16 News

Assessment timeframes in major developments will be cut further as the Minns Government integrates Artificial Intelligence solutions into the assessment of State Significant Development (SSD) applications.

As the state takes on a bigger role in assessing major housing projects, this is an important step in making sure the speed of assessment is improved and quality of assessment is maintained.

The Minns Government has launched a tender for an AI solution to support SSD assessments as part of its ongoing improvement to the digital systems that support the NSW planning system.

With Sydney as the second least affordable city in the world, and NSW losing twice as many young people as it is gaining, we need to be improving every area of the planning system to make sure homes are built faster.

The new system will be required to:

• Conduct an intelligent review of documentation before lodgement,
• Accurately assess applications against key criteria,
• Reduce overall assessment timeframes, and;
• Complete post-submission checks to accelerate finalisation.

Currently, the average SSD assessment takes around eight and a half months, with three months in Government hands. By deploying AI across these processes, the Government expects to significantly reduce this timeframe while maintaining human oversight with the final decision required to be made by a person.

The initiative builds on the Government’s Early Adopter Grants Program, which is already helping 16 councils trial AI-based solutions to improve local planning processes.

This is part of the Minns Government’s plan to build a better and modernised NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live and in the communities they choose.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is a gamechanger – maintaining the quality of assessment but continuing to speed things up to get more housing projects underway more quickly allowing construction to get underway and new keys into new doors.

“In the midst of a national shortage of planners, we need those we do have to be doing the nuanced and complex assessment work – not checking for typos or formatting errors.

“This will add an important tool to the suite of tools available to planners as they assess larger and more complex proposals.

“This is about using technology to do more of the heavy lifting in the planning system while leaving the final decision to a human decision maker.

“The integration of AI systems into the NSW planning system puts NSW at the forefront of digital integration as the only state in Australia adopting AI for larger-scale developments.”

Councillors accused of significant misconduct will have proceedings commenced against them in the Land and Environment Court under planned changes by the Minns Labor Government as part of the overhaul of the broken councillor conduct framework.

The proposed reforms will cut through red tape, enable quicker action and stronger penalties against misbehaving councillors which has been sorely missing under current processes.

Currently, councillor misconduct matters are heard by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). This involves a slow statutory and bureaucratic process which historically can take years to resolve matters that need to be dealt with quickly to preserve public trust in local government.

The proposed move to the Land and Environment Court would provide a more streamlined process to deal with rogue councillors whose behaviour presents a risk to other councillors, council staff and the community.

The Land and Environment Court is a Superior Court, has substantial expertise in local government matters and already deals with most of the Local Government Act litigation.

The Government’s proposed changes include that:

• A Minister or a government body, or any other person with leave of the Court can commence proceedings alleging misconduct. If, after hearing the matter, the Court may determine misconduct has been established. Should misconduct be established, and it is in the public interest to do so, the Court may disqualify the councillor for a period of up to 5 years, suspend the councillor, fine the councillor and order restitution.
• The Court will have the power to immediately suspend a councillor pending final hearing of the proceedings, if the Court considers it to be in the public interest.
• The Court will have the power to order costs including indemnity costs, should proceedings be commenced vexatiously.

The change of jurisdiction complements a suite of changes, including:

• A new Model Code of Meeting Practice to increase transparency and accountability within council meetings and strengthen the powers of mayors to take action against bad behaviour.
• An updated Code of Conduct that is designed to be an easier and simpler code, with a separate Code of Conduct for council staff.
• A new regulation which will be an expansion of the interests that councillors need to declare, similar to the new regulations that will govern NSW Members of Parliament.
• Free speech guidance for councils to support fair and open debate.
• Significant ongoing investment in the Office of Local Government to increase its capacity and ability to fulfil its role a regulator of the sector.

Legislation to enable the change of jurisdiction to the Land and Environment Court will be introduced to Parliament in this parliamentary session. 

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“The process for holding councillors to account for serious misconduct is too weak and is hamstrung by procedural complexity.

“Currently, a councillor can only be suspended after a bureaucrat in the Office of Local Government has written a report. The system is long, slow, and ineffective.

“I believe that elected councillors who have committed serious misconduct should only be suspended from office by a judge of a superior court who has heard from both sides.

“Preventing and delaying action to address misconduct in councils has eroded public trust in local government.

“The Court will deal with serious matters, ending the misuse of the code of conduct framework as a means to settle political squabbles.

“I have consulted with the Attorney General and Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court, and further consultation will be undertaken with key stakeholders on the legislation to amend the Local Government Act.

“Misbehaviour that threatens the safety of councillors, council staff and the community has no place in local government and will not be tolerated.”

The NSW Government has completed a robust review into the management of water at Toorale Station, allowing critical environmental water to resume flowing to the Western Floodplain in Toorale National Park.

A comprehensive evaluation of the station’s water licencing arrangements began in late 2024 to ensure all flows were being properly accounted for.

As a result of the review, we have made changes requiring all water diverted to the Western Floodplain at Toorale, via Boera Dam and its levee and regulating structures, to be debited against a corresponding water access licence.

This locks in certainty for all water users in the region, bringing Toorale into line with legislative requirements and providing more clarity and transparency around water management decisions with improved mandatory public reporting.

Thanks to this update, a Stop Work Order issued by the independent Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) on 6 August 2025 is no longer in effect.

The ongoing Toorale NRAR investigation is separate to the recently announced pause on some environmental water in NSW by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder which the NSW Government is working to address as quickly as possible.

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said:

“This is positive news for local communities and the environment. The NSW Government has worked quickly to resolve the Stop Work Order so we can get on with the job of delivering vital flows to the Western Floodplain which is home to hundreds of native plants and animals.

“We have delivered a comprehensive review to ensure all environmental water being diverted from Boera Dam at Toorale is properly accounted for, ensuring management decisions can be made with certainty.

“Getting water management right is a complex task and one we take very seriously which is why we want to continue getting the balance right and being open and transparent about the decisions we make.”

Under changes introduced by the Minns Labor Government that begin today, victim-survivors of serious offenders will receive mandatory notifications about NSW Victims’ Registers, including the information and services they can receive if they chose to register.

Victims of serious offenders will also be provided with assistance to register.

The reforms, which were passed by the NSW Parliament in May this year, will bolster support for victim-survivors of serious crimes through what is often the most difficult time of their lives.

The reforms apply to the three NSW Victims’ Registers: the Corrective Services NSW Victims’ Register, Youth Justice Victims’ Register, and the Specialist Victims’ Register for victims of forensic patients. 

The changes have been introduced following extensive consultation with victim-survivors, victim advocates, and victim support services, to ensure that they reflect the views of the people the Register serves. 

All eligible victims will now receive a notification about the Register and their eligibility to opt-in, or will have the option to be contacted at a later date, to discuss the benefits of registration and re-consider whether they would like to be registered.

Those who opt-in will receive timely, accurate, and trauma-informed updates regarding their perpetrator’s progress through the justice system. 

This includes details about the offender’s location while in custody, sentence, location while in custody, parole eligibility, and any changes that may affect the victim’s safety and well-being.  

The reforms will be complemented by a suite of public engagement measures to promote greater awareness for victims, including public education sessions and social media campaigns.  

Education on the Registers will also be provided to frontline professionals across the justice system, including NSW Police, the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and other relevant service providers.  

This will ensure that those staff who engage with victims at all stages of the justice system are aware of the Registers and their purpose, and can share this information to better support victims.

There is also work being done to make the Registers’ sign-up process simpler, with fewer technological or communication barriers for non-English speakers. 

The Minns Labor Government acknowledges the adverse impacts for people directly or indirectly exposed to crime, and we acknowledge that a person who has experienced personal violence can suffer long-lasting trauma and the feeling that their safety and security are constantly under threat.  

These changes are fundamental in supporting victims through this reality.   

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“No-one chooses to become the victim of violent crime.  

“One of our top priorities as a government is to ensure we are doing all we can to support victim-survivors in the aftermath of a crime.

“These reforms will empower victim-survivors of the most heinous of crimes perpetrated in NSW, with the choice to access vital information that has a direct impact on their lives – such as opposing the perpetrator’s parole, and being informed if and when they are going to be released from prison.  

“Victim-survivors of serious crimes deserve to be given the knowledge and agency to engage with the justice system in a manner that reflects their needs, including making an informed choice about whether they would like to be supported by a Victims’ Register.” 

Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said: 

“Mandatory notifications help victim-survivors stay up to date with information about a young person’s sentence, providing the justice, reassurance and protection needed to build a safer community. 

“These reforms are an important step in giving victim-survivors back the power they lose when they experience a violent crime, without compromising the safety and security of young offenders.” 

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said: 

“We know that victim-survivors of serious crimes often experience severe mental injury, emotional suffering, grief, and trauma. 

“By allowing them to opt-in to trauma-informed updates about a perpetrator’s progress through the justice system, these reforms to the Victims’ Registers empower victim-survivors through their healing journeys.  

“Furthermore, the Specialist Victims’ Register also allows victim-survivors to receive important information about certain changes concerning a forensic patient and their reviews before the Mental Health Review Tribunal. 

“This is just one way we can provide victim-survivors with the mental health support they may need to feel safer in our communities.” 

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Gary McCahon PSM: 

“Corrective Services NSW is committed to supporting victim-survivors through the CSNSW Victims’ Register.  

“Our committed, dedicated staff are trauma-informed, and understand the vital role that clear, compassionate communication plays in the healing process. 

“From the moment an offender enters custody, we provide registered victims with timely updates on key developments in the offender’s sentence that may affect the victims’ lives.

“We also help ensure that victims have the opportunity to be heard when critical decisions are being made about an offender’s release, which we hope will help restore a sense of control and empowerment to those affected by crime.

“Having access to key information, especially regarding an offender’s potential release, can offer victims the confidence that they deserve.” 

Victims Advocate Howard Brown OAM said: 

“Knowing that these significant reforms to the Victims’ Registers are now in place and actively working, provides victim-survivors of serious crimes the reassurance that they will be provided with the information they need to stay informed and updated on the details of their perpetrator’s progress through the justice system.  

“The Victims’ Registers provide the kind of timely, accurate, and trauma-sensitive information that victim-survivors may feel that they need to be able to take back control of their lives and well-being, sometimes many years after a serious crime has been committed against them.

“Maximising free and full access to such a vital resource like the Victims’ Registers is a major step toward healing for victim-survivors of violent crimes.”

CEO of the Homicide Victims’ Support Group & Acting CEO of The Road Trauma Support Group NSW Martha Jabour OAM said: 

“Family members of homicide can never reclaim what has been stolen from them through the devastating impact of homicide, just as families grieving the sudden and violent death of a loved one due to serious fatal road crime endure profound and lasting pain.  

“However, having the choice to access meaningful information through the Victims’ Registers about their offender – should they wish to – represents a vital step in their journey towards healing.

“These reforms to the Victims’ Registers mark an important step toward acknowledging the enduring impact of serious crimes, whether through homicide or fatal road crashes, ensuring that victims and survivors are not left to navigate their grief alone.” 

The NSW Coalition supports Kiama Municipal Council’s call on the Minns Labor Government to lift a restrictive covenant over the Council’s extensive Spring Creek land holdings, which would mean an enormous boost in the Council’s ability to limit rate rises and to fund local infrastructure.
 
NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman said when the Council entered into a Deed of Agreement in 1991 with the then-State Rail Authority (now Transport Asset Manager), the covenant prohibited urban development around the quarry until quarrying activities cease or until 30 June 2006, whichever is the last to occur.
 
“We understand that those quarrying activities are now nearing completion,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“The Minns Labor Government needs to come to the table and lift the restrictive covenant on Spring Creek immediately and take up the Council’s offer of an easement instead.”.
 
The same covenant was recently extinguished over land at Glennbrook Drive, replaced by an easement which notified all future owners of quarrying activities and reducing liability on the operators of the quarry.
 
“This would give Kiama Municipal Council the ability to put this land to use for the benefit of its community,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“If a NSW Coalition Government is elected and the covenant is still in place we would quickly move to lift it. Of course, any future use of the Spring Creek land holdings would be best determined by Council working in consultation with its community.”
 
Liberal for Kiama Serena Copley said that freeing up this land would allow the Kiama Council to deliver many tens of millions of infrastructure projects that benefit the community while easing the burden on ratepayers.
 
“As has been the case multiple times across NSW, the only thing standing in the way of progress in our state is the Minns Labor Government,” Ms Copley said.