Author: admin

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to support local organisations by providing savings on workers compensation premiums at a special event in Nowra.

The forum will provide local business, NGOs and industry with practical advice, resources and insights all geared towards helping better manage their premiums.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the NSW economy, contributing over $535 billion every year.

The Shoalhaven region has almost 8,200 local businesses that employ around 50,000 people. The forum has been organised to listen and provide support to local business owners to access information about premium discounts and incentives for their workers.

The forum includes information on how premiums are calculated, what business owners can do to support their staff’s wellbeing and providing advice on return-to-work strategies.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to reforming icare which involves a sustainable scheme, ensuring injured workers are at the centre of care and helping support business who pay the premiums.

The Government recently introduced changes to workers compensation. The package passed the Legislative Assembly in early June, before being delayed by the Liberal Party, the Greens and Mr Latham.

Every day reform is delayed the workers compensation system deteriorates further.

• Just 50 per cent of workers with a psychological injury can return to work within a year, compared to 95 per cent of workers with a physical injury.
• The private sector scheme is going backwards by $6 million per day. It is soon expected to hold only 80 cents in assets for every dollar it will have to pay in claims.
• Absent reform, 340,000 NSW businesses will have to pay a 36 per cent increase in premiums over the next three years even if they have no claims against them. 

The Minns Labor government is committed to the expansion of this type of engagement in line with its reforms.

Employers in NSW can register for future events online or immediately access a range of free, easy-to-use tools from icare’s Small Business Hub.

For more information about upcoming icare outreach events, visit the website.

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:

“After recently visiting Shoalhaven with the hardworking Member for the South Coast Liza Butler, I’m pleased to return to Nowra for this important forum. Icare experts will be in attendance to provide important advice, tips, tools and useful information which may help reduce Workers Compensation premiums.

“There will be several experts at the forum including SafeWork NSW officials, icare underwriters and icare specialist support staff.

“Helping local employers support their workers to stay safe, return to work quickly and get home safely at the end of every day not only safeguards workers’ health, but saves them money.

“The NSW Government has introduced legislation to reform the Workers Compensation System and our Workplace Health and Safety system to improve the prevention and treatment of psychological injuries which occur at work. 

“The government is also funding acomplementary Workplace Mental Health package with $344 million in new funding to support mental health in the workplace, including new SafeWork NSW Inspector positions and wraparound psychological support services for people navigating the claims process.”

Member for the South Coast Liza Butler said:

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our region, and it is important that we support them to find ways to not only keep workers safe, but what they can do to reduce their Workers Compensation premiums.

“I wish to sincerely thank the local business community for their collaboration and assistance to put this event together. Their commitment to finding smarter, more efficient ways to operate is what keeps the Shoalhaven economy moving.

“I also thank Minister Cotsis for taking the time to meet directly with South Coast businesses—it means a lot to see real support on the ground to help address both the challenges and the opportunities our region faces.”

President Shoalhaven Business Chamber John Lamont said:

“Events like this in Nowra are crucial for equipping local business owners with practical tools, expert advice, and cost-saving strategies that make a real difference.

“With over 8,000 businesses in the Shoalhaven region, we’re committed to ensuring they have every opportunity to grow and thrive.

“I’d like to thank Minister Cotsis for her strong advocacy and continued support for South Coast businesses.”

icare Medium Employer Engagement Team & Mobile Engagement Team Manager Adam O’Leary said:

“At icare, we want to help local business owners understand the impact their unique claims history and other risk factors have on the premium they pay, and that there are savings and incentives that are often available to them.

“The calculations behind icare’s premiums are risk-based, and businesses with strong safety performance are usually rewarded with discounted premiums. Our talk is packed full of top tips for local businesses looking to build safety and to help their injured workers get back to work faster.”

A new pedestrian and cyclist bridge honouring the memory of local student Luke Bowen has officially opened in Coffs Harbour today, marking a major milestone in the delivery of the city’s long-awaited bypass.

Spanning eight lanes of traffic, the Luke Bowen Pedestrian Bridge is the first major piece of infrastructure to be completed as part of the Coffs Harbour Bypass.

This state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge replaces the older and shorter bridge of the same name, and now provides a safer, more accessible connection across the highway, including direct access to a new bus interchange being built near Kororo Public School.

The bridge stands as both a vital piece of infrastructure and a deeply meaningful tribute – a place of remembrance for Luke, and a commitment to a safer future for all members of the community.

The Coffs Harbour Bypass is a $2.2 billion project jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments.

Once complete, the bypass will remove thousands of vehicles from the city centre, improve traffic flow and significantly reduce travel times.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said:

“The 14kilometre Coffs Bypass will transform Coffs Harbour for the better, bypassing the town centre and allowing interstate traffic to flow freely. The stunning new pedestrian bridge will ensure people can move safely and easily over the new highway.

“The bridge also honours the memory of Luke Bowen, a young life lost too soon. The Coffs Harbour community has shown such strength and unity in carrying Luke’s name forward and this bridge stands as a testament to that spirit.”

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“For the people of Coffs Harbour, the bypass represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape their city, to reclaim their streets, reduce congestion, and create a more peaceful, accessible place to live.

“The Luke Bowen Bridge is the first step in that journey, and it sets the tone for everything that will follow.

“It is especially moving to see the community come together to honour Luke’s memory in such a lasting way. It’s a reminder that behind every piece of infrastructure are people, families and stories that matter.

“The bridge was installed with only a few hours of highway closure, and the older structure removed just as efficiently. This shows the outstanding coordination and care that’s gone into this project.”

Jeff Bowen and Vicki Banks, parents of the late Luke Bowen said:

“Our family is honoured that the new pedestrian bridge will serve as a lasting legacy to Luke.

“It is a deeply moving tribute that reflects the care and strength of the community he loved so much.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Transport for NSW and Kororo Public School.”

The huge trade potential of the Northern Rivers region will be the focus of the latest NSW Government ASEAN Market Update for NSW Businesses series being held in the Tweed today.

The updates provide local businesses with information about trends and export opportunities across Southeast Asian markets.

Southeast Asia is the fastest growing region in the world, expected to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2040, and NSW is uniquely positioned to grow with the region.

Southeast Asia is NSW’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods growing by more than nine per cent in the past year. Continued rapid growth is expected in sectors where NSW businesses excel, such as food and beverages, health, and the digital economy.

Today’s session will bring together around 50 participants, including local businesses and industry groups at Husk Farm Distillery in North Tumbulgum.

Husk Farm Distillery has made hand-crafted rum in the region since 2012 and is an experienced exporter to Southeast Asia, having benefitted from NSW Government support, particularly in the Indonesian market.

Speakers at the forum include Southeast export experts, and NSW exporters, who have already utilised Investment NSW’s support services to build connections and drive export sales across the region.

The ASEAN Market Updates series is supported by other initiatives led by Investment NSW to help small and medium businesses pursue international growth objectives in Southeast Asia and other important export markets around the globe.

In 2024/25, these included supporting cleantech companies to export to Malaysia and Singapore, and wine to be exported to Vietnam.

The ASEAN Market Updates series began with sessions in Western Sydney last October, and Wollongong earlier this year, with more locations to come.

For more information on how the NSW Government supports businesses to export, visit Investment NSW: https://www.investment.nsw.gov.au/export/

NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Exporting is crucial for the growth and resilience of NSW businesses.

“Higher exports lead to higher wages and more employment, driving long-term prosperity across our state.

“Southeast Asia is entering a golden age.

“It is the fastest growing region in the world, with strong potential for NSW exporters in sectors like agrifood, life sciences, healthcare, and technology.

“My ASEAN Market Updates series is all about helping businesses to crack new markets and accelerate their exports with Southeast Asia, where our two-way trade is worth $33.6 billion and is continuing to grow.

“Today’s session in the Tweed follows previous market update sessions in Western Sydney and Wollongong with more locations to come.”

Minister for Small Business and Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“Businesses in Northern NSW are doing some incredible things and it is wonderful to be able to support them to expand their reach across the world.

“I have a long-standing interest and engagement with our ASEAN neighbours, as does our Northern NSW region, but there remains enormous potential for our small businesses to take those relationships to the next level.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Small Business and Duty MLC for Tweed the Hon Emily Suvaal MLC said:

“The Tweed is home to so many innovative businesses with vast export potential, and Southeast Asia presents a golden opportunity for growth.

“The NSW Government is here to support local businesses every step of the way to ensure they can compete and thrive on the world stage.”

NSW is boosting the security and reliability of its energy grid, with Energy Minister Penny Sharpe directing a tender for projects that deliver 500MW of firm capacity.

This is crucial to ensure NSW residents and businesses have reliable power when they need it most, especially during high-demand periods like heatwaves or cold snaps.

The tender will seek bids for firming infrastructure like batteries, gas generation and virtual power plants, that can rapidly supply electricity to the grid or reduce the use of electricity at short notice.

The projects supported by this tender will be capable of powering around 200,000 homes during times of peak demand.

NSW is forecast to face shortfalls of firm capacity for the summer of 2027-28. A range of measures are already underway to meet NSW’s energy security target but this new tender will provide greater certainty as NSW transforms its energy system.

The tender will be conducted by ASL (formerly AEMO Services) later this year, and priority will be given to projects that can supply the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong areas (where the shortfalls are forecast) during times of peak period.

Successful projects will join those supported in the state’s first firming tender in 2023, with the likes of AGL’s Liddell battery, Akaysha Energy’s Orana battery, Iberdrola’s Smithfield battery and NSW’s first large scale virtual power plant under the NSW Roadmap being delivered by Enel X.

Minister Sharpe announced the tender while addressing the 2025 Australian Clean Energy Summit in Sydney.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe:

“The Minns Labor Government has always been clear that we will make decisions to keep the lights on and the energy transformation underway.

“This tender will provide greater certainty against future reliability risks.

“We are proactively managing the risks associated with delivering multiple large-scale infrastructure projects at once, as we rebuild our energy system.”

ASL Chief Executive Officer, Nevenka Codevelle:

“The announcement of this tender for firming infrastructure demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap in bringing forward additional energy capacity in response to an identified need.

“Firming infrastructure plays a crucial role in supporting the reliability of the NSW electricity system, with this tender calling on projects to come forward that can support the Sydney-Newcastle-Wollongong region by the summer of 2027/28.”

The Minns Labor Government has presided over the worst spike in unemployment New South Wales has seen since the pandemic with over 205,000 people now out of work and some communities in crisis.
 
New figures confirm more than 45,000 jobs have vanished in just two months. The state’s jobless rate has surged to 4.4%, smashing through Labor’s own budget forecasts and taking NSW back to levels not seen since the economic fallout of the COVID lockdowns.
 
This isn’t just a number on a chart, this is families skipping meals, young people shelving dreams, and workers with decades of experience suddenly without a wage.
 
Labor’s promise to support Western Sydney has proven hollow. Communities like Parramatta (5.7%), Blacktown (5.4%) and in the South West (5.4%) now face the highest unemployment rates in the state with more than double those in the Eastern Suburbs and Northern Beaches.
 
Despite this, the Minns Labor Government has no credible plan. Private sector confidence is so low that job creation is stalling altogether.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said a government that gets its numbers this wrong can’t be trusted to manage the future.
 
“This isn’t a spreadsheet issue, it’s real people, real families, and real businesses hurting. Chris Minns needs to stop blaming everyone else and start showing some leadership,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Minister for Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology, Mark Coure said when you lose your job, you lose more than a pay, you lose your routine, your confidence, and your peace of mind.
 
“Labor said they’d deliver for working people, but 200,000 families are now wondering how they’re going to pay the rent or put food on the table. Chris Minns has no plan, no answers, and no idea how to turn this around,” Mr Coure said.
 
In its own budget delivered just last month, the Minns Labor Government predicted unemployment would sit at 4% by June 2025, the actual figure has already blown past that to 4.4%, with every sign things will get worse.

The Minns Labor Government has been caught red-handed secretly looking to extend the private operations for the Inner West (Region 6) of the Greater Sydney bus network without informing the public or even going to tender.
 
Reports today flies in direct contrast to Labor’s anti-privatisation stance before the election, revealing once again that they have no new ideas or plans to improve public transport for commuters.
 
This development is particularly embarrassing for Transport Minister John Graham, who labelled Region 6 a “total failure” and a “failed experiment” in Opposition1, yet in Government he hasn’t bothered to consult the public or even tell them!
 
The secret plans raise further doubt on what the point of this Labor Government’s overall transport agenda, following confirmation in recent months that there will be:
 
No new Metro Lines or major projects will be invested in
Nearly one thousand staff cut inside Transport for NSW
No actual plan to improve the consistently shocking on-time running for the Sydney Train network.
 
Mark Speakman, Leader of the Opposition said Mark Speakman secret deals and secret plans just show this Government has no real agenda to deliver better services for the people of NSW, only spin.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward said this is proof Labor have misled the public.
 
“Labor’s position was no more privatisation. They have told the public one thing before the election and have done the complete opposition when in Government.
 
“There will be spin, there will be excuses, but word is your bond and this a broken promise.”
 
NSW deserves more than easel boards and corflutes with ideas, empty speeches, and cut-and-paste press conferences. We need leadership. We need delivery. We need vision.
 
1 – https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1820781676-80995 

The NSW Opposition has today welcomed the Minns Labor Government’s decision to follow the Opposition’s lead in finally acting on illicit tobacco and vapes, dangerous products peddled by organised crime in plain sight of NSW communities.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said while this overdue announcement is a step in the right direction, it’s clear Labor only acted after months of political pressure, media scrutiny and growing community frustration.
 
“We’ve been calling for this for months. Communities knew it. Small businesses knew it. Parents knew it. And now finally the Premier knows it,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Attorney General Alister Henskens said the Minns Labor Government had presided over a surge in illegal tobacco and vapes, while gangs exploited weak penalties and slow enforcement.
 
“The government ignored what everyone could see, blacked-out shops appearing overnight, with no receipts, no regulation and no accountability,” Mr Henskens said.
 
Shadow Minister for Health Kellie Sloane said illicit tobacco wasn’t just a law and order issue, it was a growing public health crisis affecting young people, families and local communities.
 
“We can’t allow another generation to be targeted by criminal operators selling cheap, addictive poison under the counter,” Ms Sloane said.
 
Shadow Minister for Regional Health Gurmesh Singh said communities outside Sydney had been particularly vulnerable due to lack of enforcement.
 
“From the coast to the west, regional main streets had become easy targets,” Mr Singh said.
 
The NSW Coalition’s original announcement, made publicly on 29 June included:

• Jail time of up to 7 years for serious illegal tobacco crimes
• $1.5 million fines
• Closure powers for NSW Health and the courts
• New offences for landlords who knowingly lease to offenders
• Lease termination rights for landlords
• A clear message NSW would no longer be a soft target