16 News

The Newcastle community will be safer this bushfire season thanks to ongoing Hazardous Area Rescue Ambulance (HARA) training for specialist paramedics in the region.

This regular HARA training includes off-road, beach driving and operating the various safety features, and ensures our highly trained special operations paramedics are prepared to act in the toughest environments.

The fleet of eight new HARAs was launched by Minister for Health Ryan Park in October 2024 as part of a $14.8 million package to further build the state’s flood rescue capabilities.

The HARAs are designed to drive through flood waters up to 1.2 metres and were used to access patients during Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the NSW mid-north coast floods earlier this year.

Equipped with safety features for operation in hazardous environments, including around fire grounds, the HARAs are equipped with a burn-over crew protection system which sprays water over and around the vehicle to keep it cool.

NSW Ambulance carefully planned and modified the vehicles with enhanced safety features to ensure they can withstand harsh environments.

External flammable components were replaced with fire-resistant materials and critical vehicle infrastructure has been wrapped in fire-retardant material so they will not melt or burn in a bushfire situation.

The exoskeleton of the vehicle has been reinforced to protect paramedics and patients from falling trees.

The all-terrain vehicles were carefully designed by the NSW Ambulance team with a range of specific features, making them world-first vehicles that optimise response capabilities in hazardous areas, such as floods and bushfires.

The rear of the vehicle is a fully operational ambulance, with a specially designed stretcher loading system to assist paramedics in patient handling and for patient comfort. 

The HARAs are strategically stationed at NSW Ambulance heavy rescue stations based in Tamworth, Rutherford, Cowra, Wagga Wagga and Bomaderry, as well as special operation team locations in Point Clare and Sydney.

Minister for Health Ryan Park: 

“NSW Ambulance HARAs are top of the line and the first of their kind in the world, enabling our paramedics to access patients in difficult terrains, including during natural disasters like fires and floods.

“The highly skilled paramedics who operate these vehicles receive regular training to ensure both their safety – and that of their patients – remains the main priority.

“As we head into summer it’s important to plan ahead for emergencies, and that includes residents undertaking their own bushfire risk assessment and preparing a survival plan to save our emergency services for those who need it most.

“The Minns Government is committed to ensuring our frontline emergency services are equipped and ready to help our communities when they need it most.”

Member for Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley:

“Our region deserves strong, reliable frontline care, and while we’re fortunate to have incredible paramedics delivering it, we must make sure they are equipped with everything they need to get the job done.

“We are fortunate to have these specialist vehicles at our disposal which will help get community members the help they need at times when they are most vulnerable.

“Our region has faced its fair share of natural disasters in recent years and it is a comfort to know that help is at hand when we need it most.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:

“NSW Ambulance is leading the way when it comes to innovative assets and these vehicles are a massive investment in the organisation’s capability.

“The HARAs are equipped with the latest technology including a multi-agency communication system improving the organisation’s capability to deliver the very best outcomes for patients.

“With the official 2025/26 bushfire season set to commence on October 1, 2025, NSW Ambulance – along with other emergency services – is working hard to ensure staff have the training and resources at hand to deal with emergencies as they arise.”

Tough illicit tobacco laws, first proposed by the Coalition in June, have yesterday passed the NSW Lower House.
 
These new laws will crack down on the dodgy tobacconists popping up on every high street in NSW. New powers will allow NSW Health to close stores found selling illicit tobacco for up to 90 days, or 12 months with a court order. Penalties for the sale and possession of commercial quantities of illicit tobacco will see people face up to 7 years imprisonment or a $1.5 million fine.
 
Leader of the Opposition, Mark Speakman welcomed the Government supporting the Coalition’s proposals to crack down on illicit tobacco and organised crime.
 
“Organised crime gangs cannot run NSW. These laws will shut down their illegal tobacco stores, cut off a money stream that funds their illegal activities and put them behind bars.”
“With the passage of these new laws, the job now falls to the Government to ensure they are enforced. The community expects nothing less than to start seeing these stores closed down,” said Mr Speakman.
 
Shadow Attorney General Alister Henskens said these laws will better protect communities across NSW from harmful tobacco and organised crime on our streets.
 
“Every community across NSW has seen a rise in illegal tobacco stores on their street corners. Chris Minns’ Government has allowed organised crime to establish a presence in our local communities.”
 
Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane said the passage of these laws sent a clear message to criminals engaged in the illicit tobacco trade, and they will help protect young people against the harms of tobacco and vaping.
 
“These stores trade in addiction. They target kids with cheap, dangerous products, and the result is more lives lost, and more hospital beds filled.”
“Passing laws is only the beginning. The real test will be whether the Government backs this up with ongoing enforcement and a broader health plan to reduce smoking rates.”
 
Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Gurmesh Singh said regional NSW was facing the brunt of criminals fighting for control of the illegal tobacco trade.
 
“Regional communities throughout NSW are seeing these stores pop up every day and fear the violence that comes along with them like firebombings and intimidation.”
“It is time to see these stores closed and the criminals face harsh penalties and that is what these tough new laws will do.”

The Minns Labor Government is openly divided over its plan to bulldoze Carnarvon Golf Course and turn it into a new cemetery.
 
On one side, the local Labor MP for Auburn, Lynda Voltz, has told Parliament this evening Sydney has no cemetery crisis, pointing to more than 163,000 burial plots at Macarthur Memorial Park and Nepean Memorial Gardens, enough to last until 2058.
 
On the other, the Minister for Crown Lands, Steve Kamper, claims the issue is one of urgency, demanding action in just a matter of years
 
Both can’t be right. Either Lynda Voltz doesn’t believe her Premier and his Minister, or the Premier’s own frontbench is misleading the public.
 
This is not just a policy split; it is a caucus at war. The government’s left hand doesn’t know what its right hand is doing. Labor MPs are contradicting each other in Parliament, in the media, and in their own electorates.
 
Families deserve transparency. Instead, they are watching Labor fight itself while their green space is under threat.
 
NSW Leader of the Opposition, Mark Speakman said Steve Kamper says this is urgent and running out in a matter of years.
 
“Lynda Voltz says Sydney has cemetery land until 2058. Who in the Labor caucus is telling the truth?”, Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Minister for Crown Lands, Steph Cooke said one Labor MP says there’s no crisis for over 30 years.
 
“A Labor Minister says it’s urgent. That’s not consultation, that’s division at the heart of the Labor caucus.” Ms Cooke said.

NSW Liberal Shadow Minister for the Environment, James Griffin MP, has slammed the Minns Labor Government for announcing the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) without any concrete details or legislation to back it up. 
 
“After two and a half years of delay and inaction, all this Labor Government can produce is a media statement. No legislation, no details, no explanation of funding, and no certainty,” Mr Griffin said. 
 
“To make such a significant announcement whilst providing almost no detail is deeply disappointing. It is more than reasonable and fair to ask, why announce something but have no legislation to back it up?.”
 
Concerningly, the Minns Labor Government has revealed that the final creation of the proposed park is dependent on the successful registration of a carbon project under the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) Method, which is currently under review by the Federal Government.
 
Yesterday, NSW Premier Chris Minns conceded that while he expects the Federal Government to ‘come through’, this is ultimately a decision outside of his control, stating that the NSW Government will have to look at ways of creating the Great Koala National Park based on the Federal Government’s decision.
 
“There is a total absence of legislation and funding details and a government apparently hedging its bets, and the hopes of conservation groups, on approval from the Federal Government,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“That means the very shape of the legislation, and even whether it proceeds at all, will be determined not in NSW, but in Canberra.”
 
If the Federal Government refuses to provide carbon credits, serious questions arise about how the legislation and plans for the GKNP will change, including whether the proposed boundaries will be altered. Until the Minns Labor Government provides the necessary details and introduces clear legislation to back up this announcement, the NSW Liberals will continue to hold Premier Chris Minns to account.
 
The Former Coalition Government had a proud and strong record on Koala conservation, which included establishing the updated NSW Koala Strategy, which delivered $190 million over five years to support the overarching goal of doubling NSW’s koala numbers by 2050. As part of this, the former NSW Coalition committed:

• $107.1 million to fund the protection, restoration and improved management of 47,000 hectares of koala habitat, to meet key conservation targets of 22,000 ha of koala habitat protected and 25,000 ha of koala habitat restored by 2026.
• $19.6 million to fund partnerships across NSW
• $23.2 million to remove threats, improve health and rehabilitation, and establish a translocation program
• $43.4 million to fill knowledge gaps and better understand NSW koala populations

Under this Labor Government, those key targets are not being met, with the 2023-24 NSW Koala Strategy Annual Report released in August last month revealing that only 8,353 hectares of koala habitat had been restored.
 
If protecting koalas were genuinely a priority, Chris Minns would have legislated the park immediately and backed the NSW Koala Strategy with real funding. Instead, we’re left with a hollow announcement, no legislation, and a plan that depends on Canberra’s say-so,” Mr Griffin said.

The Minns Labor Government has introduced legislation which will pave the way to deliver on its election commitment to remove worksite speed limits outside construction speed hours where it is safe to do so.  

Currently, construction speed limits remain in effect outside of construction hours. While some road and lane closures do warrant ongoing speed reductions for the purposes of safety it is not uncommon for drivers to have to slow down on an unobstructed road for work that is not taking place. 

The Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 presented to Parliament today requires all road authorities including Councils and their contractors undertaking road works to install, maintain and remove road work speed limit signs in compliance with a Standard to be published by Transport for NSW in the Gazette. 

The stage is set for a massive day at Netball Central on Sunday 14 September, as 12 teams go head-to-head across six grand finals in the 10th year of the DOOLEYS Metro League.

Making it to the big dance is no small feat. After 18 weeks of match play and three weeks of finals, the deciding contenders are ready to fight for championship glory. Among the standouts, Eastwood Ryde will contest three divisions, Liverpool City returns to the big stage for the first time since 2022 while two regional teams – Hunter and Illawarra District – have also earned their spots, proving the competition’s reach across the state.

In the headline clash, reigning champions and ladder leaders Eastwood Ryde take on Manly Warringah in the Division One Grand Final.

Eastwood Ryde has been the benchmark all year, finishing on top of the ladder with 16 wins and just one loss. They powered past Hills District 51-45 in the Qualifying Final to book a direct path to the decider.

“We are under immense pressure. The underdogs always want to beat the champions. We need to step up, defend the title and deliver as everyone is expecting,” co-coach of Eastwood Ryde Pipiena Lomu said.

“For us, it is playing with maturity and being game smart. It is in the defensive, doing the little things, like the defensive hands, holding the ball on turnovers and completing our centre passes. At the end of the day it comes down to who shows up and wants to win the game.”

Manly Warringah, who finished third on the ladder, have taken the long road to the final. After edging Northern Suburbs 51-50 in the Elimination Final, they overcame Hills District 59-51 in the Preliminary Final to secure their shot at the title.

“We lost both our matches to Eastwood Ryde but not by many,” Manly coach Janene van Gogh said.

“We are probably peaking at the right time. We lost to Hills by 20 in the round but beat them by nine in the Preliminary Final. There have been improvements across the court. A spectator said last week that it looks like everyone knows their job and are functioning at a high level.”

Van Gogh knows her side will need to be at their best to upset the reigning champions.

“They (Eastwood Ryde) are experienced and have been around for a long time. They won the tournament last year. It will be a grind. I told the girls they will just have to play the best they can and the match will take care of itself. We have to be consistent across the whole court.”

The excitement doesn’t stop at Division One. A full day of contests will showcase the depth of talent across the league:

• Division 2: Sutherland Shire v Liverpool City
• Division 3: Eastwood Ryde v Blacktown City
• Division 4: Randwick v Ku-Ring-Gai
• Division 5: Hunter Netball v Eastwood Ryde
• Development Series: Illawarra District v Randwick

With regional pride, first-time finalists, and powerhouse clubs all in the mix, the 2025 Grand Finals promise non-stop action and high-quality netball.

The DOOLEYS Metro League is one of New South Wales’ best netball competitions, featuring 68 teams across six divisions and played on Wangal Country at Sydney Olympic Park. It has long been a crucial stepping stone in the Netball NSW pathway, with many athletes progressing to Premier League, and ultimately Suncorp Super Netball with the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball.

DOOLEYS Catholic Club in Lidcombe has been the proud naming rights partner of this competition for the past 18 years – 10 years as Metro League and eight years previously as State League. Their ongoing support reflects a strong commitment to community, participation and excellence, helping the competition provide a platform for metro-based athletes, coaches, umpires, and administrators to shine.

With one team chasing back-to-back titles and others making history, the 2025 DOOLEYS Metro League Grand Finals will be a celebration of the competition’s depth, talent, and community spirit.

The action gets underway from 11am on Sunday 14 September at Netball Central. Tickets are $13.20 per person and available here. All matches will be streamed live at netballnsw.tv.