Elder abuse on the rise

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP today announced her support for the Relationship Australia NSW policy paper, and the calls for action it champions to support the 15% of older people aged 65+ who are abused and lack support services.

Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina

“There is a disgraceful head in the sand approach to the care and support for older people who are suffering abusive treatment. Reforms that ensure that funding and support services are available and accessible are essential when at least 15% of older people experience abuse.”

“As NSW Greens spokesperson for Older People, and a regional MP, I am happy to support the Relationships Australia NSW policy paper’s calls for action on the growing crisis of elder abuse.”

“It’s time to shine a light on the struggles that older people are facing. Every Australian should have access to support and with 28% of people 60+ living outside of Sydney, due consideration for the challenges to access that the regions face should be accounted for.”

“Funding, research and protections are needed right now to ensure that our elders are afforded dignity and respect.”

“50% of young adults under 30 are living at home. This changing dynamic within our family units sees the risk of elder abuse quietly rising in our own households.”

“Coercive control laws, and strong protections in Enduring Power of Attorney arrangements are vital, in conjunction with accessible services that speak to marginalised communities and the 3 in 10 seniors in NSW living beyond the reach of Sydney’s services.”

“Access is not a buzzword. 50% of older people 65+ are living with a disability. When you combine that statistic with those living regionally, the numbers are very grim indeed.”

Attorney General confirms plans to strengthen the right to discriminate on final day of Darwin Pride

Background

Attorney General Marie-Claire Boothby yesterday announced changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act to weaken protections against discrimination and reinstate some employer’s right to discriminate on the basis of race, sexuality, gender, religious beliefs and other factors. She referred to it as “restoring balance” to anti-discrimination laws, and said it was part of the Finocchiaro Government’s push to restore our ‘Territory lifestyle.’

This announcement coincided with the concluding day of the 40th annual Darwin Pride, where the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies met to celebrate visibility and activism. Our hearts go out to the many members of our community who will face needless, preventable discrimination as a result of these changes.

Racial discrimination in particular is on the rise, fuelled by dog-whistle political rhetoric and policies that target and impact Aboriginal communities, particularly young people.

The NT Greens call on the Attorney General to release the list of stakeholders she consulted with before making these changes, and to abandon these needless, counterproductive reforms. 

During Estimates today, the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner confirmed that his office does not support the proposed changes to the Act and that he had advised the Attorney General to not proceed with the amendments announced today. 

Kat McNamara MLA, Member for Nightcliff

“Let’s be clear, the reintroduction of 37A is not about religious freedom, it is about allowing discrimination of teachers and students on the basis of their sexuality and beliefs. Discrimination should have no place in the Territory.”

“We learnt in Estimates today that the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner strongly opposes the proposed changes to the Anti- Discrimination Act and yet the CLP Government is recklessly proceeding regardless. Consultation is meaningless if you do not listen to the expert feedback provided.”

“The fact that the Attorney General thought it was appropriate to make this announcement on the final day of Darwin Pride shows careless arrogance, deep ignorance, or both.”

“The Attorney General says this is part of restoring our ‘iconic Territory lifestyle.’ The idea that being able to vilify members of our community is part of our lifestyle is both offensive and ridiculous.”

“These changes will embolden individuals and organisations to discriminate.”

Nic Carson, Acting Convenor of the Northern Territory Greens

“The NT Greens stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ community, our multicultural community, our First Nations community, our community living with disability, and others who will face needless discrimination as a result of these changes.” 

“This demonstrates the CLP’s ignorance about the scale and impact of discriminatory practice and hate speech in the NT. Rather than shutting it down, they want to create space for more or the behaviours that produce systemic discrimination in the Territory.”

“What the CLP sees as ‘harmless jokes’ are the tip of the iceberg. Beneath them are layers of prejudice, exclusion, and discrimination that are an underlying cause of deaths in custody, gender inequality in workplaces, anti-trans narratives, and over-incarceration of First Nations people.” 

“There are people in our community being shut out of employment, shut out of accessing public amenity and patronage, due to their gender, age, sexuality, disability, racial background, and other factors. This has to stop.”

Newcastle Museum exhibition highlights history of German-speakers in the Hunter

Margarete Ritchie was just three years old when she and her family left Austria in 1955 to make a new life on the other side of the world. 

Their journey across the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Australia is just one of the stories woven into the rich tapestry of memory in Newcastle Museum’s new exhibition, Heimat in the Hunter, which opens to the public tomorrow. 

Heimat in the Hunter exhibition at Newcastle MuseumHedy Fairbairn, Associate Professor Julie McIntyre, Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge, Julie Baird, Dr Sacha Davis, Tim Crakanthorp and Dr Jaime Hunt take a look at the new Heimat in the Hunter exhibition, which opens at Newcastle Museum tomorrow.

Developed in partnership with the University of Newcastle and drawing on the academic research of Dr Sacha Davis, Dr Jaime Hunt and Associate Professor Julie McIntyre, the free exhibition reveals the history and experiences of German-speakers in the Hunter region. 

German is the tenth most common language other than English spoken in Newcastle and the Hunter. 

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said exhibitions such as Heimat in the Hunter offer a valuable insight into the history of our city. 

“It is important to share and preserve stories of the communities and residents who have made Newcastle what it is today,” Cr Kerridge said. 

“I commend the work of Newcastle Museum and the University of Newcastle on this wonderful exhibition, which will hopefully promote better understanding of the city’s many migrant community experiences.”

City of Newcastle’s Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, said partnerships between Newcastle Museum and research institutions like the University of Newcastle offer new ways to connect the public with contemporary historical research.  

“This is a history not just of German-speaking migrants, but of courage, creativity and connection, where objects become anchors for memory, cultural continuity and the migrant experience,” Ms Baird said. 

“Heimat in the Hunter brings together humble objects, images and interviews that reveal extraordinary stories and the importance of home and connecting world events to our shared local stories.” 

The exhibition showcases items from the Museum’s collection as well as treasured family heirlooms generously loaned by members of the community. 

Margarete’s story is brought to life through the remarkable travel album created by her father, Franz Ranzenbacher, which is filled with descriptions and photographs of their journey as well as a hand-drawn map of their migration route. 

Travelling with her mother, father and eight-year-old sister, Margarete set off from Genoa aboard the MS Aurelia and sailed through the Suez Canal to Columbo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), before docking in Fremantle and then finally Sydney, where they caught a train to the Greta Migrant Camp. 

“I am quite honoured to have my parent’s quest to make a good home for their family in Australia, far from the turmoil in Europe in the early to mid-1950s, included in this exhibition,” Mrs Ritchie said. 

A beautiful wool dinner suit tailored by Franz Schwaller helps tell the story of Viennese migrant Ernst Baumwald, who left war-torn Europe in 1939 to make a new life in Newcastle. 

With strict limitations on what he could bring with him, Ernst arrived in Australia with little more than some clothing, a collection of German-language engineering books and his precious slide rule, which are among the items loaned to the exhibition by his daughter Hedy Fairbairn.   

“Ernst was a civil engineer and spent the larger part of his working life at Newcastle’s State Dockyard. He was responsible for the design of the turntable on the Southern Hemisphere’s first drive-on-drive-off passenger ship, Princess of Tasmania,” Mrs Fairbairn said. 

“Two vital items came with him from Vienna: his technical books/manuals and his slide rule. He relied on those books all his working life. Every calculation and computation for his design work was made with that slide rule. Later in life he purchased a pocket calculator, but the slide rule was never truly replaced.”   

University of Newcastle Discipline Lead for History, Dr. Sacha Davis, said German-speaking migrants form an important element in the rich history of the Newcastle and Hunter region.  

“Their experiences on the one hand are individual and specific, and on the other hand speak to the story of migration to the region more broadly. Yet German-speaking migration to the region has frequently been overlooked,” Dr Davis said.  

“The great strength of this exhibition has been the passionate and generous involvement of the community in the telling of these stories.” 

Visitors to the exhibition are also encouraged to share their stories via a QR code as part of the University of Newcastle’s current research project, German as a Heritage Language and Culture in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, led by Dr Hunt. 

This exhibition has been supported by the NSW Government, through Create NSW, the University of Newcastle Copley Bequest Pilot Research Fund, and the Australian Linguistic Society. 

Heimat in the Hunter opens on Tuesday 17 June and will be on display until Sunday 21 September.

Four times the fun as City of Newcastle begins $750,000 playground upgrades

Work will begin tomorrow on a new playground and half-court basketball area at Beauford Avenue Reserve in Maryland as part of City of Newcastle’s annual Playground Replacement Program.

Playgrounds at Morpeth Road Reserve at Waratah West, Johnson Park at Lambton and Stockton Pool will also be replaced as part of a $750,000 investment to provide improved recreational opportunities for families across the local government area.

Artist's impression Beauford Avenue ReserveAn artist’s impression of the new playground and half-court basketball facility being built by City of Newcastle at Beauford Avenue Reserve in Maryland.

City of Newcastle’s Executive Manager Community and Recreation Lynn Duffy said the Playground Replacement Program has upgraded, replaced or improved 28 popular recreational areas since 2018.

“We know parks and playgrounds are an integral part of life in Newcastle,” Ms Duffy said.

“City of Newcastle has invested more than $14 million into playground projects across Newcastle during the past seven Budgets as part of our commitment to delivering enhanced and accessible recreational opportunities for the community. 

“Additionally, the draft 2025/26 Budget features $10 million for the Foreshore Park inclusive playspace, which will be the city’s first regional level playground, with $750,000 also included for the local playground renewals.

“The four playgrounds chosen as part of this year’s Playground Replacement Program will receive new equipment such as nest seat swings, climbing structures, a variety of slides, rubber softfall and inground trampolines.

“Work will begin at Maryland tomorrow and over the next few weeks we’ll carry out demolition, drainage improvements, concreting and sandstone elements to get the site ready for the equipment as soon as possible.”

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Strategic Advisory Committee, Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz, said it’s important to consider the needs of all users when designing playgrounds.

“We aim to deliver enhanced and accessible playspaces for children right across the city,” Ms Winney-Baartz said.

“We’ve incorporated inclusive play elements into each location, as well as challenging play components such as slides and bridges.

“Beauford Avenue Reserve Playground and Stockton Pool Playground will have new paths added to ensure everyone can access the facilities.”

The playground at Stockton Pool is due to be replaced by the time swimmers return to the facility in September, in addition to new barbecue shelters.

Morpeth Road Reserve and Johnson Park playgrounds are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Major infrastructure package to support Western Sydney Aerotropolis growth

The Minns Labor Government is today announcing a comprehensive $835 million investment to enable development, support job creation and maximise economic growth for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis region.

Spanning 11,200 hectares, the Western Sydney Aerotropolis presents a generational opportunity to create a thriving economic hub which is set to provide thousands of new jobs closer to home for the people of Western Sydney. 

This Aerotropolis package builds on the previously announced $1 billion investment in the first stage of the Fifteenth Avenue upgrade, jointly funded with the Australian Government.

Building Better Communities

Roads are essential infrastructure for the Aerotropolis. Road infrastructure must be in place to not just cater for the growing freight, but to maximise growth.

This year’s Budget includes close to $150 million in additional funding. That is on top of $2.55 billion allocated to existing Aerotropolis roads projects over four years, taking the total commitment to $2.7 billion.

Key new project allocations include:

  • $50 million for critical road upgrades across the Aerotropolis, including traffic lights and signals at the Elizabeth Drive and Luddenham Road intersection and a new turning lane at the Mamre Road and Kerrs Road intersection.
  • $39 million to plan three key routes – Devonshire Road, Devonshire Link Road and Bradfield Metro Link Road – including a $12.5 million contribution from the Albanese Labor Government.
  • $29.6 million for an incident management and response team to deploy rapidly to accidents and traffic delays. The new team will support key routes to and from the airport, along with the broader South Western Sydney road network.
  • $30 million for more than 1000 new green directional signs across Sydney directing to the Aerotropolis and Western Sydney Airport.

This builds on major ongoing road projects in the Aerotropolis, jointly funded by the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments, including:

  • $1 billion for the first stage of the Fifteenth Avenue upgrade between Liverpool and the new airport.
  • $1 billion for the upgrade of Mamre Road Stage 2 between Erskine Park and Kemps Creek.
  • $800 million for the upgrade of Elizabeth Drive to connect the new airport.
  • More than $2 billion for the toll-free M12 Motorway.

More essential services – Western Sydney’s biggest fire station

The Minns Labor Government is today announcing the new location for the Badgerys Creek Fire Station.

Construction of the facility, on Adams Road in Luddenham, is expected to commence later this year, with completion due by late 2026. The station is set to become the largest in Western Sydney.

The Government is also committing to recruiting 52 new firefighters to staff the 24/7 station with a $42.2 million investment, significantly expanding our firefighting strength in the growth corridor and helping deliver on an election commitment to fund 600 additional firefighters.

This builds on the Governments $15.4 million investment last year to deliver the new Badgerys Creek station, including three new fire trucks.

This investment in the 2025-26 Budget is on top of an additional $17 million over two years to help renew the state’s fire-fighting fleet and strengthen our frontline emergency response. 

Investing in water infrastructure to unlock future industry and housing

Sydney Water will invest $644 million to deliver stormwater and recycled water infrastructure across the Mamre Road precinct in Western Sydney, as part of the largest integrated stormwater scheme in Australia.

The works will support the first precinct to be developed in the Aerotropolis, the 1,020-hectare Mamre Road Precinct, and lay the foundation for the remaining 7,267 hectares of industrial land surrounding the future Nancy-Bird Walton Airport.

The Minns Labor Government has worked with Sydney Water to drive down the cost to developers, giving them certainty and helping them get started with job-creating construction projects.

In March 2023, Sydney Water proposed a bond fee for the Mamre Road Precinct of $1.3 million per hectare. Since then, the Government has worked with Sydney Water to revise the scope, driving down the contribution to $877,000 in the final Development Servicing Plan, released last month.

Under the direction of the Minns Labor Government, this investment will help deliver the critical infrastructure needed to support growth across the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The investment will fund:

  • The construction of naturalised channels and waterways (instead of concrete pipes and drains)
  • Land acquisition and construction of stormwater capture and harvesting infrastructure in the form of basins and wetlands

This funding is part of our plan to deliver better essential services that people and businesses rely on and to unlock investment to grow our economy, setting NSW up for long-term prosperity.

Premier Minns:

“With billions of dollars now committed, we’re not just talking about building a new airport—we’re creating a connected, thriving region that will delivers job, homes and opportunity for generations to come.

“This funding ensures the right infrastructure is in place to support growth and unlock the full potential of the Aerotropolis.

“Whether it’s new roads, or enabling infrastructure, we’re laying the foundations now to support the Aerotropolis into the future.”

Treasurer Mookhey:

“This Budget makes the critical investments in essential infrastructure to support new growth in Western Sydney.

“We are backing the Aerotropolis precinct with the infrastructure to grow a local economy and create jobs.

“This Budget puts opportunity at the heart of government decisions as we build a better future for NSW.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“Today marks an important investment in safety and resilience for Western Sydney.

“Badgerys Creek Fire Station will play a vital role in strengthening our emergency response in this rapidly developing corridor.

“This investment means our emergency services are prepared to help safeguard the community as the region continues to grow.” 

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“This year’s roads Budget includes close to $150 million in additional funding to support the Aerotropolis. We have focused on the must have priorities – new and widened roads, intersections, safety upgrades – that will bust congestion in this growing area.

“We’ll ensure that ahead of the new Western Sydney Airport opening by the end of 2026, we’re building the supporting road network it needs.”

Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to delivering for the people of Western Sydney, after the Liberals and Nationals allowed infrastructure projects in Western Sydney to stall.

“These investments will ensure families and businesses are supported with the services they need to thrive.

“With the new Western Sydney Airport set to open next year, it is vital we continue to invest in Western Sydney, so the area’s potential can be unlocked.”

Minister for Water Rose Jackson:

“This significant infrastructure investment is about getting the basics right so we can build the homes and businesses Western Sydney needs.”

FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM:

“The fire station’s proximity to the airport means it can immediately respond and support aviation firefighters in any emergency.

“It’s also a reflection of our ongoing commitment to firefighter wellbeing through modern design and safety-focused infrastructure.”

Local students name cranes at the new Shellharbour Hospital

Two tower cranes supporting the delivery of the new Shellharbour Hospital will officially be known as ‘Shane’ and ‘Anita Lift’ after being named by two local school students.

The ‘Name the Cranes’ competition received close to 130 creative entries from school children across the region, providing the community’s youngest residents with the chance to engage in the new Shellharbour Hospital.

Seven-year-old Shellharbour Public School student Zoe Green who came up with the name ‘Shane’ and seven-year-old Lainey Anger from Primbee Public School who picked the name ‘Anita Lift’ were announced as the winners of the ‘Name the Cranes’ competition.

The students were today joined by the Member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson MP, for a special presentation on site.

‘Shane’ is the combination of the first two letters of Shellharbour and last three letters of ‘Crane’ together, while ‘Anita Lift’ is a play on words and sounds like ‘I need a lift’ when said fast.

The winning names, ‘Shane’ and ‘Anita Lift,’ will be prominently displayed on the cranes, with both cranes now installed. The two cranes stand at 52 and 45 metres high and can be seen across Shellharbour as they tower over the site and work to build the seven-storey structure.

The successful entries were selected by representatives from Health Infrastructure, BESIX Watpac, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Savills Project Management.

The new hospital is part of the over $780 million New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services Project, which also includes improvements to Wollongong Hospital, a refurbishment of Bulli Hospital and a new Community Health Centre on a portion of land at the former Port Kembla Hospital site at Warrawong.

The project is expected to support around 800 direct jobs during construction, with the potential to support thousands of indirect jobs over the life of the project.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.

Information and updates on the New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services can be found here: www.shellharbourdevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“This new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services Project represents the significant investment in our region and sets us up for a future where quality healthcare is on our doorstep.

“Congratulations to Zoe Green and Lainey Anger and thank you to all students who submitted a creative entry. It was fantastic to see so many schools embrace the opportunity to help name our new cranes, as we progress construction of the new Shellharbour Hospital.”

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:

“It’s great to see the new Shellharbour Hospital progressing, which will transform health services in the Illawarra and will deliver better health outcomes for our local community now and into the future.

“Thank you to everyone who entered the name the crane competition, which is a wonderful way to engage and involve school children in an important project for our community.”

Henson Park secures funding for last piece of the puzzle

The Minns Labor Government today announced it will provide $1 million toward upgrades to Henson Park to help transform the much-loved suburban ground into a fit-for-purpose community facility.

The NSW Government is committed to investing in grassroots sporting infrastructure and these funds will go towards upgrades that include a new scoreboard and public address system, refurbished accessible rest rooms, plus roof repairs and refurbishment of the first-floor clubroom.

The funding supports other major upgrades at the venue, including the $12.5 million Henson Park Grandstand Redevelopment which will provide a modern and inclusive home ground and training base for the many sports that use it, including the Sydney Swans and GIANTS AFLW teams and the Newtown Jets NSW Cup rugby league team.

Today’s announcement comes on top of $5 million the NSW Government provided to Henson Park Redevelopment Project Stage One which includes:

  • Female friendly changerooms
  • Stairs, ramps and lifts
  • Improved fire safety systems
  • Two universally inclusive changerooms
  • Refurbished referees and first aid area
  • A new gymnasium
  • A new multi-use club room

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“Henson Park is one of the most iconic suburban sports grounds in Sydney, home to the Sydney Swans AFLW team and Newtown Jets, one of Australia’s oldest and most storied rugby league clubs.

“The venue is loved by the local community, regularly hosting large crowds and televised matches.

“Upgrading the facilities will ensure Henson Park reaches its full potential, supporting the growth of women’s and community sport, and providing long-term benefit to the many sporting groups that use the ground.”

Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:

“Henson Park is an iconic Inner West Institution; it is the heart of sport in the Inner West.

“This is the last piece in the puzzle to upgrade our much-loved Henson Park. Not only is this the new home of women’s AFL and the Jets, but it is also a community hub. An afternoon on the hill with family and friends will now be all the better with a brand-new toilet block to go along with all the fantastic new facilities that are on the way.”

Deputy Mayor Inner West Council Mat Howard said:

“We’re committed to making the Inner West the home ground of women’s sport in NSW. That starts with the project to upgrade Henson Park. This new commitment of funding is excellent news for the players with the AFLW, the Newtown Jets, and for spectators and the community as a whole.”

Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley said:

“The Sydney Swans welcome the upgrades, that come as the club counts down to the start of the AFLW season.  

“Henson Park is a terrific Sydney venue in the heart of the Inner West, and an important home ground for our AFLW team, so we welcome any improvements that will enhance the experience for our members and fans.

“We look forward to our women’s team returning to Henson Park on Sunday, 7 September for a home game against Fremantle.”

Newtown Jets CEO Stuart McCarthy said:

“Henson Park is Sydney’s greatest natural amphitheatre and a venue like no other. It is iconic, especially to the community of the inner west. It has been the spiritual home of the Newtown Jets since 1936.

“Upgrades to the Scoreboard Building on its famous hill which include a new scoreboard and public address system as well as kiosk upgrades, refurbished accessible rest rooms plus roof repairs and refurbishment of the first-floor clubroom is the final piece in the puzzle to providing a truly remarkable facility for both sporting participants, female & male, grass roots & elite, all abilities and the general public.”

Record $9 billion for schools across NSW including a new public school in Sydney’s growing South West

The Minns Labor Government will deliver a record $9 billion over four years for school infrastructure in the 2025-26 Budget — continuing the work of rebuilding public education in NSW.

This investment in our future includes $2.6 billion that will be spent over the coming financial year alone, to deliver our record pipeline of new and upgraded schools to support growing communities across NSW.

Importantly, every new public primary school is being delivered with a co-located public preschool, honouring the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to deliver 100 new public preschools by 2027, including 49 in Western Sydney.

This budget includes the following additional new schools and upgrades:

New schools

  • Emerald Hills – new primary school
  • Grantham Farm – new primary school
  • West Dapto – new primary school
  • Wilton – new high school

Major upgrades

  • Newington Public School
  • Excelsior Public School
  • Thornton Public School
  • Rydalmere East Public School
  • Rydalmere Public School
  • Ermington West Public School
  • Asquith high schools
  • Bayside High School (provisional name)
  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Campus

These new schools being funded in the 2025-26 Budget will deliver approximately 140 new classrooms that are estimated to accommodate 2,500 students.

The new school that is being announced for the first time today for Emerald Hills, near Leppington, will open for more than 550 students on Day 1 Term 1, 2028, with facilities including modern classrooms, a multipurpose hall, canteen, library and sports field.

Leppington was one of a number of growth areas within the South-West and North-West growth corridors identified by the Government’s Enrolment Growth Audit as the top 10 areas for student growth in the state.

The audit found the former Coalition government failed to accurately reflect the rapid population growth in these areas and failed to build the schools to match it.

Since being elected, the Minns Labor Government has commenced construction on more than 25 new and upgraded schools for growing communities across NSW, with another 30 set to begin before the end of 2025.

In addition to these, the NSW Government has fast-tracked schools to open in temporary facilities while their permanent facilities are built in Box Hill, Nirimba Fields, Tallawong and Gledswood Hills.

This has meant that families in growth suburbs like Marsden Park, Leppington, Tallawong and Gledswood Hills were able to enrol in schools years earlier than planned by Liberals and Nationals.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education following a decade of neglect that saw new schools and upgrades promised but never delivered by the former government.

This budget continues to ensure students across NSW no matter where they live can attend a public school close to home, and that these schools deliver a world class education to the next generation.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education and improve student outcomes by addressing over a decade of neglect by the former Government.

We know there’s much more to do, but we’re getting on with the job of rebuilding public education by:

  • banning mobile phones in all public schools, which has meant reduced distractions in school
  • paying our teachers more, which has seen a 40 per cent drop in teacher vacancies since coming to office. That means more teachers in front our classrooms
  • this has meant that the number of merged and cancelled classes have been almost halved
  • making more than 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contracts permanent.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“New and upgraded schools are essential, but nothing matters more than having a great teacher in every classroom.

“That’s why we delivered the biggest teacher pay rise in a generation — cutting permanent teacher vacancies by 40 per cent and slashing the number of merged or cancelled classes across NSW.

“This announcement today continues our record investment in public education with new funding for schools in the communities that need them most, fast-growing suburbs that were overlooked for far too long.

“Families in Western Sydney were promised schools that never came under the former government. We’re fixing this — building the schools that these communities need and deserve.”

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“The Minns Labor Government, with the leadership of Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car, has invested record funding to build new and upgraded schools across growing parts of NSW that were neglected for too long under the Liberals.

“Our investment also includes new, fee-free public preschools co-located with public schools as part of our commitment to build 100 public preschools across NSW. These will be a game-changer for families in suburbs where access to high quality, affordable early education is scarce.

“For more than a decade, the former Liberal National Government failed to keep pace with population growth in these suburbs and towns. We are fixing that with real investment, building world-class local public schools and early education for families close to home.”

Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty said:

“I was elected on a commitment of delivering schools for our growing community.

“This new primary school and preschool at Emerald Hills is another example of the Minns Labor Government’s investment in public education – alongside the new Leppington High School, an elective sports stream at Eagle Vale High School, five new public preschools, and four major school upgrades across the Leppington electorate.

“We’re making sure every family has access to quality local schools, close to home.”

Amazon data centre investment in Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman in Seattle today to welcome AWS’s investment of AUD$20 billion into data centre infrastructure in Australia.

Over the next five years, this landmark investment will provide the world’s most advanced infrastructure that can support complex artificial intelligence (AI) and all other technology applications, enabling organisations across Australia to train and deploy AI models and continue to rapidly innovate.

It will drive the development and expansion of data centres in Melbourne and Sydney that include storage, networking, analytics, and other advanced, highly secure services, supporting cloud and AI demand.

Australia is keen to seize the economic opportunities that AI and other digital technologies offer.

This investment will boost Australia’s economic growth, resilience and productivity.

It will expand Australia’s growing data centre infrastructure and support technology adoption by Australian businesses.

AWS matches 100% of its electricity consumption with renewable energy across its global operations, including Australian data centres, as part of its plans to achieve net zero by 2040.

The significant investment builds on the Australian Government’s strategic partnership with AWS to deliver a sovereign Top Secret Cloud which will generate up to 2,000 Australian jobs.

AWS has already invested AUD$9.1 billion in Australia since it first established a presence in Sydney in 2012.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“This significant investment will offer Australian industries the ability to take advantage of the revolutionary opportunities provided by artificial intelligence.

“It will build on Australia’s growing data centre infrastructure and contribute to our economic growth and resilience, including by providing more skilled jobs and AI-ready infrastructure.

“This investment highlights AWS’s role as a trusted US-based global technology provider, with a strong presence in and commitment to Australia, reflecting Australia’s continued strength as an attractive destination for business and investment.”

Additional humanitarian funding to meet urgent medical and nutrition needs in Gaza

Australia will provide a further $10 million to enable the distribution of urgent medical and nutrition supplies to Gaza to help address the catastrophic humanitarian conditions due to the ongoing conflict.

This funding brings Australia’s total humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by conflict in Gaza and Lebanon to over $110 million since 7 October 2023.

Infrastructure and health systems in Gaza have been devastated by Israel’s military operations. Food, medicines and essential supplies have been exhausted.

As part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing humanitarian support, Australia is partnering with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to provide urgent medical care to Palestinians suffering serious illness or injury in Gaza.

The Australian Government will contribute $5 million to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization for critical medical supplies to support field hospitals in Gaza.

Australia’s support builds on the charity’s existing work, including with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association, which has also donated essential medical supplies to Gaza.

Australia will also provide $5 million to UNICEF for nutritional support for children affected by the conflict. Gaza is experiencing a critical food security crisis, with children under the age of five the most impacted.

This contribution will help UNICEF provide 2.9 million rations of nutritional support, enough to meet the needs of 8,000 children for four months.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“Australia has consistently been part of the international call on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice.

“Aid is being prevented from reaching those who need it. Children are injured and starving. Israel’s ongoing restriction on aid into Gaza is costing lives.

“Our new partnership with Jordan will enable us to provide urgent medical support with those who need it most.

“We will continue to work with our international partners to press for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel.”

International Development Minister Anne Aly:

“The devastation and suffering in Gaza are unconscionable. Australia’s support will help deliver lifesaving assistance and care to civilians injured in Gaza.

“Civilians cannot pay the price in this conflict. Every child deserves safety. Every child deserves access to food and medical care.

“The Albanese Government is working with the international community and trusted humanitarian organisations, like UNICEF, as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure critical aid enters Gaza and reaches those who need it.”