fiscal position to go guarantor on up to 50 per cent of approved housing projects so developers can begin construction.

The Government will guarantee residential pre-sales for up to $1 billion of housing projects at a time through a revolving fund.

The Australian first will provide between $5 million and $50 million in pre-sale guarantees for each project and is expected to be accepting applications by the end of 2025.

How the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee Works

• Developers with planning approval and initial pre-sales can apply for the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee, subject to lender approval
• The NSW Government will assess projects and developers based on their credibility, capability, and capacity
• If approved, construction must begin within six months of signing the documents
• After projects are complete and dwellings sold, the government will issue further guarantees for up to $1 billion of projects at any one time for the 5-year duration of the program
• If dwellings remain unsold, the developer can “call” on the guarantee and the Government will purchase them at a discounted rate
• These homes could then be sold to buy or rent, or kept as affordable or social housing 

Meeting pre-sale requirements has been the most common issue cited by stakeholders in securing finance, and has been outlined as a key hurdle for industry in the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of housing supply challenges and policy options for New South Wales.

In fact, the number of pre-sales required to secure funding from a registered financial lender has increased in some cases, from 50 per cent of the dwellings to 80 per cent of the dwellings over the last few years.

This leads to projects remaining on hold while the requisite number of pre-sales is secured, which can delay construction for months or even years.

This announcement builds on the strong foundations we have laid to make sure more people have access to more homes across NSW, including:

• Our Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, which is set to deliver 112,000 homes across NSW over the next five years
• Transport Oriented Developments which will deliver 230,000 more affordable, well-located homes around 45 transport hubs
• The Housing Delivery Authority which has recommended that 136 projects be declared as State Significant since it commenced in January 2025. If approved, these projects will deliver 53,500 new homes – more than the entire number of homes built in NSW last year
• Planning approvals are already 17 per cent faster than in March 2023, applications to build are up 28 per cent on last year, and more than 70,000 homes are under construction
• We have created a better, fairer system for 2.3 million renters and have helped more than 60,000 first home buyers achieve their dream with no or discounted stamp duty under our First Home Buyers Assistance program

And there’s more still to come as the Minns Labor Government works to build a better NSW for today and for future generations.