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The Albanese and Minns Labor governments are progressing plans for an upgrade of a key bridge on one of Australia’s busiest road freight corridors, as part of efforts to unlock access for more heavy vehicles.

The $20 million jointly funded planning project for the Sheahan Bridge Upgrade project on the Hume Highway at Gundagai has moved into its next phase of development with a contract awarded to provide a concept design for the bridge’s upgrade or replacement.

WSP Australia Pty Ltd will provide concept design development and environmental assessment of potential upgrade or replacement options for the northbound bridge over the Murrumbidgee River.

The current northbound bridge was built in 1977, with duplication of the southbound lanes officially opened to traffic by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on 25 May 2009 when he was Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

While the load limit was increased from 68 to 85 tonnes in 2020 on the northbound bridge, for the safety of motorists Higher Productivity Vehicles still have to use a permit to travel on the NSW section of the Hume Highway due to the age of the bridge and structure limitations.

These limitations on the northbound bridge also restrict opportunities for contraflow during emergency response or planned maintenance activities on the southbound bridge.

The Federal and NSW Labor Governments are working together to ensure that this major bridge on the Hume Highway, the oldest and busiest highway in NSW, which follows the 200-year-old track traversed by Hume and Hovell in 1824, can meet the challenges of 21st century road freight.

The upgrade planning project will investigate potential solution options which include:

• building a replacement bridge on a new alignment upstream (east) or downstream (west) of the existing bridge
• replacing the existing bridge on its current alignment
• strengthening the existing bridge.

Transport for NSW is now working with the contractor to further investigate each alternative and identify a preferred option.

It is expected a preferred option will be identified for public display in mid-2026 and Transport will keep the community updated as the project progresses.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Hume Highway is the major freight corridor from Sydney to Melbourne, the oldest and busiest highway in Australia. It has been Labor governments which have invested and delivered the crucial upgrades that have ensured freight, tourism and other road users can rely on this vital network.

“Instead of forcing HPVs to use permits, the NSW and Federal Labor governments are working together to deliver a fit for purpose bridge which will reduce red tape for HPV freight operators by enabling them to use this route without having to obtain permits.”

NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Cootamundra Stephen Lawrence MLC:

“All across regional NSW, Labor governments are working together to improve roads, bridges and other transport infrastructure.

“I am very pleased to see the Sheahan Bridge upgrade planning project progressing and look forward to learning what the preferred improvement option is.”

Nine comedy geniuses will take to the stage for the NSW Seniors Festival Comedy Shows this March to entertain seniors in Sydney and Port Stephens.

The free events will deliver a day of laughs as comedians Bec Melrose, Rebecca De Unamuno, Simon Kennedy, Gary Eck, Anisa Nandaula, Mat Wakefield, Laura Hughes, Peter Berner, and Tommy Dean show off their talents at the Seniors Festival Comedy Shows.

Emcee Andrew Barnett, will host the fun-filled events at:

• Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday 4 March at 11am
• Soldiers Point Hall in Port Stephens on Thursday 6 March at 10:30am and 1:30pm

Tickets will be available from Tuesday 11 February at 9am at https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/seniors-festival/whats-on/nsw-seniors-festival-comedy-show.

The annual NSW Seniors Festival takes place from 3 to 16 March. The festival is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, with more than 500,000 people participating in events held across NSW.

Highlights of the festival include the Expo with a range of activities and stalls for seniors to engage in, as well as the free Premier’s Gala Concerts, both of which will be held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 March.

For tickets to these events and to keep up to date with everything happening at the NSW Seniors Festival, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/seniors-festival.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

“It’s fantastic to see the comedy shows being held again – they always draw a great crowd and leave seniors in stitches.

“These events offer our seniors the opportunity to enjoy time out with friends, while watching comedians they know or discover new ones. It’s a popular event that helps keep seniors connected and feeling included. I’m looking forward to seeing them enjoy the shows.

“This is the NSW Government’s way of saying thank you for all the valuable contributions our older generation has made and continues to make to society. I encourage seniors to get their free tickets and attend these great shows in Sydney and Port Stephens.”

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington MP said:

“It’s terrific news that Port Stephens’ seniors are going to have a laugh soon, especially after the difficult weeks we’ve had recently.

“I just love how the NSW Seniors Festival Comedy Show will be held at two sites in the state – Sydney Town Hall and Soldier’s Point Hall.

“Port Stephens is a beautiful community because of the significant contribution our seniors make. Like me, the NSW Government is grateful to them, and this comedy show is our way of giving back.”

The Minns Labor Government is today announcing the delivery of almost 200 life-saving defibrillators to sporting and recreation organisations across the state.

This announcement brings the total number of devices awarded under this program to more than 2,500 defibrillators.

Every year, more than 9,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of hospitals and these defibrillators play a key role in helping save the lives of a number of these people.

These portable defibrillators detect and analyse a person’s heart activity and, if needed, deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart.

The NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides up to $3,000 for the purchase, installation and training in new automated external defibrillators.

A total of $500,000 has been made available each year to NSW sporting organisations to pay for these devices.

Importantly, approximately 80 per cent of defibrillators awarded under this round of funding went to regional and remote communities, where emergency medical services naturally are further apart.

This follows a decision made by the Minns Labor Government to ensure funding was directed to grassroots sporting organisations in some of NSW’s most disadvantaged areas for new life-saving defibrillators at local sports facilities.

The NSW Labor Government is committed to rebuilding our grassroots sporting communities and ensuring local facilities are fit-for-purpose.

To view the full list of recipients, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“Access to one of these defibrillators can be the difference between life and death for thousands of people across NSW who suffer cardiac arrests each year – which is what makes this so important.”

“Delivering hundreds of new defibrillators to sporting organisations across our state will give even more people the confidence to exercise and play sport safely.”

“We’re making sure that areas that have been neglected for far too long, also have access to these life saving devices.”

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program equips sports clubs to be able to respond to potentially life-threatening emergencies at their sports facilities.”

“The first few minutes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are critical, that is why the NSW Government is ensuring people participating in sport activities have access to potentially life-saving equipment.

“This investment by the NSW Government has the potential to mean the difference between life and death.”

Founder, Heartbeat of Football Andy Paschalidis said:

“I applaud the NSW Government for the ongoing defibrillator rollout programme which is saving lives.”

“Last year, at least six footballers in Sydney alone were saved because of defibrillator access at their grounds and the rapid response by individuals trained in CPR.

“It’s wonderful to see 200 sporting clubs will now be able to purchase and install these life saving devices.”

Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Professor Jamie Vandenberg said:

“Around 10,000 people in NSW suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital each year, and currently the vast majority will die.

“Being able to access a defibrillator in those crucial first minutes can make all the difference, so it’s incredibly heartening to see that almost 200 sporting clubs will now be able to purchase and install these lifesaving devices. This will help keep families together

“This is a sobering statistic but it’s one we can change for the better by installing more of these lifesaving devices in sports clubs across the State.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, and the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, will travel to Poland to attend the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

The world must never allow the memory of the Holocaust to fade. It is vital that the lessons of the past continue to be learnt to ensure this never happens again.

An estimated 1.1 million people were murdered in Auschwitz, almost a million of whom were Jews, before the camp was liberated on 27 January 1945.

What happened at Auschwitz and during the Holocaust is a reminder of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice and the need to remain vigilant against a repetition of the atrocities perpetrated there.

The 80th anniversary of the liberation is also an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable contributions and enduring resilience of the approximately 27,000 Holocaust survivors and their families who made Australia their home after World War II.

The Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia, Ms Jillian Segal AO, will join the official Australian delegation in Poland.

Australia is a proud member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and is committed to Holocaust remembrance, education and research, and ongoing efforts to counter the spread of Holocaust denial and antisemitism.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs will also visit Switzerland and Austria this week, including for meetings with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency António Guterres, and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric.

Western Sydney communities are free of a notorious traffic bottleneck with the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments officially opening the upgraded Prospect Highway today.

The $280 million upgrade, funded jointly and delivered by the Australian and New Governments, has transformed the Highway from an undivided single lane road connection into a modern divided highway with up to six lanes.

Prospect Highway is a major roadway that connects Western Sydney motorists with the M4 Motorway, the Great Western Highway, Old Windsor Road and the M2 Motorway.

For the 35,000 vehicles and 5,000 trucks a day that use the route, the highway had become a slow-moving headache as the area’s traffic volume overtook the capacity of the road.

The 3.6 kilometre upgrade provides six lanes between St Martins Crescent and Blacktown Road and four lanes between Blacktown Road and Reservoir Road.

This has resulted in significant travel time savings with previous average travel time of 20 minutes along this section of Prospect Highway now reduced to five minutes.

Due to the increased safety of the divided, wider, smoother road, the speed limit has been raised from 60 km/h to 70 km/h between Reservoir Road and St Martins Crescent.

The upgrade also features:

• Two new bridges over the M4 and Great Western Highway
• New link road between Great Western Highway and Prospect Highway
• Kerb-side bus lane in each direction between Lancelot Street and north of St Martins Crescent
• Multiple upgraded and signalised intersections
• New kiss-and-ride facility at Shelley Public School to keep children safely away from the highway
• New pedestrian underpass
• Upgraded 3.7km shared user path on the western side

Western Sydney is NSW’s fastest growing region and Blacktown is expected to be home to 563,350 people by 2041. This road will make a significant difference to the motorists who use it everyday, supporting jobs and providing better access to opportunities for Sydney’s growing west.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said:

“Thanks to these major improvements, about 35,000 motorists and 5,000 heavy vehicles who use this road daily will benefit from reduced congestion, faster travel times and safer journeys.

“This project is a major example of both levels of government working in partnership for the benefit of people in Western Sydney.”

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“Prospect Highway is a vital north-south road in Western Sydney and for too long, it was an outdated two-lane traffic bottleneck.

“This upgrade gets drivers moving again on a safer road, and less time sitting in traffic means more time at home with family and friends.

“For truck drivers, time is money. This upgrade will improve traffic flow for the thousands of trucks that use it every day and boost Western Sydney’s reputation as a place to do business and for families to live.”

Federal Member for McMahon Chris Bowen said:

“Prospect Highway was a road from another era that has struggled to get drivers from this part of Western Sydney to where they need to be.

“This upgrade provides the much-needed lanes that will cut journey times and keep people moving.”

Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland said:

“Prospect Highway is a crucial connector for our community and is used by tens of thousands of motorists each and every day to access both the M2 and the M4.

“Upgrading Prospect Highway was vital for motorists in this area but also a great improvement in safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists through the road and shared path improvements it delivers.

“I’m extremely pleased to have advocated for the funding and delivery of this vital upgrade and look forward to the benefits it will deliver for our community.”

Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali said:

“Prospect Highway had been an essential arterial route since it was first developed out of local roads in the 1980s and the upgrade is much needed.

“It’s been exciting to watch as this project has progressed and I’m sure locals will be as thrilled as me with the improved travel times and reduced congestion now it is complete.”

Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott said:

“This project is about more than motoring – around 2000 jobs have been created across the lifecycle of the project, delivering employment as well as better access for local communities

“Public transport customers will benefit from new bus lanes between Lancelot Street and north of St Martins Crescent while pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy the upgraded shared path on the western side of the highway.”

“Aboriginal businesses including a workforce of 101 Aboriginal people from contractors and construction companies contributed to the success of the project.”

Families and businesses need high speed internet at an affordable price, and the Albanese Government will deliver that as we build Australia’s future.

The Albanese Government will fund the upgrade of Australia’s remaining national fibre-to-the node (FTTN) network through an equity injection of up to $3 billion, with NBN Co contributing more than $800 million to the project.

The Government will deliver this significant milestone while guaranteeing NBN Co will remain in public ownership.

Australians owning NBN Co is the best means of ensuring prices for high speed internet remain affordable for all Australians.

While the Albanese Government will complete the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout, our political opponents want to strand Australians on ageing copper connections.

Given the opportunity, the Liberal and National parties will also privatise NBN Co. Peter Dutton made this clear when he instructed his Party to vote against Government legislation to keep the NBN Co in public hands in late 2024.

Fast, reliable, affordable internet is an essential building block of any modern economy. Connectivity boosts national productivity, enables innovation, and creates jobs.

Modelling by Accenture suggests the FTTN upgrade program will provide a $10.4 billion cumulative uplift in GDP over the next decade.

The modelling suggests individual households could save more than 100 hours and $2,580 per year in avoided travel time and costs from accessing faster broadband.

The new FTTN upgrades will deliver access to higher internet speeds for around 622,000 additional premises, with the upgrades delivered by 2030.

This landmark investment builds on the Albanese Government’s $2.4 billion outlay for FTTN upgrades.

The Government has provided access to faster and more reliable broadband for 1.5 million premises across Australia, including 660,000 in rural and regional communities.

The upgrades are being delivered on time and budget.

When the upgrade program is complete, more than 94% of premises on the fixed line network – over 11 million homes and businesses – will have access to connections enabling speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

A small proportion of more complex premises will need to undergo further design analysis and may be upgraded through other technology solutions, offering speeds up to 400Mbps.

the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:

“Keeping Australians connected at an affordable price is a vital national project. Rolling out high speed internet builds Australia’s future.

“Labor built the NBN, just like we built Medicare and superannuation.

“Peter Dutton wants to dismantle it, just like he wants to undermine Medicare and other services Australians rely on.”

Minister for Finance, Katy Gallagher:

“The Albanese Government wants to ensure that every Australian, no matter where they live, has access to the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, including access to the highest quality broadband.

“This funding is necessary and unavoidable to address growing reliability and security issues caused by the opposition’s costly decision to build a sub-standard network reliant on rapidly degrading copper. Removing copper from the FTTN network means we are finally building the NBN that was originally planned.

“Rolling out faster and more reliable internet is a key priority of this government, it’s good for our economy, it’s better for business, and helps to deliver stronger, more connected communities.”

Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland:

“Fast and reliable broadband is essential infrastructure now, in 2025, and in the long term.

“That’s why we’re committed to working with NBN Co to finish the job of upgrading the network to give thousands more Australians access to world-class broadband speeds.

“This investment will see the final fibre to the node premises reap the benefits of faster broadband coming to 622,000 homes and businesses.

“On top of our previous $2.4 billion investment to support NBN Co’s upgrade program and our promise to keep the NBN in public hands, this announcement shows our commitment to delivering a better NBN for Australians.”

The Minns Labor Government is encouraging students enrolled in healthcare degrees in NSW to apply for up to $12,000 in financial support to assist with their studies.

Minister for Health Ryan Park today announced the next round of applications for the Tertiary Health Study Subsidies Program will open on 14 January 2025.

This year support will be available for up to 850 nursing students, 400 medical students and 150 midwifery students.

The Program is designed to create a future pipeline of health workers by supporting students with fees, technology, travel, or other costs related to their degree.

Subsidies are also available for students of paramedicine, Aboriginal health, dentistry and oral health therapy, and various allied health professions including psychology, pharmacy, dietetics, and nuclear medicine.

Students successful in their application and beginning their degrees will receive subsidies of $4,000 per year over three years. Existing students will receive one-off payments of $8,000 after acceptance of employment for a position within NSW Health.

Students must be willing to make a five-year commitment to working in the NSW public health system. There are a limited number of subsidies available, and applications will remain open until all subsidies are awarded.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $121.9 million over five years in the Tertiary Health Study Subsidy Program.

The full list of eligible workforce groups and locations are available on the NSW Health website.

The subsidies form part of a series of measures introduced by the Minns Labor Government to further strengthen the state’s health workforce, including:

• Implementing the Safe Staffing Levels initiative in our emergency departments
• Providing permanent funding for 1,112 FTE nurses and midwives on an ongoing basis
• Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in more than a decade for nurses and other health workers
• Beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.

the Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“More than 3,900 students across NSW have already benefitted from the NSW Government’s $120 million investment in tertiary health study subsidies.

“I am so pleased more students across NSW will continue to benefit from this important initiative, which is helping to ease the financial burden on those starting a career in health.

“Up to 4,000 subsidies are on offer this year for health degrees including nursing, midwifery, medicine, paramedicine, allied health and health science.

“This Program is one of many initiatives the Minns Labor Government is rolling out to boost capacity across the public health system and provide relief to our hardworking frontline healthcare staff.”

Medical Student and Tertiary Health Study Subsidies recipient Aimee Long:

“I already had a taste of healthcare while working as a pharmacist. Medicine felt like the next logical step for me.

“I grew up in country Victoria, so I saw the role the doctors and GP’s play there and how important it is to that community. So, I decided that is something that I wanted to do and give back to small and rural communities like that.

“Receiving the Tertiary Health Study Subsidy allowed me to become part of Australia’s largest health system. Being in medicine is quite an expensive undertaking so it helps me to afford lots of things such as resources, whether or not they’re specific to the uni or external.”

An intensive work program has repaired more than $13.5 million of landslip damage on Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Bulli Pass this year, with work wrapping up this week.

Landslip repairs took place at nine separate sites on the two critical south coast roads, as part of ongoing natural disaster recovery effort jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Transport for NSW targeted five sites on Lawrence Hargrave Drive, including at Scarborough, Stanwell Park, Sea Cliff Bridge, and the M1 southbound off ramp at Helensburgh.

Work included a 12-week program to restore the road and footpath at Scarborough where a section of slope failed near the top of an 82-metre cliff. Work crews used a lightweight material as part of the new road base to reduce pressure on the slope.

Another six-month program on Bulli Pass repaired three landslip sites between the top of the pass and the hairpin bend, with crews operating from work platforms and ropes suspended 10 metres above the ground.

Repairs at a fourth site about one kilometre below the hairpin bend was completed this week.

Almost $30 million worth of landslip repairs have been completed on state roads in southern NSW this year, with Transport for NSW crews and specialist contractors carrying out more than 130,000 work hours across southern NSW.

The landslip damage was caused by a series of natural disaster events that brought record-breaking rainfall – up to six times the average rainfall totals, in some cases.

Transport will continue its focus on repairing damage caused by natural disaster events, with more work in planning stages and some sites due to start early in the new year.

Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes said:

“Over the past two years the Illawarra faced several severe weather events and record-breaking rainfall – up to six times the average.

“This caused havoc on our local roads and infrastructure, but the Minns and Albanese Labor Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements saw emergency funding flow to where it was needed to get things back on track.

“Landslip repairs at nine separate sites, on two of our busiest roads over twelve weeks was not an easy task, but absolutely necessary for our residents safety and our regions connectivity.

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“We understand natural disasters have had a significant impact on travel through these important mountain roads in our state’s transport network and we thank the communities impacted for their patience while these essential repairs were carried out.

“These projects take time, and crews have made significant progress to work through each area and restore the roads to their pre-disaster conditions.”

Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said:

“Intense rainfall has had a devastating impact on these two roads and locals have been waiting along time for these repairs to be completed.

“These are complex sites with challenging working conditions, so I congratulate the crews who have dedicated thousands of hours to these repairs, improving safety for all motorists who drive through this beautiful part of NSW.

“Thank you to the residents for their patience whilst all this essential infrastructure has been completed.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to invest in meaningful action to prevent domestic and family violence, today opening expressions of interest for community-led primary prevention initiatives.

Up to $4.25 million in grant funding is on offer to local organisations statewide, including regional and rural, for proposals that address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence in our community.

Proposals that align with the Pathways to Prevention strategy will be given priority consideration, including gender-based violence prevention programs that:

• Focus on high-impact settings such as schools, workplaces and sporting clubs
• Engage men and boys in prevention initiatives
• Align with the ’Change the Story’ framework, including related frameworks ‘Changing the Picture’, ‘Changing the Landscape’ and ‘Pride in Prevention’
• Support LGBTQIA+ communities through inclusive programming
• Support migrant and refugee communities
• Explore innovative approaches, including the use of digital spaces such as social media.

Successful projects will run over a three-year period.

Following the EOI, eligible organisations will be invited to submit detailed proposals for funding consideration.

The full grant application process for the Primary Prevention Multi-Year Partnership Grants Program will be run in early 2025.

The NSW Government has committed $38 million over four years to roll out the state’s first dedicated primary prevention strategy, to partner with local organisations on addressing the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence.

For more information and to apply, go to: https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/service-providers/grants/grants-open/nsw-primary-prevention-multi-year-partnerships-grant-program.html

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Violence against women and girls can and must be prevented.

“Our government’s first dedicated primary prevention strategy provides a roadmap of the work we need to do to address the drivers of violence against women and stop the violence before it starts.

“We want to partner with local organisations and the community on programs that disrupt the drivers of gendered violence, promote healthy and respectful relationships, and change attitudes towards women. That will be the key to ending violence against women and girls.”

Support:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN on 13 92 76.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of Nauru, His Excellency David Waiau Ranibok Adeang MP, today signed the Nauru-Australia Treaty in Canberra.

The Nauru-Australia Treaty builds on the deep foundations of Australia and Nauru’s bilateral relationship, and will help secure Nauru’s long-term economic resilience and security.

Through the treaty, Australia will ensure Nauruans have ongoing access to vital banking services and to the international financial system. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia will provide banking services in Nauru, including a physical presence, following the departure of Bendigo Bank next year.

As Nauru’s largest economic, security and development partner, Australia will also provide the Nauru Government with fiscal certainty to invest in its future. Australia will provide $100 million in budget support over five years, to support Nauru’s long-term investments for the well-being of its people.

Recognising that our security is best assured by working together, under the treaty, Nauru and Australia have committed to mutually agree to any engagement in Nauru’s security, banking and telecommunications sectors, and to consult on any engagement in other critical infrastructure. Nauru has also committed that third party engagement in critical infrastructure will not be used for security purposes.

In recognition of our shared responsibility for security in the Pacific, Australia will provide $40 million over five years to support Nauru’s policing and security, including through support for recruitment, training and infrastructure.

The Nauru-Australia Treaty will enter into force as soon as possible in 2025, following domestic treaty-making processes in both countries.

The Nauru-Australia Treaty and joint leaders’ statement is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.