Author: admin

Western Sydney communities from Penrith through to Campbelltown now have a start date for five new permanent bus routes, with the Minns Labor Government announcing the services to Western International Airport will commence on 5 July.

In uncertain times, families want confidence, security and a clear plan for the future and delivering the infrastructure growing communities need is a central part of that plan.

This $302.7 million investment in the five new routes is part of an overall $362.7 million investment allocated to new Western Sydney bus services by the Minns Labor Government since taking office.

Starting three months ahead of passenger airline services, the routes from Penrith (790), Campbelltown (845), Liverpool (825 and 860) and Mount Druitt (772), will be begin connecting surrounding communities and businesses along with locals who work at the new airport in construction and freight.

As Western Sydney continues to grow, these services will ensure local communities are connected to the jobs and economic opportunities created by the new airport.

These communities will now have new buses running every 30 minutes from 5am to 10pm, seven days a week from July, with 43 new electric buses that provide a quieter, smoother and more comfortable ride and support the NSW Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

They are fully air conditioned, feature low kerb access and luggage racks to make trips to and from the future airport easier. Fit-out and finishing work took place at the Volgren facility in Ingleburn and at the Foton facility in Nowra as part of a boost for local production and expertise.

These five permanent routes will be complemented by WSI Link, the interim bus service that will connect the new airport to St Mary’s train station while the new Western Sydney Airport Metro is being delivered. These 30-minute frequency services will begin when passenger flights commence.

In addition to delivering the bus services to these historically underserved communities, the Minns Labor Government is also delivering improvements to the supporting bus infrastructure including upgrading bus depots, building bus shelters and further road improvements.

The Busways’ Penrith depot has now reached a 50% milestone for charging capacity, catering for 18 of the new electric buses. The remaining 25 new electric buses will operate out of the Transit Systems depot at Bradbury, which has been electrified to cater for the new bus fleet.

The NSW Government will also support local councils to build bus shelters, which are common in many parts of Sydney but much rarer in Western Sydney, despite experiencing much hotter temperatures. This support will be delivered through a trial of the $1.5 million Bus Shelter Program, where councils can apply for grants to install bus shelters along new and enhanced routes.

These initiatives will be complemented by work along Badgerys Creek Road to deliver safer and more comfortable access into the new airport, with completion expected by July.

This investment in NSW bus services comes from the Minns Labor Government’s 2025 budget commitment of $452 million to increase and improve bus services.

Read about New Bus Services for Western Sydney

Premier Chris Minns said:

“When Western Sydney grows, the transport network needs to grow with it, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.

“These new bus routes are about making sure Western Sydney communities are properly connected to the new airport and the economic opportunities it will create.

“We know there’s more work to do, but projects like this are part of a clear plan to build the infrastructure our communities need and make sure Western Sydney shares in the opportunities of the future.”

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“Hundreds and thousands of residents in this part of Sydney have been chronically underserved by buses. The wait for decent bus services will be over in July as these five permanent routes get rolling.

“Whether it’s taking up a new job at the new airport or travelling to work anywhere along these routes, these buses will connect the people of Western Sydney to new economic opportunities with a cost-effective convenient transport option.

“These state-of-the-art electric buses have been fitted out in Western Sydney and Nowra as we work to rebuild local bus manufacturing in NSW after the former governments sent all of those jobs overseas.

“This fleet is supported by major upgrades to bus depots and local roads, reflecting feedback received from more than 3000 respondents to our community consultation.”

Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“Beyond the state-of-the-art buses themselves, one of the issues raised by people around western Sydney is the need for improved bus waiting facilities to shelter passengers through the summer heat and in times of rain.

“While the installation and ongoing maintenance of bus shelter infrastructure is a council responsibility, we recognise the demands on council and as such are trialling this Bus Shelter Program to encourage Councils to provide shelters for bus passengers.

“Around 1700 electric buses are expected to be operating across Sydney’s road network by 2028, delivering long-term environmental and customer benefits, so it’s essential all the infrastructure is in place to support their service.”

Chris Wolf, Busways Director of Assets and Safety said:

“There has been close collaboration between Busways, Transport for NSW and Endeavour Energy to plan, deliver and commission complex upgrades within an operational depot environment.

“The new onsite 1.5MVA electrical substation was activated in December in a seamless transition of power while the depot remained in full operation.

“The upgrade also supported Western Sydney jobs, with electrical, civil and gantry works delivered by local contractors based in Doonside, Warwick Farm and Prestons.

Rino Matarazzo, Transit Systems Managing Director said:

“These new services are a major step forward for Western Sydney.

“We’re increasing frequency, improving connections, and making it easier for people to get to work, school and home safely and reliably.

“Western Sydney is growing rapidly and our network is evolving to meet that demand.”

The NSW Minister for Education, Prue Car, refused to commit to supporting higher wages for community preschool educators in today’s Budget Estimates hearing.

Instead, Minister Car passed the buck to parent-run community services, claiming that “the community preschools actually, many of them, I am sorry to admit this, have the capacity to pay their teachers…”, stating that “we urge them to pay their workers fairly.”
 
Shadow Minister for Early Education, Felicity Wilson, said the comments from the Minister ignore the Fair Work Commission’s decision, which explicitly stated that “outside of government funding, NSW community preschools can only generate revenue through fees to families.”
 
“Community preschools strive to be affordable for families and are already operating on incredibly tight budgets. Suggesting they simply absorb the cost of higher wages will either lead to higher costs for families or force community preschools to close,” Ms Wilson said.
 
“Even in the face of the overwhelming findings of the Fair Work Commission that “NSW preschools are reliant on NSW Government funding for the public provision of preschool services” the Minns Labor Government refuse to ensure that community preschool’s in NSW remains affordable for families.”
 
Minister Car instead verballed the sector, claiming that many of them “…have the capacity to pay their teachers…”, a claim already rejected by evidence to the Fair Work Commission which demonstrated that these reserves (not profits) are required to ensure solvency and are “a one-off pool of resources and are not appropriate sources to fund ongoing wages liabilities into perpetuity.”
 
The community preschool sector has directly contradicted these claims by Minister Car, with Drummoyne Community Preschool Centre Director Helen Millar saying that “decisions are being made without our voices being heard and we’re really concerned that funding has been reduced for us because that means the onus has to be put on families to have to pay for that”.
 
“Yes, we want to fight for fair wages, we deserve fair wages, every educator here puts in a lot more hours than what they’re paid for but it’s no good fighting for fair wages if community based preschools are becoming a dying breed – we have to fight for them first,” Ms Millar said.

Ms Wilson said that the NSW Liberals and Nationals are focused on ensuring that community preschools across NSW receive the support they need to ensure families have access to quality, safe, affordable education that meets their needs.
 
“We support giving kids the best start in life. As Liberals and Nationals, we fundamentally support choice, including early education. Community preschools are a vital part of delivering that choice to families.”

“Yet again, we have a system in crisis. And yet again, we are not seeing any tangible plans from the NSW Government.” – Australian Medical Association.
 
Today’s Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare Quarterly report for October to December 2025 shows patient treatment waiting (and waiting… and waiting) times have blown out in emergency departments across NSW.
 
A record number of patients walked out without starting or finishing treatment in an ED, almost 80,000 people – a rise of 16 percent in a year.
 
Alarmingly, almost 35 percent of those were in triage category 3 and in need of urgent care for potentially life-threatening conditions.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said patients are experiencing more waiting and less care under the Minns Labor Government.
 
“When nearly 80,000 patients are walking out of hospital without care that shows something is going seriously wrong in our health system,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Emergency departments are meant to save lives – not test how long people can wait.”
 
“Patients deserve a health system that works when they need it most and that is what the Liberals and Nationals will deliver.”
 
The percentage of T2 Emergency Patients (the sickest patients) being treated on time at Westmead and Nepean Hospitals is the lowest it has been since the pandemic.
 
A patient at Westmead is now spending an additional hour and a half in ED compared to when the Liberals and Nationals were in power.
 
Shadow Minister for Health and Regional Health Sarah Mitchell said the issue wasn’t just confined to Sydney, with patients spending 12 minutes longer in emergency departments across the state compared to this time last year.

“Increased wait times are leading to record numbers of patients walking out and giving up on getting care when they need it most,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“Three years in and the situation is getting worse, not better. Ryan Park can’t keep blaming everyone else while hospital performance collapses on his watch. NSW patients deserve better.”

The Minns Labor Government is facing growing criticism over continued delays to the $3.1 billion M6 motorway, with motorists in Southern Sydney still waiting for clear answers on when the project will be completed.
 
Shadow Minister for Roads, Mark Coure MP, said the project has effectively stalled for more than two years while commuters continue to face congestion and uncertainty.
 
“This project has been stuck in neutral for more than two years and commuters in Southern Sydney are the ones paying the price,” Mr Coure said.
 
“Southern Sydney motorists were promised a motorway, instead they’ve been handed delays, excuses and a construction site going nowhere.”
 
Mr Coure said the Government has had ample time to get the project back on track but has failed to deliver progress.
 
“The Government has had two years to get this project moving again, yet in that time more than $5 million has reportedly been spent on lawyers rather than getting the job done,” he said.
 
“$5 million could fix a lot of potholes across Sydney, but instead it has been wasted while this project sits idle.”
 
Mr Coure said that after a day of intense questioning in Parliament, the Minister announced it would give the consortium another three months to deliver progress.
 
“Today in Parliament, the Minister had no timeline, no delivery date, no opening date and no idea when motorists will finally be driving on this critical piece of infrastructure.”
 
“If this is how Labor manages a $3 billion road project, it’s no wonder motorists have lost confidence in Labor’s ability to deliver.”
 
““Labor is good at cutting ribbons on Liberals and Nationals projects, but when challenges arise — like on the M6 — they’ve shown they don’t have the experience to manage major infrastructure.”

Netball NSW has announced the leadership teams for its 2026 17U and 19U State Teams ahead of the upcoming National Netball Championships in Melbourne next month.

Sutherland Shire’s Evalina Carneiro has been appointed captain of the 17U State Team, with Isabella Christian (Illawarra District) and Marley Dighton (Ku-ring-gai) named as vice captains.

Carneiro enters the tournament following a standout year that has seen her recognised as one of the state’s most promising young defenders. A composed and instinctive player, the Sutherland Shire product recently signed as a training partner GIANTS Netball for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season after an impressive year representing New South Wales at the 17U level.

Campbelltown District’s Ellie Hart (GIANTS Academy) will lead the 19U State Team as captain, supported by vice captains Matilda Fanning (Sutherland Shire/GIANTS Academy) and Paige O’Neill (Eastwood Ryde/QBE Swifts Academy).

A member of the GIANTS Netball Academy, Hart has continued to develop through the high-performance pathway and was part of the squad that travelled to the Riverina earlier this year as part of the GIANTS Netball Riverina Road Trip. The experience provided Hart with valuable exposure to elite environments and further strengthened her leadership credentials ahead of the national tournament.

Netball NSW General Manager – Performance Pathways Mardi Aplin said the leadership appointments recognise the athletes’ strong performances, work ethic and ability to inspire their teammates both on and off the court.

These athletes demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities throughout the selection process, during our recent simulation camp and across the team’s entire preparation for the National Netball Championships,” Aplin said.

They have consistently set the standard with their work ethic, professionalism and ability to bring their teammates together, which are all critical qualities for leaders at this level.

They represent the depth of emerging talent in New South Wales and we’re excited to see them lead their teams on the national stage in Melbourne.”

The week-long tournament will run from 9–15 April, with the nation’s brightest emerging talent descending on Melbourne to compete for the title of national champions. New South Wales will enter the tournament with strong recent form, with the 19U team returning as defending champions after claiming the title last year, while the 17U side finished as runners-up in a closely contested final.

Since its inception in 1985, the National Netball Championships has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport, serving as a proven launching pad for many of Australia’s biggest stars.

The event provides invaluable development opportunities for athletes, coaches, umpires and officials, with many participants progressing to Suncorp Super Netball and Australian Diamonds level.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering a strong pipeline of major sporting events for 2026, securing 34 events that will drive visitation, support local businesses and generate significant economic activity across Sydney and regional NSW.

This month, NSW will welcome Asia’s top female footballers and their legion of fans for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, with Stadium Australia hosting two Quarterfinals, a Semi-final, the tournament’s Final and an important Matildas group match this Sunday 8 March on International Women’s Day. In total, Sydney will host 11 tournament matches, the most of any host city.

Through Destinations NSW, the tournament leads an action-packed sporting event calendar that throughout 2026 is projected to attract more than 280,000 visitors to the state and inject more than $275 million into the NSW visitor economy.

A new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has highlighted sports tourism as the fastest-growing segment of the global tourism industry. In 2025, sports tourism accounted for 10 per cent of global travel expenditure, with revenues growing at a compound annual rate of 28 per cent since 2020, above the 22 per cent growth seen across all tourism.

Research by Expedia Group shows the impact of sports-related travel extends beyond the host city. Three in five travellers with trips longer than a day stay in a destination outside the event location at some point during their trip and spend an average of more than $2500 across various trip elements.

The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 outlines the need for an event calendar that drives year-round visitation to support businesses and jobs. World-class entertainment, sport, culture and business events deliver major economic, social and cultural benefits, and stimulate regional growth.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data confirms the impact of sports tourism on the NSW visitor economy. In December 2025, NSW welcomed 48,790 UK visitors (up from 41,970 in December 2019), including thousands of Barmy Army fans ahead of the New Year Test in Sydney.

In 2026, NSW has already hosted the United Cup, the Sydney New Year’s Test, UFC 325, Bathurst 12 Hour, Sail GP, Street League Skateboarding and Sydney 500. Major sporting events in the coming months include FIFA Series, State of Origin, Tottenham versus Chelsea for Sydney Super Cup, NRL Grand Final, Bledisloe Cup, Bathurst 1000, Rugby League World Cup, and TCS Sydney Marathon World Major, showcasing NSW as the nation’s home of major sporting event experiences.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“Visitors are seeking genuine connections with destinations and sporting events are the perfect way to soak up the atmosphere that makes a visit to NSW so unforgettable.

“Travellers are prioritising experiences over attractions, and nothing beats the buzz that comes from being in full house for a Wallabies Test at Accor Stadium, or being trackside at Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000, or cheering on the Socceroos before they head off for the FIFA World Cup.

“Sporting events are sparking the decision to travel, but fans are staying long after the final whistle blows, immersing themselves in experiences across the state. Sports tourism doesn’t just fill stadiums; it fills hotels, restaurants, pubs and theatres, supporting thousands of businesses and jobs that rely on year-round tourism.”