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New data reveals that 3,370 first home buyers have found their dream hone on the Central Coast thanks to help by the Minns Labor Government, saving an average of $22,008 off the cost of their first home.

The popular initiative provides a full stamp duty exemption of $30,412 for first home buyers purchasing a property up to $800,000 and a concession for homes priced between $800,000 and $1 million.

It replaces the previous Liberal-National Government’s forever tax on first-home buyers, which left first-home buyers paying an annual tax back to the Government.

Gosford was the top suburb to benefit across the region, with 969 first buyers helped into homes, sharing in $20.6 million worth of savings, putting the Coast’s capital as 6^th in the state for new homeowners helped.

Wyong was close behind with 814 first buyers sharing in $17.5 million in savings, followed by The Entrance with 482 first buyers saving a combined $10.5 million.

Across NSW, 82,174 first home buyers have benefited from the First Home Buyers Assistance since July 2023. Of those, 58,111 people paid no stamp duty at all, while 24,063 individuals paid a reduced amount.

The scheme also works with the Albanese Labor Government’s 5% Deposit and Shared Equity schemes, making it even easier for people and families to buy their first home.

Housing is the number one cost-of-living pressure on young people, families and downsizers.

Helping first home buyers is a critical piece of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to address these cost-of-living pressures and make sure NSW can be an accessible and affordable place to live.

That’s why the Minns Labor Government is delivering more homes to rent and buy, re-building essential services that families rely on, and providing long overdue investment in critical infrastructure across the Hunter, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

The First Home Buyers Assistance Dashboard has more statistics by suburb and Local Government Area and can be accessed at https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/statistics/fhba-dashboard

Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said:

“It is wonderful to see so many people making the most of this Minns Labor Government program, with 3,370 families, couples and singles able to have a place to call home sooner in our growing region.

“Our region is such a great place to live, work and play and this scheme is turning the home-owning dream into reality for so many Coasties saving up for a deposit by wiping an average of more than $22,000 off the money they need.”

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said:

“The Central Coast is an amazing place to live, work and raise a family, and these figures show real confidence in our community’s future.

“When we came to government, we made a clear commitment to help people access the basics, including a place to call home, and we’re getting on with delivering exactly that.

“I’m proud to see more than 645 first-home buyers calling Swansea home, giving more locals the chance to put down roots in a community that offers opportunity, connection and a great lifestyle.”

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said:

“This is a critical piece of the puzzle in the Government’s plan to help families enter the housing market.

“Saving up to $30,000 on stamp duty means more money in the pockets of families and more opportunities for them to achieve the dream of home ownership.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:

“The Minns Labor Government is helping people save tens of thousands of dollars on stamp duty which can be the difference between continuing to rent and finally owning a home.

“It’s fantastic to see so many first home buyers across the Central Coast getting real, practical cost of living relief that helps them take that first step into the housing market and build their future.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:

“Already, 969 first-home buyers across Gosford have benefited from this important scheme, saving more than $20.6 million in total and turning the dream of home ownership into a reality.

“This scheme is just one of the ways that the Minns Labor Government is committed to addressing the cost of living across our community, ensuring that Coasties can realise the dream of home ownership and build a bright future right here on the Central Coast.”

As students prepare to return to the classroom today, the NSW Government is providing comprehensive support for schools affected by the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring every student and teacher feels safe and supported as the school year begins, with resources available across public and non-government schools to ensure a unified approach to community recovery.

In the lead-up to the new school year, principals have been working closely with their staff to identify specific needs and ensure tailored support plans are in place before students arrive.

Dedicated mental health and wellbeing resources have been deployed to schools across the eastern suburbs and Bondi, including increased access to school counsellors and specialist psychologists.

To ensure the highest level of care, counselling staff have undergone intensive training in psychological first aid and trauma response.

This training was delivered by the highly respected clinical psychologist Dr Rob Gordon OAM, ensuring staff have the necessary tools to support students through the ongoing recovery process.

Additional counselling support will be available for any NSW school requiring assistance during the first weeks of the term.

Strengthened security measures are also in place at schools and early learning centres with large Jewish student populations.

Alongside these measures, the NSW Government is working with the Commonwealth’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism to implement a training program for teachers and school leaders to prevent and counter antisemitism.

Any parents and carers who have queries about support as their child returns to school are encouraged to discuss these with their school principal.

The NSW Government is working to ensure that the return to school is a safe and supportive experience for all students and teachers in the eastern suburbs and across the broader Jewish community.

This ongoing support is part of a broader commitment from the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, with approximately $60 million allocated to date for resilience and recovery initiatives for those affected by the attack.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“Many of our schools and early learning centres across Bondi and the eastern suburbs have been deeply affected by the antisemitic terrorist attack so we’re making sure that everyone affected has the support they need.

“Our message to everyone affected by this horrific attack is clear – we’re with you now and for the long haul.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Students and staff at all schools have the right to feel safe and secure as they return for the first day of term.

“Our schools have a range of support services available, as our community continues to recover and students return to their school routines.

“I encourage anyone who is finding the return to the classroom difficult to reach out for support.”

The Minns Labor Government maintains its commitment to protect workers from dust diseases with its $2.5 million state-of-the -art Lung Health Mobile Clinic which is providing lung health checks to thousands of people across New South Wales.

The lung bus has arrived in Shellharbour to provide free lung screening checks. These lung health checks can be lifesaving by ensuring early detection and treatment of dust diseases like asbestosis, silicosis and mesothelioma.

The lung bus program provides free lung screening checks to more than 5,000 workers annually in regional NSW.

In collaboration with SafeWork, icare also supports the NSW Silica Worker Register (SWR), which helps identify and monitor workers who have been exposed to respirable crystalline silica across their working lives.

By linking registry data with services such as the mobile clinic, icare is helping ensure workers most at risk are prioritised for screening, follow-up care and specialist referral where needed.

Data from SafeWork NSW shows there have been 12,214 workers registered on the SWR from 597 businesses as at 31 December 2025, most of which are in the construction and manufacturing industries. Close to 3,850 workers are listed as working in tunnelling-related roles.

Launched on 1 October 2025, the SWR is used to help monitor and track the health of at-risk workers undertaking high-risk processing of crystalline silica substances (CSS).

In Shellharbour, 23 workers are currently on the Register and are being prioritised for screening due to potential occupational silica exposure.

Lung health checks are painless and only take around 30 minutes. The process includes chest X-rays to detect abnormalities or damage, lung function testing to assess respiratory performance, consultation with a specialist doctor, who interprets results and provides tailored advice and referral for a CT scan, if required, to get a better image of the chest and lungs.

The Lung Health Mobile Clinic will be located at Stockland Shellharbour, Lake Entrance Rd. on Monday 2 February.

Eliminating the risks associated with silica is a high priority for the Minns Government and the Lung Bus is one of several measures which have been introduced to reduce the risks of working with CSS in NSW.

These include:

• Strengthening workplace safety through a Silica Worker Register (SWR) which monitors and tracks the health of at-risk workers undertaking high-risk processing of crystalline silica substances (CSS).
• Leading the ban on engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing one per cent or greater crystalline silica. This included a national ban on its importation from January 1, 2025.
• Establishing the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce to help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects. The Taskforce is made up of Government, medical, industry and union representatives and provides expert guidance to prevent and manage silica and other dust related disease associated with tunnelling projects in NSW.
• Establishing a dedicated silica unit within SafeWork NSW which includes a Silica Compliance Team to enforce strengthened regulations, including proactive visits to sites conducting high-risk CSS processing.
• Allocating $5 million in critical funding for silicosis research and a patient support program for individuals and their families navigating the health risks associated with exposure to silica dust. The grant funding, administered collaboratively by icare and the Dust Diseases Board, will be provided over three years to the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI).

Workers can also arrange a free lung screening at icare’s Sydney CBD Kent st clinic, or with local providers regionally when the lung bus is not in that part of the state.

To book a free lung health check, contact icare on 1800 550 027.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“The icare Mobile Clinic underscores the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to removing barriers like cost and location, ensuring workers across NSW have access to the critical support and care they need to safeguard their health.

“The Lung Bus is another important step towards protecting workers from dust diseases and builds on the Government’s recent actions including the Silica Worker Register, the ban on engineered stone, the establishment of the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce and a dedicated Silica unit within SafeWork NSW.

“Every worker has the right to go to work and return home safely.”

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

“The Lung Bus is a terrific initiative that plays a vital role in keeping workers safe and healthy.

“These health checks can be lifesaving by enabling the early detection and treatment of dust-related diseases.

“By bringing these essential services directly to the communities that need them most, the icare Lung Bus is helping to protect the health and futures of our workers.”

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said:

“We want to make sure that people in the Shellharbour electorate have access to the healthcare they need, when and where they need it.

“For too many, life gets in the way of regular check-ups so by bringing this service directly to the community, we’re removing one more barrier to staying healthy.

“Whether you’re working in construction, mining, manufacturing or just living in the area – we’re urging everyone to take a few minutes to get checked.”

Icare Group Executive of General Insurance and Care Sarah Johnson said:

“A lung health check could save your life.

“Early detection is critical to effective treatment, and we’re here to make sure every worker, no matter where they live, has access to world-class care.”

Thousands of public school students across NSW are today returning to 12 new and upgraded schools delivered under the Minns Labor Government’s record investment in public school infrastructure – ensuring every child has access to a world-class public education.

These new and upgraded schools include 7 new halls, 6 new libraries and more than 200 new classrooms providing more than 4,500 additional spaces for students, all while making way for the removal of more than 50 demountables.

The delivery of new classrooms is being matched with more teachers in NSW public schools, with teacher vacancies at a 12-year low for the start of 2026.

Among the new and upgraded schools welcoming students into brand new facilities today are:

• Cecil Hills High School – an upgrade delivering 50 new classrooms, including four STEM classrooms, a refurbished hall and expanded canteen.
• Concord High School – an upgrade delivering 40 new permanent classrooms across three new buildings.
• Box Hill High School – a new school fast-tracked to open in temporary facilities for Year 7 students in the fast-growing suburb ahead of the permanent school opening in 2028.
• The Forest High School – relocated and rebuilt with 73 modern classrooms, three Special Support Units and capacity for 1,500 students.
• Three new coeducational high schools – Asquith, Hornsby and Bayside high schools – supporting the election commitment for every public school student in NSW to have guaranteed access to a co-educational high school by 2027.
• Girraween Public School – a new building opening with 38 classrooms and three support classrooms, as well as an upgraded hall, as part of an ongoing major upgrade.
• Ryde Secondary College – an upgrade creating new specialised teaching spaces, extra classrooms and upgraded toilets, library and study areas.
• Wollumbin High School – an upgrade delivering redeveloped classrooms, new support classrooms, upgrades to TAS spaces and a new recording studio for music education.
• Condong Public School and Tumbulgum Public School – flood rebuild schools with new buildings completed in December.

In addition to these projects the Minns Labor Government has construction underway on more than 70 new and upgraded schools.

This stands in stark contrast to the former Liberal and National Government who failed to build schools where they were needed, while promising new schools and upgrades to communities that were never delivered.

This follows the Minns Labor Government’s plan to deliver more teachers and better schools through a record $9 billion investment in the 2025-26 Budget, giving our kids a world class education, right where they live.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“We’ve made sure that students and teachers across our state are starting the year in new classrooms, with more teachers and better facilities.

“As the son of a public school teacher, I know just how important giving every kid access to the best education possible is, no matter where they live – and thanks to more teachers and better schools, that is what we’re delivering.

“To every student starting at a new school and to the parents and families supporting them, I wish you a fantastic year ahead, I hope these new classrooms and facilities help make it an even more exciting time to start school.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“I’m thrilled to be joining students and teachers as they celebrate the start of the 2026 year today, with thousands heading into brand new, upgraded and refurbished classrooms across NSW.

“This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to ensuring every child in NSW has access to a world class public education, backed by our record $9 billion investment in a huge pipeline of new and upgraded schools.

“Labor’s commitment to public education goes beyond bricks and mortar to ensuring every classroom has a qualified teacher, and I am proud that public schools are starting this year with vacancies at a 12-year low, a product of our work to raise wages and improve conditions for this vital profession.”

The Minns Labor Government is reforming licensing loopholes and strengthening foreign licence conversion arrangements to help keep NSW roads safe.

As part of its commitment to pull every lever to improve road safety, the Minns Government is tightening licence conversion rules to ensure drivers and riders on NSW roads meet our high safety standards.

From today, Sunday, 1 February 2026, a further group of overseas drivers and riders aged 25 years and over from a broader selection of countries will now be required to pass a knowledge test and a driving test before converting their overseas licence to a NSW licence.

The changes close long-standing inconsistencies that allowed drivers from ‘List B’ countries and jurisdictions to obtain a NSW licence without this testing.

Drivers under 25 from ‘List B’ countries are already required to pass knowledge and driving tests, and that requirement will remain unchanged.

The reform builds on earlier Minns Government action requiring long-term residents to convert overseas licences within six months of moving to NSW and brings NSW in line with other states and territories, ensuring consistent national standards.

To support the changes, Service NSW is boosting testing capacity, temporarily increasing availability with up to 320 extra driving test slots every Saturday, which has become effective from 31 January, with additional capacity delivered through February across metropolitan service centres.

Online bookings are updated weekly, and customers are encouraged to plan ahead and regularly check availability online.

The list of impacted countries and testing requirements can be found here.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“Road safety is not negotiable, and we are pulling every lever to keep people safe on NSW roads.

“This reform lifts standards and ensures everyone driving in NSW understands our road rules and can drive safely in local conditions.

“Fairness on our roads means the same safety bar applies to everyone – and that is exactly what this reform delivers.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib said:

“We know getting a licence to drive on our roads safely is an important step for all road users.

“To help drivers get their licence we have increased the number of driver testers and introduced Super Saturdays to add about 300 extra testing slots every weekend through February.

“We would encourage overseas drivers to plan ahead, information is available online to help customers understand what they need to do and what tests may be required and as always, Service NSW staff will continue to support customers and help them access the services they need.”

In a rare last look underground, the tunnel boring machines that will excavate Sydney’s next harbour crossing are being seen for the final time before tunnelling begins.

Deep beneath Birchgrove Oval, the mega machines are in the final stages of assembly inside the cathedral-like launch chambers, ahead of disappearing beneath Sydney Harbour to tunnel the final section of the Western Harbour Tunnel.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering Sydney’s first road harbour crossing in three decades – on time and on budget – and keeping it in public hands.

Once tunnelling starts later this year, the machines will operate continuously beneath the harbour – making today the final opportunity to see them before excavation begins.

The two TBMs, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, are in the final stages of being meticulously reassembled using 500-tonne cranes – an engineering feat never before undertaken at this scale in Australia.

Named Patyegarang and Barangaroo, the TBMs are tasked with excavating 1.5 kilometres of twin motorway tunnels between Birchgrove and Waverton, up to 50 metres below sea level.

Assembly of Patyegarang is now 45 per cent complete, with its 15.7-metre-diameter cutterhead – weighing 462 tonnes – lifted into position last week. Around 70 per cent of the machine’s components have now been transported into the launch chamber.

Patyegarang is expected to begin tunnelling under the harbour mid-year.

Assembly of Barangaroo is now 20 per cent complete, with tunnelling expected to commence later in 2026.

Once excavation begins, the TBMs will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with up to 40 workers on each machine at any one time. The tunnels will be lined with around 13,000 precast concrete segments manufactured at a specialist facility in Western Sydney – showcasing the Minns Government’s commitment to domestic manufacturing and procurement.

Overall excavation across the Western Harbour Tunnel project is now 76 per cent complete.

The 6.5-kilometre Western Harbour Tunnel is scheduled to open to traffic in 2028, and under the Minns Labor Government, will remain in public ownership.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“This is a major milestone for one of the most complex infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Australia.

“These machines are almost ready to disappear underground and do some of the hardest work on this mammoth project, carving a new harbour crossing that will serve Sydney for generations.

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be delivering the Western Harbour Tunnel and keeping it in public hands.

“This is a once-in-a-generation piece of infrastructure, and it should remain an asset for the people of New South Wales – not a privatised road sold off to the highest bidder.

“With excavation now more than three-quarters complete, this project is moving forward.

“We made deliberate changes to the construction methodology to ensure this tunnel is built safely, properly and to deliver new public parkland at Berrys Bay.

“The Western Harbour Tunnel is on time and on budget, with overall excavation now at 76% complete.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals will introduce two Bills to the NSW Parliament aimed at protecting children from violent extremist grooming and taking a clear, unequivocal stand against antisemitism in NSW.
 
The Countering Violent Extremism Bill 2026 responds to growing concern about radicalisation, both online and in the community, and the targeting of children and vulnerable people by extremist actors, conduct that currently falls outside existing terrorism laws.
 
This Bill would create new criminal offences of grooming, recruiting, coercing, threatening or deceiving a person to participate in violent extremism, with higher penalties if the offence is targeted at a child.
 
It would also add the offences involving children to the existing mandatory reporting scheme, so that children at risk of being groomed for participation in violent extremism are identified and protected in the same way as children being groomed for sexual abuse.
 
The Prevention of Antisemitism Bill 2026 provides long-overdue legal clarity by explicitly defining and addressing antisemitism, ensuring it is recognised, understood and acted upon consistently across government and public institutions, including universities and local government authorities.
 
The Bill would specifically prohibit government grants to or the procurement of goods and services from people or organisations engaging in antisemitic activities.
 
The definition of antisemitism would also guide the interpretation of the hate speech offences in sections 93Z and 93ZAA of the Crimes Act 1900.
 
Leader of the Opposition, Kellie Sloane, said the new laws represent the NSW Liberals and Nationals detailed and considered response to combatting violent extremism and antisemitism, particularly in the wake of the Bondi Terror Attack.
 
“Our proposed laws ensure that extremist actors who seek to target children and vulnerable people online or in the community can be held accountable for their attempts to radicalise people to further their twisted agenda,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Every parent, teacher, and reasonable member of our community wants to see our young people protected.”
 
“Creating a new offence provides law enforcement agencies with more tools to combat and prevent violent extremism.”
 
“There should be no ambiguity when it comes to confronting antisemitism.”
 
“Enshrining a definition of antisemitism in NSW law, as recommended by the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, makes it clear that antisemitism has no place in our public institutions, our universities or our community, and that government funding should never support it.”
 
“In March 2022, all Labor members voted for a motion supporting the IHRA definition moved by the then Liberal Nationals Government in the Legislative Council, so we are calling on Chris Minns and Labor to maintain their position and support our new laws.”
 
“The people of NSW expect the Parliament to take every step possible to stamp out antisemitism and all forms of extremism across our State.”
 
Shadow Attorney General, Damien Tudehope, said these proposed laws create clear offences for conduct that is already occurring but is not adequately captured by current law.
 
“Grooming, recruiting or coercing someone into violent extremism is profoundly serious conduct, particularly when the target is a child,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
“These offences send a clear message: if you are radicalising people towards violence, you will face serious criminal consequences.”
 
“By adopting the IHRA definition and its explanatory examples, this Bill gives clarity to courts, public institutions and the community about what antisemitism looks like in practice today.”
 
“This is about ensuring antisemitism is recognised, addressed and not excused by ambiguity or double standards.”
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals will introduce both Bills in the Legislative Council this week and seek to debate them over the coming Parliamentary sittings.