Two major digital initiatives introduced by the NSW Government are set to help bring more homes online sooner through increased transparency and better infrastructure planning.The NSW Land Subdivision Pipeline dataset gives NSW Government agencies, as well as local councils, developers and prospective home buyers comprehensive access to the latest approved subdivision activity.This information helps coordinate and streamline infrastructure planning decisions such as the location of new schools or roads, as well as early planning for the construction of essential services like electricity, gas and telecommunications.Local councils will also be able to more easily assess development applications in the context of future and nearby development activity, while purchasers of new properties will be able to track the progress of their subdivision and check the status of regulatory approvals.  In addition to its immediate applications, the project will expand to include 3D strata subdivision mapping and be extended to cover all housing activity through the consent, construction, and occupation stages, ensuring continued improvements in housing development oversight.The registration of land ready for development has also been made more efficient with survey plan lodgements now 100 per cent online.Survey plans for subdivisions, strata and community scheme plans are essential for creating new parcels of land, defining land boundaries and facilitating property transactions.Around 13,000 deposited plans and 1,600 strata plans were lodged with the NSW Land Registry Services in 2023/24, and while the majority of plans were lodged electronically, some submissions were still being done on paper. This included compiling hardcopy documents and submitting them in person, which was labour intensive and could contribute to delays.This milestone is a crucial step in the government’s Digital Survey Plans reform, which focuses on replacing manual and paper-based methods with digitised processes.The NSW Land Subdivision Pipeline can be viewed on the NSW Government’s Spatial Digital Twin Explorer.A data feed is also available via the NSW Spatial Collaboration Portal.Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said, “By showing, in real time, where homes are being built and what’s coming next this new platform will help streamline infrastructure planning for roads, schools, and utilities.“The NSW Land Subdivision Pipeline harnesses modern digital capabilities to improve efficiency and decision-making across government and industry.“By leveraging spatial and planning data, we are reducing duplication, saving costs, and creating a more coordinated approach to land and property development, ultimately helping us deliver more homes faster.“This builds on continued improvements to plannings digital interfaces and the introduction of artificial intelligence tools and ongoing improvements to the planning portal.”Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib, said, “Public access to the NSW Land Subdivision Pipeline dataset enables everyone from homebuyers, councils, and government to plan more effectively and assists in delivering new homes faster, in a more coordinated way.“For the first time, everyone can see the same live map of housing development. You can go online, click on your area, and see what’s being planned for your community.“It’s a single source of truth. Instead of departments and developers working off different spreadsheets, now everyone’s looking at the same map – avoiding delays and duplication.”

Concerned about the number of 'illegal' tobacco and vape shops in the Lismore CBD block, Lismore City Councillor Jasmine Knight-Smith put forward a motion that would see Council write to to the Federal Minister for Health, the Hon Mark Butler MP and the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP, to express its concern about the involvement of organised crime and what compliance measures the federal government is undertaking to control the increasing number of shops selling illegal tobacco and vapes."At last count, I identified eight in the (CBD) block as the closest level of government to the community. It is incumbent on us to tell the Feds when our community has a concern, which is governed by their legislation and their enforcement."What is happening in our city right now is a concern. This is not just a local issue; it's a national crisis. These illegal operations undermine public health, community safety and the rule of law, and most alarmingly, I believe, and the media has reported accordingly, they are linked to organised crime."Australia's illegal tobacco trade has grown to an estimated $10 billion a year black market, with organised crime groups profiting from excise-evading cigarettes and vapes and now make up half of all nicotine products sold in the country."In one of its news stories about illegal tobacco, the ABC said that internal tobacco industry data estimates the illicit tobacco market now makes up 64 per cent of all tobacco consumed in Australia and 82 per cent of the total nicotine consumed.If 64 per cent of the 10.5 per cent of smokers in Australia (2024 data) are buying illegal cigarettes and vapes, the two questions being asked are whether the federal government excise is too high, thus creating the black market that currently exists? Or, is the high tobacco excise justified as the smoking rate in this country has reduced from 25 per cent in the early 1990s to 10.5 per cent in 2024?Lismore City Councillors didn't address the fact that 64 per cent of smokers are purchasing illegal cigarettes at $9 to $10 a packet; instead, they focused their attention on organised crime and the criminal activity it creates."Since March of 2023, there have been 125 fire bombings of illegal tobacco and vape shops in stores in Victoria and dozens more across other states, including here in New South Wales and close to our home and our community in Ballina, in Casino and in Tweed Heads," Cr Knight-Smith said."These attacks are not random, it's been reported. They're part of a violent turf war between rival criminal organisations. Just recently, a man linked to the industry was shot dead in broad daylight in a laneway behind his own home. Agree or disagree with smoking, but legitimate businesses are suffering. Petrol stations and actual convenience stores have been robbed, intimidated and lost significant trade. Retailers are considering exiting the industry. I know of at least one legitimate retailer previously located in Magellan Street that has exited the industry.""What we're seeing in Lismore right now is deeply concerning. This motion is about protecting our community, advocating for our community, supporting lawful businesses and ensuring that Lismore is not a safe haven for illegal trade. I want the federal government to take coordinated action and to work with state and local authorities to ensure enforcement is effective and communities like ours are supported. We need to tell them what is happening right now in Lismore on the ground."Questions were asked of the General Manager, Eber Butron, about enforcing smoke-free areas in the CBD and if DAs could be refused; however, the response was that there is no real action that Lismore City Council can take to stop new retail shops opening and selling illegal tobacco if they go through the correct licensing process and it is approved.Cr Dalton-Earls said, "It doesn't sound like we have a strategic plan in terms of what businesses we're approving and in what areas, in particular in the CBD."That point was refuted by the GM. "We do have a strategic plan. We've got a Local Environmental Plan, we've got a Development Control Plan, and all our assessments of the relevant developments are assessed in accordance with that. There's also state legislation in terms of exempt and compliant development. So, all the shops are operating in relation to what you'd refer to as a legislative framework, but also the strategic planning and all the requirements under the Planning Act."Mayor Krieg jumped in and said You can't regulate the number of convenience/tobacco stores just as much as you can't regulate the number of cafes in a strip. "That's not our place. That's up to the landlord," he said.When he spoke in favour of the motion, Cr Dalton-Earls spoke again about the number of tobacco shops in the CBD."I'm not necessarily opposed outright to tobacconists at all, but I do have deep concerns when they are very close together, and it can create a number of social issues, which we are seeing. I think this is an important motion to say that in Lismore, we have identified this as an issue, and we would like further support and guidance in how we manage this problem moving forward, essentially."Councillor Rob's view was that this is not a Lismore City Council issue but a state government issue, just like crime. Cr Battista said that the councillors also represent the ratepayers who are business owners in the CBD."They're actually doing the right thing. They actually license and they sell legal tobacco, and they pay rates where these people may or may not pay rates, but definitely make a lot of money out of it, illegal practices in our CBD. And I don't think that's fair.At this point, Cr Jensen suggested they add Member for Lismore's name to the recipient of council's letter as it was a state issue, which was accepted by Cr Knight-Smith.Cr Hall entered the discussion by asking, "Do we know that all eight convenience stores are selling illegal products? Are they selling anything else that's actually a legal trade in town? For me, I hate seeing empty shops. I don't want anyone doing anything illegal, obviously, or untoward, or encouraging criminal activity or anti-social activity, but if they are, if some of them are just convenience stores, it's good to have the shops filled in town."Cr Knight-Smith said that she went into every single vape shop in the CBD, "And every single one sold disposable vapes. Disposable vapes are the one that is particularly illegal."When it came to the vote, Crs Knight Smith, Guise, Dalton-Earls, Jensen, Waters, Battista, Hall and Krieg voted for, and Crs Rob and Bing voted against. So, a letter will be written to the Federal Minister for Health, the Hon Mark Butler MP, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP, and Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin.In September, the Federal Government increased the excise by a further 5 per cent on top of regular indexing, so a 6.8 per cent increase. That brings the excise to just under $1.50 per stick. Now, for a packet of 20 legal cigarettes, the government excise is $30, bringing the cost to well over $40 to the consumer.It is difficult to argue that the Federal Government (both political parties) has created a black market that is out of control, and a market that is now supported by 64 per cent of tobacco smokers who are buying illegal cigarettes at $9-$10 a packet at a time when there is a cost-of-living crisis. Since 2020, government revenue has fallen from $16 billion to $7.4 billion in 2025. Further falls are being forecast. A $345 million investment from the Federal Government has been the response to curb the illegal trade.The war on illegal tobacco and vapes has only just begun.

Close to 75,000 students will put pen to paper over the HSC written exam period, which started yesterday morning with the English Paper 1.HSC written exams mark the conclusion of 13 years of schooling for students, providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned during their education.For two Lismore High School students, the start of the HSC is less stressful than they thought it would be.Amy Salmon and Retrouvailles Banza told the Lismore App they felt good after the English exam."I walked in feeling really prepared. I know the text. I know my opinions of the text, and that's all you can really have," Amy said."I'm pretty similar to Amy, to be honest," Retro, as she likes to be called, added. "I feel like the trials were a really good starting point. I felt very prepared, like I knew my quotes, I knew what I wanted to talk about, and I knew that I was able to adapt my quotes to fit to any question.""I think the trials were a lot more stressful. I don't know if you feel the same way, but for me, I feel a lot more relaxed. Like yesterday, you would have thought I didn't care like I do, but the way I was behaving, you would have thought she doesn't care at all.""I haven't felt very stressed out. I think I just have to believe that I know what I'm doing and that I can execute it in the exam room and the trials, again, they pretty much just gave me a lot of confidence in myself. They gave me confidence that I do know what I'm doing, and I'm just excited for what comes after the exams. I'm so excited for my life after the exams that I'm just not scared," Amy said.When the written exams finish on Friday, 7 November, with Food Technology being the final examination, HSC students will have sat over 400,000 exam sessions in 123 different subjects from Mathematics to Construction.Students have already completed language oral exams, practical performances, and major projects during Term 3.Thousands of dedicated teachers, principals, and support staff are working behind the scenes during the HSC, ensuring written exams run smoothly and delivering a fair outcome for every student. Students will receive their HSC results and ATAR on Thursday, 18 December."At this stage, I feel like it's so far away I'm not even thinking about it," Retro explained. "I imagine, the night before, I'll be wired and so stressed at the time, but, you know, what can you do."It'll just be me first (opening the ATAR result). I'll tell my family, but I think I'll have to process that first, just in case it's not what I'm hoping."For Amy, it will be a similar scenario."I'll definitely be looking at it by myself, just in case, but at the end of the day, like this is only the beginning of my life, and it's my ATAR. While I do want it to be high, it's not going to dictate whether or not I'm happy or sad. Like it's just a part of life, and I've got so many things to look forward to. The ATAR is the least of my worries. And really, once you've done the exam, that's all you can do. I'm the type of person who just doesn't stress about things that aren't in my control, like it's going to be what it's going to be."With such a mature approach to life at such a young age, the future looks bright for both young women. What lies ahead in 2026?Both Amy and Retro have early acceptances to different universities."It's not fully sorted out," Amy said. "I've gotten a few acceptances into universities. I'm still deciding on which one I want to go to, but I have my plan figured out. I kind of know what steps I'm going to take after this. It relaxes me to know that I've got something to aim for, and it relaxes me to know that I do have options out there, and that there are multiple ways to do it, and I'm not locked into anything. Vaving early offers that are unconditional makes it a lot easier, knowing that it doesn't all depend on these exams."I'm doing a Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education. So I've gotten an unconditional offer into UNSW, and then I've gotten an offer to UNE (University of New England), and then I've applied to Griffith and SCU, so plenty of options out there.""It's not dependent on the school; it's dependent on the location. And I would rather move to the Gold Coast. If I get a really good offer there, I'll go there."Retro said she is in a similar boat to Amy."I'm going to study a Bachelor of Laws. I'm not too sure if I'm going to do it with honours yet, or if I'm going to do it as a double degree with international relations."Similar to Amy, I want to move to the Gold Coast, but everything's so expensive. I won't be moving next year. I've been accepted into Bond, and I've been contacted by Griffith about their early offer program for the International Relations degree. So at this stage, I'm looking towards Bond, but I've also got applications through UAC and QTAC to come out early next year."The difference between the two students is that Retro is having a gap year, whereas Amy will roll straight into university."I want to work as a teacher's aide at a primary school just around town. That way, I'll have something to fill my time in, and I play a lot of Netball, so I've still got time on the weekends and after school for my training as well."I've worked quite consistently in Year 12, so lots of time where I've chosen not to go out places and chosen to study. It's been so much consistent work to be followed by, well, obviously I'm not in university yet, but I presume law is quite a pressing degree, and I feel as though I need that break to kind of refresh, learn who I am as an adult outside of school, being told what to do and be able to get a bit of real life experience in the workforce.Good luck to Amy, Retro and every Year 12 student sitting their HSC over the next sixteen days.With an additional 9,000 students undertaking at least one exam as part of an accelerated pathway, or completing the HSC over multiple years, it means around 84,000 students will complete an HSC course in 2025.The 2025 HSC written exam timetable can be found on the NESA website, along with the 2025 HSC enrolment snapshot.

The NSW Government will today introduce landmark legislation to enshrine a Standard Non-Parole Period of 25 years for the murder of a current or former intimate partner, as part of its ongoing work to build a safer New South Wales.This will be the first time in Australia that a specific non-parole period for intimate partner homicide has been legislated. Reflecting the gravity of the crime, the 25-year standard non-parole period will be among the highest of any offence in New South Wales.Currently, murder carries a standard non-parole period of 20 years. This reform represents a 25% increase, aligning intimate partner murder with other offences that attract the state’s most severe sentencing standards, such as the murder of a child or public officials acting in the course of their duties.The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences) Bill 2025 will amend the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, following the extraordinary advocacy of Tabitha Acret, mother of Mackenzie Anderson, who was tragically murdered by her former partner in 2022.The murder of a current or former intimate partner is a heinous crime that causes profound harm to victims, families and communities. This legislation ensures our laws reflect both the severity of these offences and the devastating impact they inflict.In the five years to June 2025, 59 people in NSW were murdered by a current or former intimate partner – 42 of them women.This reform builds on the state government’s ongoing commitment to ensure the justice system protects victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and holds perpetrators to account.This work has included:Introducing the toughest bail laws in the country for perpetrators of domestic and family violence.Requiring electronic monitoring of people charged with serious domestic violence offences who are on bail.Increasing penalties for certain breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs).Establishing Serious Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to better protect victim-survivors.In addition, the Government has commenced implementation of NSW’s first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy and delivered record investment in crisis support.The NSW Government knows there is more work to be done. It remains steadfast in its commitment to working alongside advocates, experts, and victim-survivors to prevent domestic and family violence, ensure accountability, and stop its devastating impact across New South Wales.Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, said, "I want to thank Tabitha Acret for her incredible courage and advocacy following the tragic loss of her daughter.“No parent should ever have to endure what Tabitha has, yet she has used her voice to drive real change that will help protect others.“This legislation is about recognising the true severity of intimate partner homicide and ensuring our justice system reflects that and holds perpetrators to account.“We know laws alone won’t end domestic and family violence, but they do send a powerful signal about what we stand for as a community.”Michael Daley, Attorney General, said, “When a person takes the life of their partner or former partner, it tears families and communities apart.“A 25-year standard non-parole period reflects the community’s deep sense of outrage and the lasting harm these crimes cause.“It is also about consistency and transparency, ensuring courts have a clear benchmark that reflects the severity of intimate partner homicide.”Jodie Harrison, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, said, “Tabitha Acret’s bravery in speaking out after the loss of her daughter Mackenzie has driven this important reform.“Her advocacy has made New South Wales a safer place for women, and I want to thank her for her bravery and compassion in the face of unimaginable loss.“While today’s legislation is an important step, we know there is more to do. We will continue working with advocates, experts and victim-survivors to stop violence before it starts and support those impacted to rebuild their lives.”Tabitha Acret, reform advocate and mother of Mackenzie Anderson, said, “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Premier Chris Minns and the NSW Labor Government, not just for today’s outcomes, but for the series of legislative changes they are putting into place to address domestic and family violence. While no law can bring back the lives we’ve tragically lost, I truly hope these reforms will serve as a powerful deterrent.“When Mackenzie’s murderer’s sentence was announced, it was another heartbreak that her case could also be used to help free violent offenders earlier. I am so thankful that part of her legacy will now be that future families will not experience the pain we did through the justice system.“But laws alone are not enough. The government cannot do this work in isolation - it takes a united community to call out discrimination, to stand against violence, and to build a future grounded in respect and equality. I feel deeply thankful that today’s progress reflects the strength and determination of our community working together.“This is not the end for me. I remain committed to pushing forward in the prevention space, creating opportunities for gender equality in every aspect of life. Together, we can make lasting change.”Support available:In an emergency, where there is an immediate risk of harm, contact emergency services on Triple Zero (000)NSW Domestic Violence Help Line: 1800 65 64 631800RESPECT: 1800 7377 32Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14Kids Helpline: 1800 55 18 00Further information on if you suspect and want to help someone in a domestic violence situation is available here.Information on how to spot the signs of coercive control is available here. 

The NSW Government has announced a $1.2 billion solar farm in the Northern Rivers as it continues its push to Net Zero by 2050.The new Richmond Valley Solar Farm will be built near Rapville, about 50 minutes southwest of Lismore or 23 minutes south of Casino.The state government says, once operable, it will be able to generate enough clean electricity to power around 175,000 homes each year.The Ark Energy-led project will create up to 342 jobs – including 327 during construction and up to 15 ongoing operational roles – and significantly reduce carbon emissions across the state.The project will also support the community with a proposed $11 million Voluntary Planning Agreement with Richmond Valley Council, which could help fund community projects such as halls, sporting facilities, libraries, parks and playgrounds.The Richmond Valley Solar Farm is the 14th solar farm and 21st renewable energy generation project approved under the Minns Labor Government, in addition to 15 standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) and 2 major transmission lines approved during this period.With a capacity of 435 megawatts (MW), the Richmond Valley Solar Farm includes a 475 MW / 3,148 MW-hour (MWh) BESS that stores solar energy for dispatch to the electricity grid outside of daylight hours and during peak demand.The government says the project went through a comprehensive assessment considering key matters such as energy transition, amenity, agricultural land, biodiversity and traffic. In consultation with Richmond Valley Council and relevant government agencies, clear conditions have been set so all potential impacts are appropriately minimised and managed.Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “Projects like the Richmond Valley Solar Farm are crucial to lowering energy costs, reducing emissions, and securing long-term energy reliability.“It’s not just about energy – it's about investing in communities. With an $11 million contribution proposed for local infrastructure, Richmond Valley Council will be able to deliver new facilities that make a real difference to people's lives.“Once up and running the project will be able to power around 175,000 homes each year, which to put it into perspective, means it could power every home in the Northern Rivers region- that was recorded in the 2021 census- and 31,000 more. “It also includes battery storage, which means even when the sun doesn’t shine, stored energy can still be sent to the grid.”Minister for North Coast and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said, “We have always, as a community, led the way in the take-up of solar, and it makes sense that we are now leading the way in the creation of renewable solar farms.“The flow-on effects of the new jobs, community infrastructure and sustainable power generation will be felt for generations to come.”

Australia compares well internationally with other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), ranking more favourably on many welfare measures, including tertiary education, employment and life expectancy.This is among a range of key findings contained in the 17th edition of Australia’s welfare, released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)."This report shines a light on how Australians are faring today, providing a comprehensive overview on the welfare and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities across areas like life satisfaction, income, housing, aged care and more," said AIHW spokesperson Louise Gates.The report highlights groups within our population who experience less favourable welfare outcomes. A considerable number of Australians rely on support and assistance provided as part of our health and welfare systems, as well as informally from family, friends and the broader community.Overview of Australia’s population"Australia’s population has grown steadily over the past 30 years. Our population is also ageing due to longer life expectancies and lower birth rates," said Ms Gates.Between mid-1994 and mid-2024, the population of Australia has grown from 17.8 million to 27.2 million and is projected to reach 31.3 million by 2034–35. The proportion aged 65 and over has risen from 12% to 17% over the same period and is projected to reach almost a quarter (24%) by 2064–65. Life satisfaction and connections"Generally, Australians continue to have positive community connections and enjoy a socially cohesive society with 4 in 5 people feeling a sense of belonging in their neighbourhood and 3 in 10 giving back through volunteering in 2024," said Ms Gates.In April 2025, Australians rated their life satisfaction at 6.5 out of 10 on average, while 2 in 5 (40%) Australians experienced loneliness at least some of the time in the previous week.  Rates of life satisfaction have decreased slightly from 6.8 in January 2023 and 7 in January 2021, while the proportion experiencing loneliness has remained reasonably constant.The proportion of people feeling socially isolated was 15% in 2023, similar to 2021 when it peaked at 16%. In 2023, people aged 35–44 were most likely to experience social isolation. However, during 2020 and 2022, young people aged 15–24 were the most likely cohort (ranging between 19% and 22%).Education"Education plays a vital role in helping people navigate the transition to adulthood and the workforce. Higher educational attainment is linked to greater employment prospects, higher incomes, improved health and better life satisfaction," said Ms Gates.Australia continues to fare well in terms of tertiary education attained by adults aged 25–64, ranking sixth highest out of 38 OECD countries.The proportion of Australians aged 15–74 with a non-school qualification such as a university degree, certificate or diploma as of May 2024 has increased to 63%, the same as 2023 but an increase from 59% in 2015.In 2024, 16% (3.2 million) of people aged 15–74 were currently studying. School attendance rates for years 1–10 have declined; however, Year 12 or equivalent attainment has increased from 72% to 79% between 2015 and 2024.The number of apprentices and trainees has fluctuated in recent years. There were 334,000 apprentices and trainees in training at 30 September 2024, a decrease from 362,000 since the same time in 2023.Employment, remote work and incomeThe employment rate for Australians aged 15–64 has been steadily increasing over time from 64.4% in February 1978, to record highs of 77.4% in December 2024 and 77.2% in June 2025. This has been driven by the increase in female employment; from 46% in February 1978 to 74.4% in June 2025."After the largest monthly fall on record in employment in April 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s labour force has rebounded, with employment not only returning to pre-pandemic levels but reaching and sustaining record highs," Ms Gates said."The pandemic was also a major catalyst for shifting attitudes towards people working remotely."More than one-third (36%) of employees worked some of their hours from home in 2023; lower than the peak in 2021 (39%), but higher than before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (25%, on average, between 2001 and 2019).More Australians aged 65 and over are remaining in the workforce for longer. In June 2025, 16% of older people aged 65 and over were employed, up from 6.8% in June 1978.Real household income has grown in 2024, following 2 years of decline between 2021 and 2023, with the recent moderation in inflation since 2023 enabling household incomes to grow faster than prices. However, despite rising incomes, Australians are reporting the highest levels of financial stress (21% in 2023) in over a decade.Housing and homelessness"Home ownership rates are falling with fewer young people owning their own home," said Ms Gates."Between 2014 and 2024, the median transfer price for established houses in capital cities, where most Australians live, increased substantially."Home ownership rates declined from 50% to 36% among people aged 25–29 and from 64% to 50% for those aged 30–34, between 1971 and 2021.Around 1.3 million low-income households were experiencing housing stress in 2024–25, spending more than 30% of their disposable income on housing. The number of social housing dwellings increased by 45,200 between June 2006 and June 2024. However, social housing dwellings made up only 4.1% of all households in 2024, a decrease from 4.8% in 2011.Specialist homelessness services supported around 280,000 people in 2023–24 who were either homeless or at risk of homelessness. A high proportion (45%) of children and young people aged 15–24 who present alone to agencies for support were still experiencing homelessness when their support ended in 2023–24 (45%).DisabilityAround 5.5 million people (21%) of the Australian population had some form of disability in 2022, an increase from 4.4 million (18%) in 2018."Several factors may have contributed to this rise, including an increase in prevalence of long-term conditions, an ageing population, a growing awareness of disability and changes in data collection methods," Ms Gates said.The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) had around 693,000 active participants with approved plans at 31 December 2024, an increase from 467,000 at 30 June 2021.The number of NDIS participants with a primary disability of autism has grown by 14% in 2024, and 15% over the previous year, compared with 7.2% and 13% annual growth rates in the same 2 years for the total number of NDIS participants.Aged care"Australia’s ageing population has been driving an increased demand for aged care services and higher government expenditure in this sector," Ms Gates said."Assessments and admissions into home or residential aged care are increasing, as are the number of aged care places and people employed in the aged care workforce."Between 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2024, the number of people using home care increased from 142,000 to 275,000, and the number using permanent residential aged care increased from 184,000 to 190,000. The number of comprehensive assessments completed for eligibility for entry into these services also increased from 188,000 to 218,000.Waiting times for some aged care services improved over this period, but not all. The median elapsed time between referral for a comprehensive assessment and approval increased from 12 days in 2019–20 to 22 days in 2023–24. The median elapsed time between approval and home care package commitment decreased from 299 days in 2019–20 to 118 days in 2023–24. Justice and safetyThe National Community Attitudes Survey shows that understanding of violence against women has reached its highest level to date, achieving a mean score of 69 out of 100, an increase from 62 in 2009."Attitudes of and awareness towards violence against women are improving over time; however, there is still considerable room for improvement," said Ms Gates.One in 5 (20%) adults had experienced physical and/or sexual family and domestic violence since the age of 15, equating to 2.7 million women and 1.1 million men in 2021–22. Fewer young people aged 10–17 are under youth justice supervision than in previous years. In 2023–24, around 4,200 young people (or a rate of 12 per 10,000 people aged 10–17) were under youth justice supervision on an average day; a decrease from almost 5,200 (or a rate of 16 per 10,000 people aged 10–17) in 2019–20. A population and welfare overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) peopleThere were an estimated 984,000 First Nations people living across Australia at 30 June 2021, an increase of 22% from 806,000 people at 30 June 2011.In 2021, 81% of First Nations people were living in appropriately sized housing (not overcrowded), an increase from 69% in 2001.The proportion of First Nations people aged 25–34 who had completed a tertiary qualification as their highest educational attainment has more than doubled from 19% in 2001 to 47% in 2021. More First Nations people aged 15–64 are also employed, an increase from 46% in 2012–13 to 57% in 2022–23.

It is not every year that planning goes smoothly for one of Lismore's signature events, but when it does come along, you take it.The 2025 Elders Lismore Show looks to be in that envious position when the Lismore App spoke to Vice President of North Coast National, Lyndal Gordon, and Secretary Mark Sollom, who were happy for 8am to tick over, so the gates can swing open and the show can begin."I feel it's all going quite well; everything's been going smoothly at this point in time. We've just got wonderful volunteers on board as well, that really is assisting us with making this truly an amazing event again for 2025," Lyndall said, referring to the 30 or so volunteers who give up their time and roll up their sleeves to make sure people from Lismore and all over the Northern Rivers have a fantastic time."We've got some schools involved as well that will actually be here for the duration of the show, doing different events like the ring events, cattle events, which is part of their school curriculum."Mark Sollom added, "We will have all of our exhibits up and running and ready for you to come and have a look at.""We have some marvellous rides that have come in. We've got two straight here from Melbourne, and a new one this year, the 30-meter Tower Drop, which will be quite exciting. And I'm sure a lot of screams will be heard from Northern Lismore."For the families, Sideshow Alley is the biggest it has been in a decade, with rides stretching down to the Ashtons Circus tent and horse stables. There are rides for the young kids and plenty for the older, with a host of games to play to win the hugely popular soft toys.You can walk through the pavilions at the top of Showground to see the TURSA Art Prize, the handmade products, the homegrown vegetables and the homemade cakes.Ashton's Circus is included in the price of entry. You can see shows at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5:30pm. There is LEGO building in the William Smith Pavilion plus showbags to buy near the popular wood chop.On the agricultural side, there will be beef cattle, led steers, school steers, equestrian, poultry and alpacas.For entertainment, there's the Northern Rivers Ford Spectacular FMX Motor X, Jetpack & Monster Trucks at 12:30pm and 6:15pm (Thursday and Friday) in the Main Arena.Saturday night at 6pm will see the return of the rodeo for the first time since 2019."We've had so many requests for the rodeo. People have missed it, and we've got some talented people here who run rodeos, and they came to us and asked us, would we like to have the rodeo again? And we went, we certainly do. People have been looking for it," Mark said."It's nice to change things up a little bit as well," added Lyndal."This is the cheapest family entertainment you can get in the whole of the Northern Rivers, all year. The family pass of $45 will get two parents and three kids in here for the whole day."You can check out all your show details on the Lismore App 2025 Lismore Show, and you can purchase tickets by clicking here.See you at the Show!

Two men have been charged following this morning's Masonic Temple fire in Lismore.Just after 4.00am today (Wednesday, 15 October 2025), emergency services were called to Magellan Street, Lismore, following reports of a building fire.The fire caused extensive damage to the building before it was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW.Officers attached to Richmond Police District attended, established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the fire, which police believe was deliberately lit.About 11.00am, police spoke with two men in a carpark in Keen Street as they walked towards a parked silver Mitsubishi Triton utility.Police arrested the men aged 36 and 32.They were taken to Lismore Police Station, where they were each charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence.Both men were refused bail to appear in Bail Division – Court 1 tomorrow (Thursday, 16 October 2025).

Approximately two hundred protestors walked down Magellan Street this morning, chanting "What do we want? Fair Funding. When do we want it? Now" and "We teach, We care. We deserve to be paid fair."The protest ended at The Quad just after 9am to voice their frustration over the lack of NSW Government funding, which is seeing staff in Community Preschools being paid up to 35% less than their counterparts in Long Day Preschools with the same qualifications.(The first Northern Rivers Preschool Alliance protestors arrive at The Quad this morning)The protest was aligned with a larger protest in Sydney outside of Parliament House. President of the Northern Rivers Preschool Alliance, Bridget Isichei, said the pay gap had increased so much that hiring staff was now a serious issue."We're already seeing the collapse of some community preschools in NSW. I can think of many community free schools that don't have directors or that can't rehire because our educators and teachers can get the same job in another service, but for 35% more pay. Our teachers and educators have the same qualifications and registration, so we really are competing, and it's a battle that we can no longer win. "We're at crisis point. We have been bargaining with the NSW Government at Fair Work for 12 months, and in that 12 months, although the NSW government have been forced to attend the Fair Work, they've refused to participate or find any solutions to our challenges. And so that's what's brought us here today."Bridget explained that Community Preschools receive funding from the state government only, whereas Long Day Care services receive funding from the federal and state governments."They're able to double dip on their funding," Bridget exclaimed. "And when the federal government decided to increase wages for early childhood teachers and educators, which was great, it was only for those teachers and educators in the services that they fund, which is about 97% of our sector. It's all of the Long Day Care services. Our public preschool teachers are already getting 35% higher, so we were already competing, but when the long day care wages went up, it put us into an absolute crisis."That's why, almost immediately, we went to Fair Work and asked the New South Wales Government to at least match the wage increases for the rest of the sector, but they've refused to do so completely. They're saying that they're not in charge of our wages. They're not responsible, but they're our only funder. We really need them to listen at this point. The difference between a Community Preschool and Long Day Care is the hours of operation. Long Day Care operate from 6am to 6pm, 52 weeks of the year, in most cases, to cater for two working parents. Community Preschools operate in the same way as public schools, open during school terms and school hours. "We're able to create a consistent environment for children where we have the same educators and teachers there in the morning, when the parents drop off, that also pick up in the afternoon, they have the same educators and teachers across the week," Bridget said."Long Day Care, because of the structure, and also because they've also been underpaid for a long time, will have a variety of different educators working on different days, different people when the parents drop off, as to pick up. "Community Preschool has managed to create this consistency that allows children to thrive, and that's one of the reasons why we exceed the National Quality Standard. So, we're three times more likely to exceed the National Quality Standard. Community Preschools are absolutely thriving with their quality ratings because of our structure."Another key difference in the two systems is the amount that is paid on a daily basis. Bridget claimed Community Preschools are charging around $12 a day because of their structure, an affordable rate compared to Long Day Care of $100 to $150 a day, which is subsidised by the NSW Government's Start Strong for Long Day Care program. The Federal Government offers a Child Care Subsidy to all parents based on their individual circumstances.When asked why Community Preschools don't increase fees to help cover increased wages, Bridget replied, "That's what the New South Wales Government asked us to do. They asked us to increase fees."It is possible that some preschools in NSW may be able to increase fees depending on the area they live in, but for most preschools in NSW, most are in regional and remote communities, and that's because big for-profit Long Day Care's don't want to set up in those communities. There's no money to be made, so community preschools often run in those communities, and those communities don't have the extra money to pay those fees. "The risk is that the most vulnerable children in NSW will stay home and miss out on those opportunities, and we know that early childhood education is most important for vulnerable children, so our community preschool sector is not willing to risk those families and children missing out on preschool to respond to that request."In terms of staff shortages, it was explained that even three years ago, a vacant position would have 50 applicants, and a recent vacancy received no applications after running a job ad for four months.'When we did get a great application and went right through to the interview and reference process, the person turned down the job because we couldn't meet the salary expectations."Jackie has used the Community Preschool at Clunes for her three children. "I'm here today for the educators to support them the way they've supported us. They've given us a strong start for our children, the start that they've needed. Now, they need to be recognised, valued and paid fairly."Tracy McCarthy, a Director from Talgum Community Preschool, said her preschool has operated at a deficit for the past three years."Our reserves for maintenance and leave entitlements are running low. The safety net funding only increases by the CPI each year, and does not factor in wage increases, higher maintenance costs, paying for expensive internet and administration platforms that are now mandatory and expensive, and new license agreements with local councils that we've never had to pay before. "Reducing staff hours is not an option as we need to meet ratios, have lunch breaks and programming time and workplace health and safety guidelines to support the well-being of our educators. My role as a director would not be manageable with less hours. If anything, I need more. "Preschools are not sitting on mountains of gold. It is quite the opposite for many. Preschools require substantial funds for ongoing maintenance, upgrades and capital works and retain funds to cover leave entitlements. NSW community preschools are not a one-size-fits-all. All the operating costs are contextual and significant, regardless of whether we enrol 15 or 50 children."We need to protect the preschool model of care and education and shift the focus to what is best for children and their safety and well-being and what is best qualified, dedicated and well-supported teachers and educators that are paid what they are worth and funding that reflects the contextual needs of each service."It would appear that this, like the Nurses and Midwives wage issue, will not be going away anytime soon for the NSW Government.

As is tradition, the opening of the 2025 Elders Lismore Show is at 6 o'clock tonight, when the TURSA Art Prize will be awarded.TURSA has been involved with the Lismore Show since 1996, and has sponsored the TURSA Art Prize since 2003.There are eight categories from artists all over the East Coast of Australia."We've got people coming in from Queensland and right down the south of NSW, and of course, from around here," said North Coast National Life Member, Ian Mulligan."I think the first year we had about 60 odd entries. We used to borrow the frames to have the art set up. And then after a while, we got them from the Lismore Art Club, and then we got onto Trinity. Then in about, I think, 2016 we made our own. Since then, we've been autonomous."2025 will see between 120 and 130 pieces of art judged in the following categories:Still LifeTownscapeLandscapeWaterscapeCountry LifeIssues in Contemporary LivingDomestic Animals and WildlifePortraitureEach category winner will receive $300, and the artwork awarded the 2025 TURSA Art Prize will receive $1000.The Tursa Art Prize artwork is inside the Lismore Lapidary Club (Gemfest) at the top gate off Alexandra Parade, immediately to the right. Some of the artwork will be for sale.There is now an easier walk up to see the artwork, thanks to a $35,000 Tursa Community Grant, which allowed a new concrete surface to be created. At an unveiling today, the path will be called Tursa Way.(North Coast National Vice President Lyndal Gordon and Secretary Mark Sollom reveal the TURSA Way sign)For those interested, everyone is invited to attend tonight with free wine and nibbles starting at 6pm.In a special ceremony held tomorrow at 6:45pm (Thursday), the Cattle Ring will be named the Rodney Gibson Cattle Ring in his memory after he suddenly and sadly passed away on the first night of last year's Lismore Show.Rodney had long been a much-loved and respected member of the Lismore Show family and was Chief Beef/Cattle Steward for 15 years. His loss was felt throughout last year's Show by those who knew him.He left behind his wife, Jess, and three children, Faith, Jack and Adele.The gates open tomorrow morning at 8am for the 2025 Elders Lismore Show and close on Saturday, October 18 at the conclusion of the fireworks around 9pm.

UPDATE 11AM from NSW PoliceTwo buildings have been destroyed by fire in Lismore’s CBD this morning.Emergency services were called to Magellan Street shortly after 4am (Wednesday, 15 October 2025), after a building was seen alight.The fire spread to an adjoining building on Magellan Street, with Fire and Rescue NSW teams from Lismore, Goonellabah, Coraki, Alstonville and Mullumbimby attending the scene.The fire was extinguished about 6am but both buildings were destroyed.A crime scene has now been established on-site; once deemed safe, it will be examined by Scene of Crime officers and specialist fire investigators in an effort to determine the cause of the fire.ORIGINAL STORYFirefighters were called to the old Masonic Hall building on Magellan Street just after 4am this morning after receiving multiple 000 calls.Superintendent Gary White said firefighters commenced firefighting operations as soon as they arrived."Crews from around the area have been able to extinguish the fire and are now in the process of mopping up that fire."At this stage, we can see there has been damage done to the roof of the hall and also to the building at the rear of the hall."Parts of Magellan Street are closed to traffic; however, it was anticipated that it would be open to traffic again shortly.

World Menopause Day is this Saturday, October 18. Yesterday, community leaders, experts and advocates joined the NSW Minister for Women to discuss lived experience of menopause and perimenopause, and the importance of supportive workplaces. The discussion panel featured:renowned menopause advocate Em RuscianoDr Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s HealthProfessor Elizabeth Hill, Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion at WorkKaren Willis OAM, Gender Equity Officer, Unions NSWThe panel discussed lived experiences of menopause and perimenopause in all areas of life, including women who experience menopause earlier than the average age of 51 due to medicine or surgery.It covered the importance of addressing employee stigma, creating safe and inclusive workplaces, increasing manager awareness, as well as sharing initiatives on improving women’s overall health and wellbeing.With more than three-quarters of working women in Australia affected by perimenopause and menopause symptoms, this event is part of the NSW Government’s work to raise awareness around this important women’s health issue.The government provides several resources to support women and workplaces navigate the menopause transition, including the Menopause and Perimenopause Toolkit - a central resource containing information to support women, families, workplaces and health professionals.It is easily accessible, gives women and employees confidence, enhances their understanding of treatment, and supports their autonomy by offering practical strategies for everyday challenges and managing symptoms at work. It includes:A downloadable menopause symptoms checklist, translated into eight languages, easy read and tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.Menopause videos that explain the symptoms of menopause and how they impact day-to-day life. Translated videos are also available.Employment resources for managers and employees.A podcast series exploring common symptoms and experiences.Guides for partners and families.To learn more, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/menopause.For women experiencing severe and complex menopause symptoms, the NSW Government has set up four Menopause Hubs around the state, with a multi-disciplinary team of specialists to provide holistic support. The Hubs are networked to a number of referral sites across New South Wales, improving access to specialist care. To learn more about menopause services, go to: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/women/Pages/menopause.aspx. Minister for Women and Seniors, Jodie Harrison said, “Menopause is a natural part of life, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and under-discussed health transitions.“This is despite the fact that most women - around 83 per cent - report at least one menopause symptom that affects their work. These symptoms can affect women’s lives, careers and retirement.“This World Menopause Day, we’re creating space for open conversations, practical support and recognition of the diverse ways menopause affects women across New South Wales, particularly within the workplace. “We need to continue the conversation about the impacts of menopause and make sure women are empowered to speak about it and access the appropriate supports.”Dr Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, said, “Jean Hailes' National Women's Health Survey found that 17 per cent of women aged 45 to 64 take an extended break from workforce participation due to illness. Menopause is a significant factor in this decision. We need to empower women with practical, evidence-based solutions so we don't lose the incredibly valuable skills, knowledge and experience that women in midlife bring to the workplace.” Em Rusciano, perimenopausal advocate and keynote speaker, said, “Perimenopause hit me in my late 30s - much earlier than I ever expected. I thought it was a ‘later in life’ problem, but instead it’s been a brutal, seismic shift I was utterly unprepared for. And that’s exactly why I’m talking about it now: because menopause has been buried under shame and silence for generations. Puberty and pregnancy are resourced and respected; menopause deserves the same. Saying it out loud is how we peel back the shame and push the systems to finally catch up.”

There was a great deal covered during yesterday's Lismore City Council October meeting. Too much for one news story, so the Lismore App will be writing and publishing a number of stories in the coming days to give you more detail and perspective on each item.In a unanimous vote, councillors voted to approve the 58-bed temporary accommodation DA on McKenzie Street, Lismore, just east of the Lismore Square.It was revealed that there were a number of community concerns from nearby residents and preschools; however, councillors were convinced that with the correct conditions in place, the community would see that their concerns would be allayed.Cr Gordon and Mayor Krieg visited a similar operation by Social Futures in Tweed Heads, both coming out impressed and confident that it would also work in Lismore.A staff member regaled a story from a staff member who was approached three months after opening the new facility, asking, When will it open?(The old Fromelles Manor site on McKenzie Street in July 2025)"And I think if Mackenzie Street can resemble or is run in exactly the same way, and I think it's proposed, that's exactly what's going to happen, then you will not know that this establishment is running." Cr Gordon said."This is a major step forward in housing. People that significantly need to be housed, but also looking after them. You can't just put people in a house or in a flat and say you're on your own. It doesn't work. It does not work. Councilor Rob will be able to tell you that. We've seen it a thousand times, but if you assist people, I genuinely believe that people want the best for them. They really do, but sometimes they just struggle with managing that ideal."If you put them in an environment where they are safe, they are separated from others, and you give them the opportunity to learn and perhaps get new skills, they become a far better person for it. And I think Lismore will be recognised for, I guess, the significant contribution we will make into making other people's lives far more manageable, and perhaps have some greater citizens come out of this operation."Mayor Krieg told a story about a 78-year-old couple who had their rent doubled by a new landlord after 35 years of living in that property. The result was they had to move out because they couldn't afford the rent. The new Tweed Heads Social Futures facility took them in for a week and found them a new affordable place to live permanently."This service is a wrap-around to aid people to find long-term accommodation under their own means. We don't know where each of us, or any of us, will be in three months, six months time. And I can't help but think this couple that was mentioned, the grandparents, their parents, they're the same age as my parents. They've worked hard their whole life, and they found themselves in this predicament, and a service like this was able to take them in and provide the support and the contacts to find them future, long-term accommodation."I'm not discounting for one second the community concerns in and around that this is complex. It's something that, as councillors, I'm sure we all struggle with, but we've got to think of our most vulnerable. They could be our parents, they could be our grandparents, they could be our neighbours. We don't know. And for that, I'm aware of the work that Social Futures does in our whole region, and they do great work. They do the work that no one puts their hand up to do."Cr Knight-Smith mentioned that council staff conditions that raised the fence height, thus better screening for the neighbours, and the 24 hour security."In Tweed, so far, there have been 60 people moved into long-term housing. What an amazing outcome. Some into social and some private, and some renewed, reunited with their families. There's no denying that this is something that our community will benefit from, and it is part of the mix of housing that we need to provide for our community."Cr Hall mentioned that 74 women were killed in Australia last year as a result of domestic violence."These rooms, apartments, facilities, are also going to house those people, and that's the angle I'm taking on it. We're protecting the youth of today, we're protecting the mums who don't have anywhere to go."As mentioned at the watery, this was a unanimous vote.Another unanimous vote was related to the Dunoon & District Sports & Recreation Club.The Sports & Rec Club wants to buy 100m2 from Lismore Council after its building has encroached onto council land. The question was asked by Cr Battista as to why it has been allowed to encroach across its boundary, but the question did not bring an answer.(The Dunoon Sports & Recreation Club is under financial strain)The motion was for Council to enter into a lease agreement with the club to a level to be negotiated by the GM to cover council costs and for the GM to negotiate a sale at a future date when the club is in a financial position to buy the land.The last point was added because the Dunoon Sports & Rec Club is in a very weak position, financially, which each councillor was aware of after reading the report.It was acknowledged that the club, like others in our villages, is more like a community centre rather than just a place to get a drink, and they do not have poker machines."It's a place where, as I said, in times of emergency, people are offered shelter, so basically an evacuation centre for that community. The Dunnon Club deck provides shelter if they're watching their children play soccer," said Cr Dalton-Earls.Cr Dalton-Earls wanted to put a $1 cost on purchasing the land, plus ask the club to fund the legal fees and stamp duty, estimated to be between $6,000 and $10,000. Cr Battista said the club should pay more than that as they are the ones who have encroached onto council land, even if it was a mistake when the building was constructed (which was not disclosed). The estimated land cost from council staff was $10,357.As stated above, there is ongoing concern for the future of the Dunoon Sport & Rec Club, so any amount is too much.Cr Battista said, "Once a club is in very dire straits, it takes a big effort from the community itself to turn it around. I don't believe the club will survive, to be honest, because once you're down this slippery slope. We heard they haven't got a chef, so what are they going to do? I don't think it's going to be a viable club unless there's a change in management and a change in organisational governance. That's up to the community to do that. They really need to step up and really do something about it."Cr Gordon said, I just don't feel as though we're in the business of winding up sports clubs or community facilities. We're here to help them and to manage them and to see their prosperity or to do the very least that we can to ensure their success."The vote was unanimous to wait until the Dunoon Spot & Rec Club is in a stronger financial position, which may take quite a few years.The Planning Proposal to apply additional uses on land in South Lismore alongside the Rail Trail was another unanimous vote. This could see new retail businesses, an information facility, or community facility in South Lismore.The rest of the meeting did not progress very smoothly. There will be more on trains in Lismore, illegal tobacco and vapes, crime and community safety and the Richmond River Historical Society.

Last week, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) revealed it had a data breach in relation to the Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program (RHP) when a former temporary employee uploaded data containing personal information to ChatGPT between 12 and 15 March 2025. This was not authorised by the RA.After working closely with Cyber Security NSW and engaging with forensic analysts, who undertook an investigation to understand the size and scale of the breach and the risks arising from it, the RA has confirmed that 2031 people had some information uploaded.The information disclosed includes general case information as well as:Name and contact detailsResidential/mailing addressDate of birthPersonal informationSensitive health informationLimited financial commentary, but not banking or financial detailsAt this stage, the RA has said there is no evidence that any of the uploaded data has been accessed by a third party and that it is now not publicly available online.An RA spokesperson said, "Importantly, we can confirm that no driver's licence numbers, Medicare numbers, passport numbers, or Tax File Numbers were disclosed in the breach."When asked if there is now a much lower risk that the personal data is shared from this point on, the RA's local Executive Director, Kristie Clarke, told the Lismore App, "I'm taking the advice of Cyber Security NSW. "They have been monitoring the internet and Dark Web for some months, and they will continue that monitoring for the foreseeable future. I think that it is low risk that information that has been shared as part of this data breach would now be publicly available."In a statement released yesterday, the RA has warned people to regularly check credit card and bank statements for unusual transactions. Why have the RA made that warning if no bank account details, driver's license numbers, passport numbers or tax file numbers were shared?"It's just a precautionary measure, to be honest," Mrs Clarke explained. "In the instance that information did become publicly available, I think it's good practice. We've been working closely with Cyber Security NSW, and they have provided the advice that people should always be vigilant with their personal data. "It's been well reported of a number of organisations recently who have had data breaches and information that has then been shared on the internet or to hackers in some instances. And I think our breach is much more contained, appears to be much lower risk."The RA said above that sensitive health information and limited financial commentary were uploaded. What sort of information does that involve?"As part of that Excel file that was uploaded to ChatGPT, it had 10,000 line items that generally included case notes or specific information about an applicant's name, contact details, and address, so in terms of medical information, we have a provision in the program to consider applications on the basis of individual and exceptional circumstances. Medical information that could have been shared as part of this data breach is generally related to case notes of details of historical medical conditions, disabilities, etc, that may have been provided in support of an applicant's application."Mrs Clarke said that since 1pm yesterday, RA staff have been calling the small number of people involved."It is a small number of the 2,000 that we are making those proactive calls. At this point, I haven't received an update. We have had some email notifications that have been issued, and I think there's been one telephone inquiry, but I'll have an update in terms of the questions and the sentiment of those in that more vulnerable cohort that have been contacted later this afternoon."Going forward, what has the RA put in place so that there is no further data breach?"Immediately, we implemented controls to the Resilient Homes Program, such as using a Salesforce system to prevent staff from being able to download information from the system of this nature, to prevent that from happening again. We've also implemented controls to other systems, as well as undertaken additional staff training, and introduced measures to prevent personal information from being uploaded to external AI platforms. "We've taken the breach really seriously. We've prioritised trying to get to the community as quickly as possible, once we understood the impact and scale and personal impacts for people across the community. I think the measures that we've implemented should give people confidence, but I can appreciate that trust may have been eroded from the RA."Mrs Clarke stressed that if there are people who have questions about whether they're impacted or not, they should contact the RA call centre that has been established in direct response to the data breach, and the number is (02) 9212 9212.What support is available?The RA is working with Social Futures to reach out to people who have been impacted and ID Support NSW, a government identity and cyber security support service, to assist anyone whose data may have been compromised.  ID Support NSW can help by providing personalised advice on how to protect or restore identity security and share options for additional support and counselling services.To access this free support, people should: Call ID Support on 1800 001 040 and provide the reference number included in their notification from us. The ID Support team is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays. Interpreter services are available.Go online to https://portal.idsupport.nsw.gov.au/s/ to access the breach portal. Enter the reference number to enter the portal. What should people do?The RA said:If anyone impacted wants to discuss the exact types of their personal information that were involved in the data breach, they can contact RA on (02) 9212 9212. Staff are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays. We encourage anyone impacted to regularly check credit card and bank statements for unusual transactions. Anyone impacted can ask for a temporary ban on cards or accounts if they detect unusual activity and suspect fraud. Anyone impacted can cancel or suspend the card and request a new card if there are unauthorised transactions or transfers.We are also encouraging everyone to remain vigilant of scammers and to remain alert, especially with email, text messages or telephone calls and to use two-step authentication for personal email accounts and other online accounts.We are asking people not to share personal information over the phone unless they are certain about who they are sharing it with. And if they notice suspicious access to email accounts and other online accounts, they should reset passwords for their accounts.  We will continue to share updates and provide support to those who have been impacted.We understand the seriousness of this breach and are deeply sorry for the potential impact on people whose personal and sensitive information has been disclosed.We remain fully committed to protecting their privacy and restoring trust in the Resilient Homes Program and the NSW Reconstruction Authority. For more information, visit nsw.gov.au/RHPdatabreach.

For the first time in NSW history, more than 400,000 NSW Government workers in hospitals, schools, local councils and other public services can seek orders and damages from the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to stop workplace bullying and sexual harassment.Remedies can include an order to prevent the bullying and harassment from continuing, damages of up to $100,000, ordering a public apology to a harassed or bullied worker, or ordering an employer to take specified actions to stop unlawful conduct.The jurisdiction also includes a penalty of up to $18,870 if an individual contravenes a bullying or harassment order made by the Commission or $93,900 for an employer.Significantly, the new NSW Anti-Bullying and Sexual Harassment jurisdiction is the first in the country to allow for the order of damages.It follows landmark reforms to Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety laws passed by parliament in June, which came into effect yesterday.The reforms complement the Government’s proposed change to workers compensation by making prevention of psychosocial risks in public sector workplaces central to the workplace safety system.Further changes include enshrining gender equality as an explicit object of the Industrial Relations Act, as well as improved wage theft laws and new powers for the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW, to deal with workplace disputes, including work, health & safety disputes.These reforms reinforce the NSW Government’s biggest investment in workplace mental health prevention in the state’s history, through its $344 million Workplace Mental Health package.Further information about the newly enacted provisions can be found at: https://irc.nsw.gov.au/announcements/commencement-of-workplace-protections-act-amendments.html.Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said, “This major reform focuses on gender equality as well as the elimination of workplace bullying and sexual harassment, which are new key objectives of the IR Act. “Achieving gender equity across workplaces is now a significant component of the NSW IR system. This is part of the Government’s commitment to pursuing gender equity in NSW.“Workplace bullying and harassment causes serious harm to worker health, and according to the Productivity Commission bullying costs organisations up to $36 billion annually in Australia.“The amendments establish a ‘one-stop shop’ for handling complaints through the IRC and enhance its powers to resolve disputes and support injured workers' return to work.“This legislation follows the passing of laws in 2023, which restored the independence of the industrial umpire, creating the structure needed to deliver meaningful improvements to the working lives of hundreds and thousands of workers in the state.“I would like to thank all those associated with this bill, including unions, business and the community, for their ongoing advocacy.”

The 2025 Elders Lismore Show starts in two days at the Lismore Showgrounds in North Lismore.The Thearle Electrical Community Stage at the southern end of the main arena always pulls a large crowd on Friday and Saturday night as live music pumps into the Lismore night.This year, the legendary Dave Graney 'n' The Coral Snakes will be on stage on Friday night from 8:30.Dave Graney is on a national tour to mark 30 years since the release of their iconic, 1995 Gold-selling album, The Soft 'n' Sexy Sound. This anniversary tour is a major moment for the band, who are celebrated for their stylish mix of art rock, pop, and lounge-inspired grooves. Originally recorded at Metropolis Audio in Melbourne and produced by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, P.J. Harvey, Sarah Blasko...), The Soft ‘n’ Sexy Sound highlights Graney’s sharp lyrical flair and genre-blending sound, which resulted in him picking up an ARIA Award for Best Male Artist back in ’96. Fast track 30 years, the upcoming Anniversary shows promise to bring the cool and collective sounds of DG & The Coral Snakes’ acclaimed album to life in full on the stage. The setlist will dive deep into The Soft 'n' Sexy Sound, with standout tracks such as “Rock'n'Roll is Where I Hide", "I'm Not Afraid to Be Heavy”, and "I'm Gonna Live in My Own Big World”, along with a second set of classics and fan favourites. (Dave Graney 'n' The Coral Snakes - Rock'n'Roll is Where I Hide)Featuring Dave Graney, and original Coral Snakes members Clare Moore, Rod Hayward, and Robin Casinader, the tour will be a nostalgic celebration full of energy and authenticity. Whether you're a longtime follower or discovering their music for the first time, this Friday night offers a rare chance to experience a band whose style and storytelling have stood the test of time. Dave Graney said, "It's great to be playing with guitar master Rod Hayward and Robin Casinader on keys again. Robin insists we play the album in order, so we are going to do just that. Then a set of classics from our corner of rock from before and after 1995. Count us in, Clare Moore, and see you at a show!”You can enjoy the music of Dave Graney 'n' The Coral Snakes at the 2025 Elders Lismore Show this Friday at 8:30pm on the Thearle Electrical Community Stage, which is at the southern end of the main arena.  

Lismore City Council staff and councillors get the October meeting underway at 10 o'clock this morning.The old Fromelles Manor building on McKenzie Street in Lismore's CBD is one of the first items on the agenda.The ex-RSL retirement complex was purchased by Social Futures last year, and with $768,862 in funds provided by the State Government, will be turned into a 58-bed housing complex for homeless people if it is approved by the majority of councillors today.The DA proposes temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness who are eligible for the particular pathway and service provision that Social Futures will offer. The site will be staffed by social workers and service providers offering wrap-around support, such as psycho-social support, specialist mental health, alcohol & drug support, legal advice and employment support.The rooms are mostly single rooms, with some family rooms provided. Each room has a private bathroom, some of which are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The facility also includes communal facilities, such as lounge rooms, play areas, a central outdoor courtyard, kitchens, laundry, etc.The new building will not house permanent residents, it will provide temporary accommodation with the intent to quickly provide permanent housing for its clients.While service providers, police and health are supportive of the DA, there has been some negative feedback from local residents and businesses. They included the potential for increased crime; anti-social behaviour; and impacts on neighbourhood amenity.In addressing these concerns, council staff said the short-term residents would be selected carefully, and would need to sign an occupancy agreement. There would be no walk-ins. The facility is also drug and alcohol free. Clients who breach the agreement due to poor behaviour or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be evicted from the facility.There is 24/7 on-site staffing proposed, and the facility will directly employ 10 employees (including staffing for The Buttery and Bunjalung Tribal Society). Lismore City Council staff have recommended that councillors approve the DA.Northern Rivers Rail TrailNow that the Rail Trail has been open for nearly 12 months, Lismore Council would like to make amendments to the LEP 2012 (Local Environment Plan) so that more local businesses, community facilities, entertainment facilities, information facilities, and the like, can line the rail trail and strengthen Lismore's visitor economy.In May, Council resolved to support the planning proposal and put it on public exhibition. If any objections were received, it was to come back to council for determination. There were fourteen submissions, some objections, so council will vote on the planning proposal today.Staff said that while the objections were noted, they did not raise significant concerns which would undermine the Proposal's merits, and alignment with legislative requirements and local strategic objectives remains. In other council matters today, the Dunoon & Districts Sport & Recreation Club is looking to buy 117m2 of council land, which its clubhouse encroaches on, Councillors (Cr) Rob, Battista and Gordon are looking to rescind last month's Crime Prevention Plan vote and Cr Knight-Smith wants council to write to the Federal Government about the number of illegal tobacco and vape shops in Lismore.The October Lismore City Council meeting gets underway at 10am.The Lismore App will have a full review on Wednesday morning.

If you see people lifting your red, yellow and green garbage bin lids, don't be alarmed, it is just Lismore City Council and North East Waste running an audit campaign to help our community reduce contamination and improve recycling across the Lismore area.The 'lifting the lid' exercise won't be a widespread task over the next two weeks, volunteers will be checking bins in selected streets to see how we’re sorting our waste. If you do receive an audit, you will receive quick, tailored feedback with red or green bin tags:Red tags if there’s contamination, with info on how to get it right next time.Green tags if you’ve nailed your waste sorting – and you’ll go in the draw to win a $150 Loving Local Gift Card!The goal is to make sure valuable resources are recycled, not sent to landfill.Even though Council's Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) closed in 2024, Lismore continues to separate and send recycling, FOGO and cardboard to specialist facilities to ensure nothing goes to waste.As the audits begin, you are reminded of a few common mistakes to watch out for:The green FOGO bin is now only for food scraps and garden waste; items like pizza boxes, tea bags, newspaper and fibre-based containers are no longer accepted.Batteries and aerosols should never go in kerbside bins; take them to a Community Recycling Centre such as the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre for safe disposal.And remember, keep recyclables loose in the yellow bin. Having them inside a box, paper bag, or soft plastic bag makes the recovery of these resources difficult during the sorting process.For more information, click here.

With students returning to the classroom tomorrow for Term 4, a new QUT-led study has revealed that one in five New South Wales public school students has been suspended or expelled at least once before finishing school, raising concerns about the long-term impacts of exclusionary discipline and the need for alternative behavioural support.The longitudinal study is the first to track individual students’ disciplinary exclusions over time using population data from more than 71,000 NSW public school students.It found that by Year 12, almost 20 per cent of students had experienced at least one suspension or expulsion, and two-thirds of those were excluded on multiple occasions.Around one in 20 children were first suspended in primary school, with the rate accelerating sharply during the early years of high school.First author Lauren Piltz from the QUT School of Psychology and Counselling said the study shows that exclusionary discipline is both common and cumulative.“Most children who are suspended once are likely to be suspended again,” Ms Piltz said.“For some students, exclusion becomes a pattern rather than a one-off consequence, and it often begins very early.”The most frequent reasons for suspension, she said, were “aggressive behaviour” and “continued disobedience”, while serious offences such as weapons or drug-related incidents were rare.The researchers also found strong inequities in who is most affected.Boys, students from disadvantaged families and those living in regional and remote areas were significantly more likely to be excluded, and to be excluded repeatedly.Children of unemployed parents were around 10 times more likely to experience 16 or more suspensions than their peers.Corresponding-author Professor Kristin Laurens from the QUT School of Psychology and Counselling and QUT Centre for Inclusive Education said the findings show that suspensions do not solve problem behaviour and risk entrenching disadvantage.“This research makes clear that exclusion is not an effective response,” Professor Laurens said.“It doesn’t improve behaviour, and it disproportionately affects the students who already face the greatest barriers.“Instead of removing children from school, we need to focus on inclusive, evidence-based strategies that teach social, emotional and behavioural skills from the early years.”Professor Linda Graham, co-author from the QUT School of Education and Director of the QUT Centre for Inclusive Education, said the study highlighted the need for early intervention and whole-school approaches to behaviour management.“Every suspension represents lost learning and lost connection with school,” Professor Graham said.“If we want to improve student engagement and wellbeing, keeping children connected to education has to be the goal.”The study was conducted as part of the NSW Child Development Study with support from the Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, and Department of Health and Aged Care Medical Research Future Fund.Read the full paper, Students’ accumulation of disciplinary school exclusion experiences over time: Prevalence, patterns, and correlates in an Australian population cohort, published in the Children and Youth Services Review, online.