Category: NSW News

Jim Chalmers has today confirmed that he does not know how much he is taxing Australians. 

Australian taxpayers are being smashed under Labor’s economic mismanagement with the average taxpayer in this year alone forking out $3,500 more in tax compared to when Jim Chalmers became Treasurer. That’s $7,000 more in tax for a dual income household.

This analysis includes Labor’s Cost of Living Tax Cuts and is based on the numbers in Jim Chalmers’ own Budget. 

The Treasurer is more interested in fighting the Opposition than he is in fighting for Australians. For Jim Chalmers, the tax paid by Australians is just something he can spend – not something Australians work hard for. 

Australians are paying more because of Labor’s reckless policies and irresponsible spending. 

The Treasurer confirmed today despite higher taxes and higher inflation, he has turned windfall surpluses into ongoing deficits, which will only put further pressure on prices and further pressure on debt. Ultimately, Jim Chalmers and Labor are relying on hard-working Australians to pick up the tab through higher taxes. 

Jim Chalmers is patting himself on the back while Australians suffer the largest fall in living standards on record. 

This yet another example of a distracted government focusing on the wrong priorities. 

Treasury analysis of Labor’s changes to the stage 3 tax cuts showed that over the decade, taxes would increase by $28 billion by 2034 compared to the original policy. 

Analysis of PBO data shows that on a household level, that impact will be profound. The average taxpayer will be paying over $8,900 in more tax from the 2028-2029 tax year compared to 2021-22 levels, if Labor’s Budget settings continue for another four years. That’s almost $18,000 for a dual income household. 

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Chalmers’ gaffe proves the Treasurer’s speciality is spin, not economics. 

“Australians are paying the price for this out-of-touch Treasurer who does not even know how much tax Australians are paying,” Mr Taylor said. 

“Labor’s only plan to fix the budget is to take from family budgets to bolster their own. 

“Labor has broken every promise on tax it made before the last election, and hard-working Australians are paying the price. 

“This is the biggest spending, biggest taxing government in Australian history. It is clear taxes are on the rise if Labor’s policy settings continue. 

“Labor abolished the tax cap in its first budget, the Coalition will restore it. 

“This upcoming budget must restore a tax to GDP cap and fiscal guardrails to reduce wasteful spending so Australians don’t face higher taxes on top of higher inflation. 

“Australians cannot afford another three years of Labor’s economy.”

The Minns Labor Government has awarded funding to a Newcastle-based researcher focussed on improving outcomes for regional and rural cancer patients as part of a $10 million boost to cancer research across NSW.

The 18 grants, delivered by the Cancer Institute NSW, include $798,790 to the University of Newcastle’s Dr Jennifer Mackney to improve patient access to prehabilitation services in rural and regional NSW.

Surgery is essential in cancer care. In 2024 approximately 165,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in Australia, around 132,000 of these people will need surgery, often multiple times.

Greater physical fitness and wellbeing is associated with better cancer surgery outcomes. However, the impact of cancer and associated treatments reduces physical activity, nutrition, and fitness resulting in an increased risk of poor cancer outcomes.

The pre-surgery program developed by Dr Mackney will help overcome this via exercise, nutrition and psychological support which has been shown to dramatically improve patients’ physical function, reduce complications and time in hospital post-op.

The hybrid model of care will be delivered by health providers via in-person care within the participant communities, along with a telehealth team based out of Newcastle.

The grant will enable Dr Mackney to extend access to the prehabilitation program for cancer patients across five regional and rural hospitals, three in the Hunter New England LHD and two in the Mid North Coast LHD.

The NSW Government, through the Cancer Institute NSW, is one of the largest funders of cancer research in NSW, having invested more than $470 million in the past 20 years across nearly 1,000 competitive research awards and grants.

This year’s grants cover four categories, with Dr Mackney one of two Accelerated Research Implementation Grant recipients totalling almost $1.6 million to support teams to rapidly transition research into clinical practice to improve cancer care in regional and rural NSW.

The category’s other recipient is a program to reduce the incidence and increase survival of anal cancer of people with HIV in the regions run by Associate Professor Vincent Cornelisse from the University of New South Wales.

The other three categories comprise:

• 11 Early Career Fellowships
• 3 Career Development Fellowships
• 2 Aboriginal Cancer Research Grants.

To view all 2024/2025 Cancer Institute NSW grants recipients go here: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/research-and-data/grants/grants-we-ve-funded

Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:

“Ensuring patients in our regional and rural communities receive better access to medical care is a priority of the Minns Labor Government and programs funded by the Cancer Institute NSW grants are helping achieve this.

“The NSW Government is proud to be supporting researchers and projects designed to reduce the impact of cancer and save lives.

“Our researchers strive every day to improve the lives of people in NSW and across the world, and we’re proud to invest in them to continue their work and help improve cancer outcomes for all.

“We’re committed to doing what is needed to prevent cancer, improve access to care and support our expert clinicians and researchers to make the discoveries needed to save lives.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien AM said:

“Our dedicated and inspirational cancer researchers are key to improving our understanding of a disease which touches the lives of so many of us.

“While significant progress has been made in understanding and treating cancer, it remains the leading cause of death in NSW with sadly one in two people being diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

“NSW is recognised as a global leader in tackling cancer with people, communities and organisations coming together to support all people impacted by cancer and help rewrite the future of cancer.”

Accelerated Research Grant recipient Dr Jennifer Mackney said:

“Prehabilitation before cancer surgery – including exercise, nutritional optimisation, and psychological support – has been shown to improve physical function, halve postoperative pulmonary complications, and reduce postoperative hospital length of stay.

“A model of care for the delivery of prehabilitation using in-person and telehealth intervention has been developed in Newcastle over the past five years and utilised clinically. However, currently rural and regional patients don’t have equitable access to formal prehabilitation programs.

“The grant awarded to our team by Cancer Institute NSW will enable us to extend this work to improve access to multimodal prehabilitation services for cancer patients across five regional and rural hospitals in NSW.”

As communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred begin clean-up and recovery efforts, there are warnings today to remain vigilant against potential fundraising scams to ensure you’re not wasting your donation.

The great Aussie spirit that sees many people want to dig deep to help others in a time of need can be taken advantage of by scammers.

NSW Fair Trading is warning donors against scammers who often seek to exploit this goodwill by setting up fake fundraising pages or posing as legitimate charities.

Top tips to avoid fundraising scams:

• Check credentials: Only donate to registered charities with a charitable fundraising licence.
• Avoid unsolicited requests: Be wary of phone calls, emails, or social media messages asking for donations.
• Research before you donate: Use official channels like the ACNC Charity Register and Verify NSW.
• Report suspicious activity: Visit Scamwatch and NSW Fair Trading.

To check if a charity is legitimate and holds a charitable fundraising licence, visit Verify NSW here: https://verify.licence.nsw.gov.au/home/Charities or use the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Register here: https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities.

To report a scam or express concerns about illegitimate fundraising activities, visit Contact Scamwatch here: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ and NSW Fair Trading here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/fair-trading/complaints-and-enquiries or call NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

People looking to make a financial contribution or to donate other goods such as food or clothing are encouraged to visit the GIVIT website (a non-profit organisation partnering with the NSW and Queensland Governments to support communities impacted by Cyclone Alfred) here: https://www.givit.org.au/tropical-cyclone-alfred.

GIVIT lists essential goods and services required by people and recovery groups in specific communities and allows people to donate the item or contribute financially towards it.

The list of items is regularly updated as recovery efforts progress.

For more information and support on how to donate responsibly, please visit the NSW Government website here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/recovery/donations.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong:

“It’s inspiring to see the outpouring of support to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred victims from NSW communities, but we want to ensure donations reach those in need rather than unscrupulous scammers.

“That’s why we are urging everyone, before donating, please take a moment to verify that the charity or fundraiser you intend to donate to is licensed and legitimate.

“Unfortunately, scammers will take advantage of people’s goodwill during a natural disaster like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“Scammers can be very convincing, often using emotional appeals, fake social media pages, or crowdfunding platforms so please be scam-aware and contact NSW Fair Trading if you are in doubt.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“Thank you to the thousands of volunteers across the NSW State Emergency Service and other emergency agencies who worked tirelessly to assist Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast communities this past week.

“It speaks volumes that people that want to help but please consider donating to help those in need through GIVIT or another reputable charity you feel comfortable with.

“These charities will ensure people get exactly what they need when they need it.”

The NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee will conduct an inquiry into the safety and quality of health services provided by Northern Beaches Hospital, after a request by Health Minister Ryan Park.

Minister Park wrote to the Committee’s Chair Jason Yat-Sen Li requesting the inquiry following the tragic death of Joe Massa after receiving care at the hospital.

The scope of the inquiry will stretch back to the hospital’s commencement as a privately operated facility from October 2018.

It will consider incidents at the hospital including those the subject of serious adverse event reviews (SAERs); how the hospital responded; and the extent to which it implemented changes prompted by those incidents.

It will look at how the hospital supports patient and carer escalation, including the Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way (REACH) protocol – an initiative which was found to be insufficiently accessible in the case of Joe Massa. 

It will also examine the adequacy of systems and processes designed to prevent adverse events, as well as the staff standards and capabilities.

The hospital was similarly the subject of another parliamentary inquiry in 2019, which looked at its operation and management.

The upcoming inquiry will focus more on the safety and quality of health services at the hospital, while also having regard to the findings of the 2019 inquiry, in particular, the extent to which findings and recommendations from that inquiry have since been implemented.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We made a commitment to Elouise and Danny to undertake the necessary reviews to understand how they and their son have been let down, as well as to learn what changes need to be made to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.

“To that end, I’ve asked the NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to conduct an inquiry into the safety and quality of health services provided at Northern Beaches Hospital. 

“I am grateful to the Massas for their generosity in time and spirit in working with us to honour Joe’s memory.”

Chair, NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee Jason Yat-Sen Li:

“I understand the strong community interest in this matter, and I am confident the committee is well placed to undertake this important inquiry.

“I am determined to get this inquiry underway as quickly as possible, but I also want to get it right.

“We will announce the opening of submissions as well as hearing dates in due course.”

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Minns Labor Government has taken immediate action to ensure that fire ant carrying materials, such as hay, sourced from both the storm impacted and infested areas of southeast Queensland are now banned from entering NSW while the aftereffects are being assessed.

Until there is a consolidated understanding of the impact on fire ant mobility and locations in the infected areas and outside that region, NSW must firstly protect its communities, farms and landscape.

The Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit, which allowed movements of hay from lower risk areas in the fire ant biosecurity zone of Southeast Queensland under certain conditions, will be suspended for one month effective immediately.

To protect our primary industries the Minns Government is cracking down on the movement of materials such as hay, plus instigating increased surveillance and monitoring of movements across the border.

The recent cyclonic high winds, rainfall and flooding has disrupted fire ants in southeast Queensland and consequently people in those areas may not be aware of fire ants moving into their businesses and stored materials such as hay, soil, landscaping materials, pots and soils.

This follows the NSW Government’s suspension of turf being moved from Queensland Fire Ant Infested Areas into NSW from November last year.

The NSW Fire Ant Team has stepped-up efforts to prevent the spread of fire ants with proactive early detection surveillance across northern New South Wales. The initiative uses specially trained detection dogs and human surveillance teams to monitor high-risk sites to detect and prevent.

This swift response follows the surveillance of multiple fire ant colonies moving in flood waters in Queensland, within the Logan River catchment. While the catchment flows to the northeast and into Moreton Bay, the risk of mobile fire ant colonies being transported into NSW in known carrier materials is increased because they may appear in new Queensland locations. 

This suspension of hay movement allows the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to further assess the distribution of fire ants following the flooding events and clearly determine the current biosecurity risk.

Fodder material such as baled hay could be unsuspectedly transported into NSW without appropriate processing and endanger NSW primary industries.

Other materials such as soil, sand, vegetation and debris are also regulated as high-risk carriers of fire ants and must be treated and handled according to the Order before they can be moved into NSW from the Queensland fire ant infested area.

Surveillance will target high-risk locations identified through tracing of fire ant carrier materials, along with areas highlighted by habitat suitability modeling.

The NSW Government is committed to protecting the state’s primary industries and has instigated record funding for biosecurity, $945 million, and specifically for combatting fire ants, $95 million.

Since December 2023, over 390 record of movement declarations have been made for hay, documenting the movement of over 6,500t of hay into NSW.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty:

“We’ve all seen the images of wind and rain in Queensland, and this is making the fire ants mobile over the coming weeks. The temporary suspension of the hay permit is a necessary step to mitigate the movement of these highly invasive pests.

“The impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred are being felt in our agricultural sector in the north of the state. They need our support to get them back on their feet and don’t want a fire ant incursion adding stress and strain to their recovery.

“We have increased surveillance focusing on high-risk areas and are employing advanced tracking and modelling techniques, taking strong preventative measures to stop fire ants.

“Fire ants won’t march into NSW they will either be carried with materials such as soil, mulch, hay and turf, or fly in by natural spread from QLD. Which is why we’re ramping up surveillance in these high-risk areas.

“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, so it’s critical that businesses moving these types of materials comply with the Biosecurity Fire Ant Emergency Order.”

NSW Chief Invasive Species Officer Scott Charlton:

“We know that fire ants will raft in water as a survival mechanism and move following rain and flooding events.

“The recent videos and images on social media of fire ants forming rafts are no doubt concerning. However, we know from hydrological analysis that ants floating into NSW is not possible.

“What we can do is mitigate the increased risks of human-assisted movement of fire ants from the infested areas of Queensland and suspend the hay permit.”

The Minns Labor Government is pleased to announce the Western Sydney stadiums’ full strength beer trial will kick off this weekend at CommBank Stadium.

The trial will be in place for a six-month period at all NRL, NRLW and A-Leagues matches at CommBank Stadium, Accor Stadium and at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

CommBank Stadium will host three matches this weekend, starting with the Panthers-Roosters NRL clash tonight, Western Sydney Wanderers-Melbourne Victory on Saturday night and Parramatta Eels-Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

Fans in general public areas will now have access to full-strength, mid-strength, light and zero alcohol options.

The success of the trial will be determined following consultation with NSW Police, liquor authorities, sport and entertainment partners and feedback from fans.

Venues NSW and NSW Police will work closely to ensure the responsible service of alcohol, as has always been the case for event days.  

Fans are encouraged to make the most of public transport being included in their ticket, and to always have a Plan B if choosing to drink alcohol.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“For too long there has been a disparity in how sports fans in the West are treated, compared to those in the East.

“Yesterday we announced that you can now get free public transport to games at CommBank, and today we are once again making full-strength beer available to those in the West and the Hunter.

“We recognise that fans have been calling for this for a while and we’re excited to see this trial in place from Friday.”

Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said:

“The decision to allow the sale of full-strength beer at CommBank and McDonald Jones stadiums brings much needed equity between city dwellers and those of us in the surrounding suburbs.

“This decision is not about encouraging people to ‘get on the beers’, it recognises everyone, whether they are in the Eastern Suburbs, Western Sydney or Newcastle, can be equally responsible in their consumption of alcohol.

“I congratulate Minister Kamper for bringing fairness and equality back for sporting fans by putting an end to the beer war between the East and West, recognising all of us as responsible adults.

“The selection of beer offered should not be restricted by where you are going to watch the footy. This is a great decision by Minister Kamper to bring back equality in our sporting venues”

I want to make clear the NSW Government will not be repealing hate speech laws passed in Parliament last month.

Our laws criminalised intentionally and publicly inciting hatred towards another person, or group, based on race.

They send a clear message: the people of New South Wales stand together against inciting racial hatred in our great multicultural state.

NSW has seen hundreds of antisemitic attacks and incidents.

This racial hatred has caused our Jewish community to live in fear in their own state.

While the caravan was part of a criminal conspiracy – and not the plot of a terrorist organisation – it was still appalling racial hatred.

It targeted the Jewish community. It targeted a racial group to instil terror in our state.

While these laws were drafted in response to horrifying antisemitism, we have always made clear they would apply to anyone, preying on any person, at any time.

In response to calls for the laws to be scrapped, doing so would be a toxic message to our community that this kind of hate speech is acceptable when it’s not.

These laws are very important to maintaining social cohesion.

A new government fund will put Sydney’s second international airport on course for a successful opening by accelerating aviation capacity from day one, boosting the NSW visitor economy and creating more choice for NSW travellers.

The $8 million Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund will incentivise international airlines to fly new routes into Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) ahead of its grand opening in late 2026. The funding will be matched by WSI, representing a combined fund value of $16 million to boost airline capacity.

The new airport will play an important role in achieving the NSW Government’s goal of $91 billion of visitor expenditure by 2035, with the total $16 million funding package forecast to deliver over 162,000 international visitors to NSW and generate an estimated $530 million of visitor expenditure.

The Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund comes at a critical stage for the state’s newest international gateway with airline tickets for WSI flights scheduled to go on sale from late 2025. This fund will incentivise more carriers to join Qantas and Jetstar (domestic) and Singapore Airlines (international) as the airport works to accelerate passenger numbers to 10 million per year.  

The new Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund will be administered by the NSW Government’s lead agency for the visitor economy, Destination NSW.

Allocation of funding provided to airlines will be agreed between Western Sydney International Airport and Destination NSW on a case-by-case basis and will include incentives such as passenger subsidies and marketing support. The funding provided to each airline is subject to the number of services and subsequent number of passengers they carry over the first three years of operation. 

This aviation investment comes on top of $10 billion of joint NSW-Federal funding for roads and transport infrastructure to connect WSI to Sydney’s transport network.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“You only get to open a new airport once, that’s why we’re backing Western Sydney airport to land new routes and ensure this once in a generation opportunity is a runway success.

“Western Sydney airport will be a massive growth engine for the NSW visitor economy. This fund will pour jet fuel into that engine.

“The more passengers we can bring in, the more spending across Western Sydney’s incredible food precincts, the sights of the Blue Mountains and the food and wine in the Central West.

“The NSW Government is pulling every lever we can to grow the NSW visitor economy to $91 billion by 2035. This is a crucial one and there’ll be more to come.”

Western Sydney International Airport CEO Simon Hickey said:

“With tickets for our first flights set to go on sale later this year and our opening day rapidly approaching, this initial investment with the State Government is very welcome news and another strong signal that Western Sydney International Airport is well and truly open for business.

“This airport – Sydney’s only 24-hour international gateway – will deliver a major boost to the state’s visitor economy and provide further support for the vibrant and diverse tourism attractions that NSW has to offer for both domestic and global travellers alike.”

“WSI is built for growth, with plans in place that will eventually see it become Sydney’s biggest international airport, handling more than 80 million annual passengers, which is akin to London’s Heathrow airport today.”

Footy fans travelling to CommBank Stadium for the NRL this weekend can travel for free on public transport, with the cost travel included in all match-day tickets this year. 

Integrated ticketing will cover the cost of travel for all NRL and A-League matches at the western Sydney stadium in 2025, making it easier for fans to support their teams.

This follows the same arrangement that fans enjoy at Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground, and major events at Accor Stadium. 

CommBank Stadium will host three matches in three days this weekend, with Penrith Panthers to take on the Sydney Roosters on Friday night, followed by Western Sydney Wanders-Melbourne Victory on Saturday night and Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon. 

With the new L4 Parramatta Light Rail services running regularly between Carlingford, Westmead and Parramatta, it’s even easier for sports fans to make the most of the season ahead, with a stop conveniently located just a few hundred metres from CommBank Stadium.

From the Prince Alfred Square Light Rail stop, the stadium is a short walk along Victoria Road. Passengers can take the light rail to connect to Paramatta and Westmead train stations, other local bus services, and ferries at Paramatta wharf. 

There is no need for fans to tap on and off when boarding services – they simply show their match-day ticket to staff.    

In 2025, the Parramatta Eels and Western Sydney Wanderers will be joined by the Wests Tigers and four-time reigning premiers, Penrith Panthers, to call CommBank Stadium home. 

The NSW Government remains committed to enhancing public transport options for major events. Integrated ticketing simplifies the journey to and from events, making a trip to CommBank Stadium more enjoyable and stress-free. 

For more details on upcoming events and travel information, visit transportnsw.info/events. 

Minister for Transport John Graham said: 

“Footy fans should have the same experience whether their team plays in Western Sydney or in the CBD.  

“More than half a million people are expected to visit CommBank stadium this year and we want all of them to think about leaving the car at home and using public transport instead. 

“With the Parramatta Light Rail having recently joined the network, fans will have even more convenient options when going a game at CommBank Stadium.” 

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“With a bumper 2025 season on the way, we want as many sports fans packing out our stadium as possible. Integrated ticketing for public transport has long been available for matches at Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground so it is only fair that fans attending the sporting jewel of Western Sydney get the same.”  

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“This is great news for everyone in Parramatta who loves Rugby League and Football. You won’t have to pay to get on public transport if you’ve got a ticket to games at CommBank Stadium.

“This won’t just make public transport more convenient for passengers in Parramatta and Western Sydney, this is about fairness too. It’s no longer one rule for the venues in the east, and another for venues here.”  

Venues NSW Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said: 

“With public transport now included in all NRL/NRLW and A-Leagues match-day tickets at CommBank Stadium, it’s never been easier for footy fans to support their team. 

“CommBank Stadium is set for another huge year with a record 23 NRL and NRLW match days, the WSW Wanderers’ march to the finals and Nitro Circus just some of the events confirmed so far.” 

Parramatta Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos said: 

“Offering integrated transport is important to enhance the overall game day experience for our members and fans.” 

A champion for culturally diverse arts, a passionate advocate for women in refugee communities and a multicultural sports innovator are some of the people recognised at the Premier’s Harmony Dinner last night.

Hosted by the Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper, the dinner was attended by more than 1,600 community members. As part of the event, Mr Kamper announced the winners of the 2025 Multicultural Community Medals and inductees into the NSW Multicultural Honour Roll.

The Multicultural Community Medals recognised 13 individuals and organisations for their role in strengthening NSW’s diverse and inclusive society. 

Amongst the winners were:

• Sandra Morales, who founded Heartdancers, an organisation solely focused on artists from First Nations and culturally diverse backgrounds in the Central Coast and Hunter areas
• Dr. Astrid Perry-Indermaur OAM who has dedicated over 40 years of her career and life to advancing human rights and social justice for women and children from migrant and refugee backgrounds
• Syed Sibtain, founder of Sydney Cricket League, a competition with over 1,000 players from diverse backgrounds, and a community touchpoint for newly arrived migrants to NSW.

Five people were also posthumously inducted into the Multicultural Honour Roll, for their lasting impact on fostering an inclusive, resilient and peaceful society.

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said: 

“The Premier’s Harmony Dinner is an opportunity to say thanks to the people and organisations who give their time and energy to make NSW more inclusive and connected.”

“This is one of the largest multicultural celebrations in the state, bringing together people from different cultures to celebrate, find common ground and maintain a strong foundation for social cohesion in NSW.”

Multicultural NSW Chief Executive Officer Joseph La Posta said:

“The individuals and organisations we celebrate tonight are the heart and soul of multiculturalism in NSW.”

“Their unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion makes our state stronger, more vibrant, and more connected than ever before.”

“In addition to celebrating the stellar contributions of these worthy winners, this event is a reminder of the rich contribution of migrants to the everyday lives of everyone in our great state.”

2025 Multicultural Community Medal winners

Medal	Winner	Bio
Arts and Culture Medal in honour of Carla Zampatti AC sponsored by Powerhouse	Sandra Morales	Sandra founded Heartdancers – the only organisation in the Central Coast, Hunter and Newcastle areas that solely focuses on collaborating with artists from First Nations and culturally diverse backgrounds.
Dr G.K. Harinath OAM Sports Medal sponsored by Sydney Thunder	Syed Sibtain	Syed founded Sydney Cricket League (SCL) in 2016. SCL has over 1000 players from diverse backgrounds and acts as a community touchpoint for people new to Australia.
Human Rights Medal sponsored by SSI Equality for Life	Sabrina Khan	Sabrina is an international human rights lawyer and an advocate of women and children’s rights. Herself a survivor of domestic violence, she worked with Afghan, Palestinian, and Iranian women refugees to foster respectful and meaningful cross-cultural dialogue through the arts.
Lifetime Community Service Medal sponsored by SBS	Dr. Astrid Perry-Indermaur OAM	Dr. Astrid Perry-Indermaur OAM is an Australian women’s rights activist and a passionate advocate for multicultural communities. She has dedicated over 40 years of her career and life to advancing human rights and social justice for women and their children, from migrant and refugee communities.
Multicultural Not for Profit Medal sponsored by NSW Department of Communities and Justice	Dubbo Nepalese Community Australia	Dubbo Nepalese Community Australia is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to cultural preservation and community unity in Dubbo. Established to serve as a cultural bridge, DNCA enhances social cohesion through various initiatives that celebrate Nepalese heritage while promoting multiculturalism. It organised the Nepali Language School, volunteer initiatives, support during crisis.
Multicultural Youth Support Medal sponsored by STARTTS	Ahmad Zarar	Ahmad is a coach and mentor at Melrose Park Football Club. He arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in 2022 on a humanitarian visa. He is now an inspiration to the young Afghan refugees he coaches.
Regional Unity Medal sponsored by My Guardian	Ashley Young	Ashley Young is a passionate leader in the delivery of equitable and accessible healthcare. He led statewide reforms in Aboriginal Health, Disability Funding, Emergency Department Access, and Immunisation Services.
Stepan Kerkyasharian AO Community Harmony Medal sponsored by Commonwealth Bank of Australia	Syed Shah Khan Amin Zada	Syed is an Afghan refugee who is a passionate advocate for social cohesion in New South Wales. He organised multicultural festivals, art exhibitions, and food fairs, and established mentorship programs that connect young people with community leaders and professionals.
Community Languages Teacher Medal sponsored by NSW Department of Education	Maida Kulic Vugdalic	Maida is principal and teacher at Bosnian Ethnic School. Under her guidance, the school has connected people with their Bosnian heritage. She has also led the strategies to heal intergenerational trauma from the war in Bosnia in the 1990s.
Interpreters and Translators Medal sponsored by NAATI	Neena Sinha	Neena started interpreting and translating in the 1980s. During her career she helped improve cultural awareness of issues relating to domestic violence. She was one of the founders of Indian Women’s Social Organisation which gave a social outlet to Indian women in Sydney.
Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by Anti-Discrimination NSW	CulturalPulse	CulturalPulse’s Multicultural Fan Engagement Program for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup set a new standard for sports marketing. The campaign drove record match attendance, overcame language barriers, and reached communities previously unfamiliar with women’s sports.
Best Report in Multicultural Media	The Jewish Independent	‘Generation Change’ is a monthly column that elevated and represented the experiences of young Australian Jews. The report profiles community leaders under 40 who are creating a positive impact and addressing often taboo social issues.
Multicultural Publication of the Year sponsored by Village Place	The Greek Herald	The Greek Herald has been the voice of the Greek-Australian and Cypriot-Australian community since its establishment in 1926. It is the largest and only daily Greek newspaper in Australia, and has an international readership.

2025 Multicultural Honour Roll inductees

Inductee	Bio
Ms Nadia Lozzi Cuthbertson OAM	Nadia was the first head of the newly created Ethnic Affairs Commission serving as Executive Officer until 1985. She was considered the ‘right hand’ of Ethnic Affairs Commissioner Dr Paolo Totaro’s in the formative years of the agency and an influential figure in early ethnic affairs policy in NSW.
Mr Mohmad El Dana	Mr El Dana founded Al Amanah College in Bankstown and Al Amanah College in Liverpool in 2002 and supported the creation of sister schools—Salamah College and Glenroy Private in Melbourne. In 2008, Mr El Dana led the Building Identity and Resisting Radicalisation (BIRR) Initiative.
Mr Emmanuel Alfieris	Emmanuel Alfieris was a passionate advocate for the Greek Australian community, known for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and generosity. His deep connection to his roots inspired his lifelong efforts to unite empower the Greek Australian community.
Mr Den Chen	After fleeing Cambodia, Mr Chen and his family settled in Australia, where he became an active volunteer with the Salvation and Cambodian Culture Association from 2000. He worked tirelessly to help refugees and migrants in similar situations. He was also an active fundraiser for Cambodian Buddhist organisations.
Mr Jack Passaris OAM	A Founding and Life Member of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW (ECCNSW), Mr. Passaris remained deeply involved with the organisation from its establishment in 1975 until his passing. His commitment never wavered, and his contributions were instrumental in shaping its success.