Lismore’s laneways will be transformed into a celebration of music, art, food and creativity on Saturday, 23 August, for the inaugural LOLA: Laneways of Lismore Arts Festival. LOLA is a free, all-ages arts and music event showcasing both local and national talent.Running from 1pm to 9pm, LOLA will transform Carrington Street and its laneways into a vibrant festival precinct, featuring a dynamic mix of live music, visual art, lighting installations, vintage, art and vinyl markets, a dedicated children’s zone, food trucks and licensed bars.Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said Lismore laneways are one of our most under-utilised assets."If you walk around the streets of Lismore and you walk down our laneways, in my opinion, they they they remind me so much of Flinders Lane in Melbourne and all these quirky little laneways in capital cities. To be able to get some funding to activate these laneways, even if it is for a day, it's a start of where Lismore is heading. Lismore is on the upw, we are growing, we are thriving, we're coming back bigger and better than ever.Mayor Krieg thanked Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, for giving $30,000 towards the LOLA Festival."I'm quite excited about this event," said Mr Hogan, "We've all travelled through a lot of regional centres throughout New South Wales and other states throughout Australia, but I think one of the really unique things Lismore have are these laneways and alleyways in the centre of the block. It's quite unique, and it gives the place, and always has, a lot of character."Anything that brings activity to this town and indeed, our region, I'm very supportive of. I'm sure this will be a wonderful day, a wonderful festival and a wonderful celebration. Any community day is about getting together to hang out with each other, which is a positive thing, but as part of that, to celebrate something, to acknowledge something that is quite unique about Lismore."Marty Baptist is one of the local visual artists, along with Paul McNeil, were invited to perform at the LOLA Festival."What we're basically doing is getting five plywood panels, so it'll be dismountable as well, but on the day, we'll be painting live. This one will be my sort of loose figurative work with a lot of text. And Paul McNeil is one of the old original Mambo artists, so he'll be doing his work, and then we'll be doing a collaboration together. The LOLA Festival will provide another boost for local businesses around the block as it attracts people into the CBD.Chloe Bolliger is the manager of 187 Cantina. She said the festival will be incredible, with the restaurant is looking to expand its licensing area."There'll be a pop-up bar on the outside, so it'll be able to feel a lot more inviting. We will incorporate the music, you can have takeaway drinks, you can wander around, see things, and then also help the businesses around Lismore that might go unnoticed, for their little beauties, if not for events like this. So we're really excited to be able to be involved in that. LOLA is a welcome addition to Lismore’s proud tradition of unique and much-loved events. Last week the state government announced funding for Lismore's iconic Eat The Street Festival for three years.“Lismore has always been known for its vibrant, creative community and its ability to deliver standout events that celebrate who we are,” Mayor Krieg said.“This event will activate our city centre and showcase Lismore as a vibrant destination. I’m really looking forward to seeing LOLA grow into a staple of Lismore’s annual event calendar.”"We're also talking with some other companies that do festivals and sporting events, and it's all about promoting Lismore as a destination now, and how we do that. "We've revitalised our sporting facilities. So let's get some baseball tournaments at Albert Park. Let's really activate our Oakes and Crozier Ovals, and get sporting events here, and especially in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics. Our new skating facility that we haven't yet opened, but won't be far away, is Olympic standard, so let's get Olympic teams from around the globe to use Lismore as a training hub. "It's very much integrated to making Lismore that destination again, that we sort of lost along the way. But with the music, the arts and the culture that we've got, the NORPA development, it's such an exciting prospect as well, Lismore is well on track to becoming that central hub again."Festival-goers can look forward to an exciting music line-up including acclaimed musician Mitch Tambo, high-energy sets from FLO DJs, and Melbourne indie favourites Cool Sounds and Eggy, presented by Jet Black Cat Music, alongside a vibrant showcase of local talent.Visual highlights include bold, immersive works from celebrated Australian artists Paul McNeil (Mambo, Deus ex Machina) and Marty Baptist, who will bring Lismore’s iconic laneways to life with colour and creativity.LOLA is proudly funded by Lismore City Council and the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.For more information, visit www.visitlismore.com.au/lola.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed a total of over $1.27 million in funding for three new programs under the NSW Government’s Primary Prevention Multi-Year Partnerships Grant Program.Locally, the recipients are:$750,000 for the Men & Family Centre Lismore’s Accountable, Respectful, Connected Gender Relations Program, addressing the underlying causes of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence and promotes more accountable, respectful and connected gender relations in our local communities.$305,592 for Prosper (Project Australia) Incorporated’s Strong Safe Fabulous Program (in partnership with Rainbow Families), delivering in-person and online training, resources, behaviour change campaigns and individual/family/sector capacity building in Lismore, Sydney, Penrith/Blue Mountains and Wollongong.$265,907 for People With Disability Australia’s Healthy Relationships Program, updating and expanding training and resources about building and sustaining healthy relationships for people with disability, their families, and support networks in Tweed Shire, Sydney, Wollongong, Central West, Hunter, and Wagga Wagga.  Ms Saffin said the NSW Government was investing nearly $5.2 million in 11 new programs statewide in a whole-of-government, whole-of-community effort to change attitudes and behaviours that tolerate or condone violence against women.Programs will focus on men and boys, children and young people, multicultural and refugee communities, LGBTIQ+ communities, and those working with First Nations communities.The grant program is delivered under Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024–2028, the state’s first dedicated strategy for primary prevention.Primary prevention is part of a wider NSW Government effort to address domestic violence, which includes supporting victim-survivors, holding perpetrators to account and earlier intervention. 

Social Futures is proud to announce the return of its unique trauma-informed program, Strong Minds in the Early Years, thanks to new funding from the Waratah Education Foundation Ltd.Aimed at preschools impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred on the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales, the program will commence 1 July 2025.It will also support early learning settings where trauma triggers have been heightened by more recent weather events.At the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference on the Gold Coast in March, Social Futures General Manager, Children Youth and Families, Melissa Gordon; Resilient Kids Counsellor Lisa Wilson; and program favourite Jack the Puppet presented findings from the original program.“Supporting young children to understand and manage big emotions after a traumatic event is essential — and we’re thrilled to continue this work,” Ms Gordon said.Strong Minds in the Early Years was initially designed in response to the Northern Rivers 2022 flood disaster and provided young children with practical strategies to understand and manage trauma.The program’s use of Jack the Puppet gave children a playful, safe and supported way to speak about their worries, nightmares and fears, in addition to their positive experiences.“Jack offers a comforting presence — for many children, he's a gentle way to share big feelings when they can’t quite find the words,” Ms Gordon said.“The program uses best-practice therapies such as play-based interventions, storytelling and engaging activities to help children aged zero to five build their natural coping skills.“We’re also equipping caregivers and early educators with insights into how trauma may be shaping a child’s behaviour — whether at home or in the classroom,” she explained.Children responded to Jack in meaningful ways, including comments like:“I love Jack, and I can talk to him about my feelings." "My brain feels calmer now." "I can take a deep breath when my feelings are mixed up." Strong Minds in the Early Years has been designed by qualified and skilled practitioners from diverse backgrounds including social work, early childhood education and parenting.Social Futures has been providing support services in the Northern Rivers for 49 years and understands the toll severe weather events can take on families with young children.“We understand that trauma from severe weather events can deeply affect children, unsettling their sense of security and disrupting healthy development,” said Ms Gordon.“We’re here to help families strengthen their children's natural coping skills and reduce the likelihood of lasting trauma.”Strong Minds in the Early Years is supported by the Waratah Education Foundation Ltd.Preschools and early learning centres interested in the program can contact Social Futures on 1800 719 625 or visit www.socialfutures.org.au/strong-minds-in-the-early-years/ for more information.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is encouraging local sporting organisations to apply for their share of $50,000 in funding under the NSW Government’s 2025 Local Sport Grant Program.Ms Saffin said grants of between $2,000 and $20,000 were available for facility upgrades, new equipment and programs that support and encourage participation in sport and active recreation.“Like any sporting contest, this small grants program is highly competitive, but you’ve got to be in it to win it,” Ms Saffin said.“Sporting clubs often struggle to raise funds to cover everything that they would like to offer their membership, so these grants can fill those gaps.”Last year, the Local Sport Grant Program injected $4.4 million into community sport across New South Wales through funding for a total of 579 projects. This year, $4.65 million has been set aside for the program.Applications close 1pm, Monday, 18 August with further information, including program guidelines available at: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/local-sport-grant-program.NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said: “The Minns Labor Government is backing grassroots clubs to grow participation across all ages and abilities.“The Local Sport Grant Program delivers where it matters – better gear, safer facilities, and more opportunities for people to get active and love their sport.“If your club needs new equipment or has a great program idea but hasn’t had the resources to make it happen – now’s the time to apply. Let’s get more people moving, playing and enjoying sport right across NSW.”

Yesterday, the CSIRO released the Richmond River Catchment hydrodynamic model that will show, in twelve months' time, how engineering solutions can lower future flood levels in our community.Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said a scenario that should be modelled is how we can take 2 metres off future floods through engineering solutions.“Options like building dry retention basins to temporarily hold back water, and letting floodwater get away quicker, should all be part of the solution,” Mr Hogan said.“After the 2022 floods, I secured the funding to get this hydrodynamic model done. This will now move us from talking about flood mitigation to making it a reality.”“It covers the entire catchment – from Bungawalbin Creek through Coraki, Eden Creek through Kyogle, and Terania, Leycester and Wilsons through Lismore onto Ballina.”“We can’t keep spending billions cleaning up disasters after they happen. We need to invest in solutions that will actually make us safer before the next flood comes,” he said.“Back-of-the-envelope estimates show that we need up to $2 billion to deliver works that would take 2 metres off a flood. The 2022 disaster alone was a $15 billion event. Spending money on prevention saves taxpayer money on the recovery.”Mr Hogan called on the State and Federal Governments to commit to this type of investment.“Our community deserves certainty and real protection. The CSIRO has done the work, now it’s time for governments to step up.”“Decision makers will now determine whether the next major flooding event in this region kills people, destroys people’s lives financially, or the region has been made safer.”

The CSIRO Implementation Model was released yesterday at 9am by lead scientist Jai Vaze. It was another milestone in the $11.2 million Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative. It is Part 2 of a program that will determine what combinations of flood mitigation options will reduce the height of future flooding across the Richmond River Catchment. Mayor Steve Krieg said this marks a pivotal moment for Lismore and the Northern Rivers. "This is the most detailed and scientifically robust flood mapping our region has ever seen, setting a critical foundation for informed government action. "Built on local data, remote sensing, and advanced hydrodynamic modelling, the report offers an unprecedented understanding of how floodwaters move through our catchment. It not only sheds light on the catastrophic 2022 floods but gives governments the technical confidence to invest in meaningful resilience measures. "Lismore City Council welcomes this report as a vital tool in shaping our recovery and future. We thank the CSIRO team, led by Jai Vaze, for their integrity and transparency in delivering this complex work. With peer review by three independent international experts, the model sets a new global standard. "But this is not the end, it’s the beginning. The modelling is done. The need is urgent. Now we call on the Australian Government to fund the implementation of CSIRO’s forthcoming mitigation recommendations.  "What’s required is leadership and investment to turn science into action in order to protect lives, homes, jobs, infrastructure and economies.  "The cost of the 2022 flooding disaster in this region alone has reached an estimated $16 billion and is expected to rise further, not to mention the human impact. For a region that has experienced 129 floods in 150 years, investment in resilience is a no-brainer. "We also renew our call for a national insurance pool. Lismore residents and businesses have shown extraordinary resilience, but they continue to face crippling premiums. That’s not fair, and it’s not sustainable. "Lismore is a regional linchpin, a hub for health, education, industry, and essential services. Investing in our resilience is investing in the future of the Northern Rivers. "As a Council, we’re ready to lead differently, to back the science, partner with government, and deliver long-term resilience for sustainable growth." 

It is that time of the year for the team at local charity, Our House. They are once again taking on the Dry July challenge, pledging to go alcohol-free for the month to raise funds for local cancer patients and their families.Since 2010, Our House has proudly participated in the national Dry July campaign, becoming the first regional project to be supported by the Dry July Foundation. Each year, the team gives up alcohol for 31 days, joining thousands of Australians who are committed to making a difference for people affected by cancer.This year, Dr Chris Ingall, Rebekka Battista, and Tanya Harris-Bateman are leading the charge on behalf of Our House, raising funds to replace the original air conditioning units in every guest room.“Over 1,000 guests stay at Our House each year while receiving or supporting a loved one through medical treatment,” said Rebekka Battista, Director of Our House. “Many are undergoing cancer treatment, which can make them especially sensitive to changes in temperature. Replacing our aging air conditioners will dramatically improve comfort, energy efficiency, and the overall healing environment.”The fundraising effort is part of the ‘Help Keep Our House Beautiful’ program, which ensures the facilities remain welcoming, comfortable, and well-maintained for all guests.Funds raised from past Dry July campaigns have helped repaint rooms, replace bathroom floors, beds and sofa beds, upgrade TVs, and rejuvenate the therapy gardens.Dry July began with a small group of friends — one of whom was undergoing cancer treatment — challenging each other to go alcohol-free for a month. Since then, the movement has inspired hundreds of thousands across the country and has raised millions of dollars to support people affected by cancer. Our House remains one of more than 80 cancer-related organisations supported through the campaign.“We are calling on the community to get involved — go dry, donate, or share our story,” Ms Battista added. “Together, we can keep Our House beautiful and create a more comfortable environment for those going through some of life’s toughest moments.”Join or support the Our House team: https://www.dryjuly.com/teams/our-house-7.

The latest Living Lab Northern Rivers exhibition, Living Memory: Stories and Portraits, celebrating North Lismore, opened on June 19, and now the team involved are looking to build on the Living Memory project.The exhibition features voices, images and histories from North Lismore (Banyam/Baigham), a suburb where many properties are part of the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Resilient Homes Program— Australia’s largest disaster adaptation program in response to a flood.Living Memory captures and preserves the place-based knowledge, cultural heritage and community ties that continue to resonate far beyond its boundaries.Developed in response to community calls to preserve North Lismore’s legacy, the project, funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority with in-kind contributions from Southern Cross University and the University of Technology Sydney, is a collaborative effort shaped by the generous contributions of people connected to the area. Participants have shared their time, memories, photographs and personal objects — creating a rich and layered portrait of a unique and resilient community.The project has been brought to life by a small team including historian Adele Wessell, Jo Kijas and KateGahan, photographic artist Cherie Fahd and photographer Elise Derwin, in collaboration with Living Lab Northern Rivers. Their combined expertise spans oral history, portraiture, archival research and creative community engagement.“This is a celebration of place and community — of how communities’ deep connections to place and each other have shaped our region. It recognises that storytelling helps us adapt, fosters belonging and learning,” says historian and project contributor Adele Wessell.The exhibition reflects the area’s diversity — from Bundjalung Cultural Knowledge and dreaming stories to the histories of Chinese market gardeners, Italian and Lebanese families, artists, students and environmental protectors. It also highlights the practical ingenuity residents brought to living with the natural environment, including homes designed to adapt to flooding, and the strong social networks that supported neighbours through crisis.Community invitation for more North Lismore portrait and memorabilia sessionsAs part of the ongoing Living Memory project, members of the wider North Lismore community are invited to contribute to a growing archive of stories, images and objects that reflect the suburb’s rich history and deep sense of connection.For those who have lived, worked or hold strong ties to North Lismore, two upcoming portrait and memorabilia sessions at the Living Lab Northern Rivers shopfront offer an opportunity to sit for a portrait, share personal memories, and bring along items for scanning that speak to their connection to the place.Photographer Elise Derwin and historian Adele Wessell will be on-site to welcome participants, take portraits, and assist with the digitisation of memorabilia that will form part of the Living Memory digital archive.Session times:Thursday 31 July, 1–3pmSaturday 2 August, 10.30am – 12.30pmParticipants are encouraged to bring photographs, documents or other personal items for scanning, as well as a USB to keep digital copies. Individuals, families, and groups are all welcome to contribute to this important record of North Lismore’s people, history and community spirit.Living Memory is part of a broader effort to document community knowledge in the face of climate-driven change. A digital archive will make this material accessible into the future and inform how governments and communities across Australia respond to similar transitions.Exhibition DatesOn now until 7 August 2025Open Tuesday to Thursday, 1–4 pm at the Living Lab Northern Rivers, 11 Woodlark Street, LismoreRead more at llnr.com.au.

As mentioned in our Friday news story about the $150 million NRRRP (Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program), the Lismore LGA has about $29.4 million to spend on seven projects, two of which have been completed.The two completed projects are the revitalisation of the South and East Lismore town drains, which allows for a clearer path for stormwater to reach the Wilsons River, and clearing community drains.That leaves five more projects for Lismore, into which we will gain detailed insight through Garon Clough, Lismore City Council's Project Director—Flood Resilience Program.Garon began by stating what the purpose of the NRRRP is for Lismore."It's addressing reliability and operational resilience to make sure that the infrastructure functions as best as it can during an event, and it brings the majority of the levy systems, all of its components, up to the same level of design, because some of the aspects of the levy system predated the 2002 installation and needed to be brought up to capacity."There were also some identified local catchments that weren't addressed from a stormwater management perspective in the initial design, and those deficiencies within the levee system are being addressed under this program.""One of the projects under the program is improving the control and the visibility of the sites. That's been done by connecting all the major sites with a fibre optic cable, which enables remote control, additional instrumentation, CCTV monitoring. Far more functionality than currently exists in the infrastructure.Previously, there was a manual component to some sites, and the visibility of each site was non-existent."When water starts to overtop a levee at that location, there's not that trigger immediately on the site we're relying on, I guess, gauges, which will improve the level of service after this. "Garon explained that each flood overtops the Lismore levee at different points because of varying hydraulic grades."There are different points of the levee system that could overtop in different events. There is an engineered spillway at Browns Creek, and that's the primary overtopping side for the levee or for the CBD side. There's another engineered overflow at Gas Works Creek, which is further downstream, but most floods would overtop at Browns Creek first on the CBD side. The South Lismore side is really flood-dependent. So it depends on whether it's a Lycester Creek dominated flow or a Wilson's River dominated flow.The total investment to upgrade Lismore's pumps and pump stations is $22.5 million. A significant sum of money because of age.BROWNS CREEK PUMP STATIONBrowns Creek Pump Station was constructed in the early 1970s, and the levee wall was constructed in 2005. Browns Creek Pump Station was not upgraded at that time."We've looked at the capacity of Browns Creek and the flow that we need to put through that pump station to install the infrastructure to enable that. It's not going to fit in the existing structure."So, at this point, the project will need to be a pump station constructed in parallel to that site. But there is still value in that building and the gate and some of that infrastructure, because it does house real estate above our design level, so it will be incorporated into the design, but the pumps won't be housed in that building anymore.For those worried about a potential flood while the new Browns Creek building is being constructed, Garon and his team have worked through the issue."The design approach is to maximise the amount of time that Browns Creek remains operational, including the flood and the pumps during construction, to make sure that Lismore isn't put at risk during the construction of that major project.""We currently have two pumps, and we're anticipating putting in a four-pump configuration. The multi-pump configuration gives a wider range of potential flow rates, so we can handle different local storm events. The order of magnitude is four to five times the current pumping capacity of that station."The pump's primary function is up until the levee overtopping. So they're managing stormwater behind the levee so that people can evacuate, and we're not getting premature flooding behind the levee prior to it overtopping. We're pumping from the Browns Creek catchment, so around the Square, areas where you'll first see that water starting to back up, we're pumping that into the river.Do the pumps help clear the water once the levee subsides?"They will help, but the volume of water that overtops the levee, the pumps make a marginal difference to the point of, it's not really measurable. The height behind the levee system after a flood will essentially be the same height in the river. So it's controlled by how quickly the river drops. So, having pumps running after an event doesn't really get people back to clean up afterwards.The pump's main objective is to keep evacuation routes open as long as possible and to limit stormwater damage during an event where all the floodgates are shut. It's not letting stormwater back up.As you would expect, the four pumps will be submersible and need to be ordered from overseas."In modern pumps, submersible is a better configuration, a more resilient configuration than the current axial drive pumps that are there. The pumps have been selected, and we're just going through market assessment at the moment. They haven't been ordered."Major construction for that project is 2026; it was always planned for that stage. There's been a lot of work to go into Browns Creek in understanding and trying to maximise the benefit from this upgrade. If we could have tried to stay within the bounds of the existing building, we wouldn't have got the benefits realisation. We've grown that project to get the most benefit from this pump upgrade.Garon explained the work that has happened and will happen at Browns Creek to assess the best outcome for the community."There's been a number of site works, geotechnical investigations, drilling, a 3D scan of the existing structure so that we can design the new structure in 3D. The pumps will be ordered, and they'll be in manufacture. Then there'll be early works, such as probably realignment of that levee to give us enough construction room and digging the well. Those are the activities that will happen first, before the pumps get installed.GAS WORKS, CBD AND SOUTH LISMORE PUMP STATIONSWhile Browns Creek is bespoke proprietary equipment, the other pump stations are on a much smaller scale, and manage a smaller catchment."Those pump stations, I guess, are not as large and can be delivered a little quicker. They're all moving into the construction phase. So, the investigation has been completed. We're just going through the procurement of pumps and contractors at the moment.The Gas Works pumps will be the same; they'll just be modified. They were sized correctly in the initial build because that pump station was constructed as part of the levee system. So they'll be maintained."Hollingsworth and CBD are a quarter of the size of a pump at Browns Creek. So, the type of pump is slightly different just due to the capacity."Construction will start on those in 2025 and continue throughout the rest of the year."Once Garon gets his contractors on board, he will be able to give a completion date for the smaller pump stations more accurately.During the 2022 March Flood, many people in the CBD would notice the tractor pump at work. That will be a thing of the past."That will be a new, modern pump station with submersible pumps and electric drive. So, that pump station will essentially be remote controlled like everything else. It won't need that operator intervention to be physically on site, running that pump station, which is safer for the operator.""The advantage of having a modern pump station is that you can adjust operation levels. You can change the flow rate during an event to manage it and reflect the stormwater that you're seeing."One issue that Garon and his team have is testing the pumps once they are installed. You have to have a lot of water to achieve this because they are designed to pump high volumes of water. That is something that is being discussed at the moment.The other challenge is stopping debris from entering the pumps or creating an impediment that will lower the flow of water."That's the design challenge with installing them. But Debris Management for these pump stations is really important. Pump stations that don't currently have screens will be getting screens at the pump stations themselves."The main trash racks are being designed in a way that's both operationally friendly but very conscious of not creating any localised storm water issues."It is a challenge to install that infrastructure in an area that has a ground level of six metres, and we need to protect all the infrastructure.WIDENING BROWNS CREEKAll the Lismore projects are around managing stormwater during an event where the levee system is within its design capacity. Lismore City Council will be managing stormwater by keeping roads open longer, making sure the pumps operate where they're not going to be impacted by debris, and if we do get a large event similar to 2022, the infrastructure is not going to be damaged like it was previously.In terms of widening Browns Creek along Brewster Street, we all know that it quickly inundates with stormwater during heavy, continuous rainfall, cutting off the road prematurely."We're going to try and increase the capacity and reduce the frequency of that occurring," Garon said.NOT MITIGATIONThe NRRRP has nothing to do with flood mitigation. It is all about making Lismore more flood resilient."It's protecting properties from stormwater inundation. So when the floodgates get shut and the river rises, the capacity of your stormwater is reduced because now it's got to be pumped uphill. It's no longer flowing under gravity. So we've got to manage stormwater as best we can in an event where the floodgates are closed."So, it's stopping property damage, keeping evacuation routes open, and then also doing it in a reliable way that it's going to stay operational for an extended duration of time."Flood mitigation for Lismore sits under the Flood Risk Management Plan, and they're always looking at mitigation options for Lismore. This program is targeted at bringing up the entirety of the levee system and fixing gaps within that, to bring it up to a functioning level system."If the levee is raised or something occurs into the future, all these upgrades would have had to be done anyway. So it is improving the function of the levee system. It's about providing resilience to the existing levee system where it operates."

Young Australians are barely earning more than their predecessors but are racking up much larger student debts and taking longer to pay them off, according to new research by the e61 Institute.The analysis of tax return data found that, in 2022 dollars:Real average incomes for 30-year-olds increased just 6% over a decade, from $59,496 in 2012 to $62,987 in 2022Meanwhile, the average HELP debt jumped by 45%, from $19,485 to $28,260The average age of final HELP repayment also rose from 33 in 2012 to 35 in 2022The percentage of 30-year-olds with a HELP debt increased from 15% to 23%YearMean real incomes of 30-year-oldsAvg. HELP Debt of 30-Year-Old with Debt% of 30-Year-Olds with HELP Debt2012$59,496$19,48515%2015$58,405$21,56917%2022$62,987$28,26023% (The population for all of these figures are people who filed a tax return in each year. All are real 2022 dollars)“Since the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, the wages of workers under 40 have grown at less than half the rate of older Australians,” said e61 Institute Research Economist Matthew Maltman.“Some explanations include rising underemployment, a shift toward insecure and lower-paying service jobs, award decisions, and an oversupply of workers relative to available high-quality jobs – driven in part by older Australians working longer – which weakened bargaining power and suppressed wage growth. “Rising employer concentration and a decline in job mobility may also have weakened young workers’ ability to climb the job ladder and move into higher-paying positions.”Meanwhile, young people are taking on more student debt, which is taking longer to pay off.“Young people are seeing up to 10 per cent of their income diverted to HELP debt repayments well into their mid-30s, just when many are trying to buy their first home and start a family,” said e61 Institute Senior Research Economist Jack Buckley.The analysis formed part of a report by the e61 Institute titled Will young Australians be better off than past generations?. The report authors suggested that one potential solution to easing the burden on Australians with HELP debts would be to spread their repayments over a longer timeframe. “Given that university graduates tend to earn more over their lifetimes, the real issue may not be the size of HELP debts but rather the timing of repayment,” said Mr Buckley. The report also explored young people’s economic security, work opportunities, living arrangements, path to independence, and overall well-being.

Nearly 10 million Australians will get an automatic boost to their super from Tuesday, 1 July - a change that will mean thousands of dollars more in retirement savings.The Superannuation Guarantee rate will rise from 11.5 per cent to 12 per cent, meaning an extra $317 in super contributions will be paid to the average Australian worker next financial year.Young Australians and low-income workers will be the biggest winners from the increase.The 0.5 percentage point increase alone could see a typical 30-year-old retire with $22,000 more in super. Taken together with the full increase from 9 per cent to 12 per cent over the past decade, it could add up to $132,000 in extra superannuation savings by retirement.Ahead of the July 1 super rise date, new analysis from the Super Members Council of tax data reveals:Around 10 million people will get a super boost this year – split almost evenly between men and women.More than half of the people getting the increase are under 40 years old – and more people in their 30s will get a boost to their retirement savings than any other age bracket (Table 1)Almost a third of the people getting the increase earn less than $50,000 per year and around 70% of those getting the increase earn less than $100,000 a year (Table 2)The Super Guarantee is key to funding the retirement of Australia’s ageing population.Before compulsory super was introduced in 1992, only 10 per cent of retirees listed super as a source of income. Now, about 90 per cent of people aged between 30 and 50 have super.As more people start to retire with super, it significantly reduces pressure on the taxpayer-funded age pension. Already, the proportions of people on the full- and part-pension are declining steadily and super now pays out more than twice as much each year in benefits than the Age Pension. The Intergenerational Report shows that, despite a doubling of over 65s by 2063 and a trebling of those aged over 85, Australia’s Age Pension spending will fall from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent by 2062/‑63, even as other costs associated with an ageing population continue to rise.Super Members Council CEO Misha Schubert said the super rate increases were key to delivering a life in retirement that Australians deserved after a lifetime of hard work.“This boost to retirement savings will help fund the things that matter most – more help with paying the bills, spending time and making memories with the family, trips away and financial security,” she said.“More super means more freedom, more choices and more opportunities to do the things you love.”“Our super system is the envy of the world because it lifts the retirement savings of everyday Australians, takes pressure off the taxpayer-funded pension, invests capital to grow Australian jobs and companies and - most importantly of all - gives millions of Australians a better life at retirement.”“When you know that a 30-year-old today will be more than $130,000 better off in retirement, it underlines why the safeguards that protect super for retirement are so important for all Australians.”

An international team of scientists has developed a biodegradable material that could slash global energy consumption without using any electricity, according to a new study published today.The bioplastic metafilm – that can be applied to buildings, equipment and other surfaces – passively cools temperatures by as much as 9.2°C during peak sunlight and reflects almost 99% of the sun’s rays. Developed by researchers from Zhengzhou University in China and the University of South Australia (UniSA), the new film is a sustainable and long-lasting material that could reduce building energy consumption by up to 20% a year in some of the world’s hottest cities. The material is described in the latest issue of Cell Reports Physical Science. UniSA PhD candidate Yangzhe Hou says the cooling metafilm represents a breakthrough in sustainable materials engineering that could help combat rising global temperatures and hotter cities. “Our metafilm offers an environmentally friendly alternative to air-conditioning, which contributes significantly to carbon emissions,” says Hou, who is also from Zhengzhou University. “The material reflects nearly all solar radiation but also allows internal building heat to escape directly into outer space. This enables the building to stay cooler than the surrounding air, even under direct sunlight.” Notably, the film continues to perform even after prolonged exposure to acidic conditions and ultraviolet light, two major barriers that have historically hindered similar biodegradable materials. Constructed from polylactic acid (PLA) – a common plant-derived bioplastic – the metafilm is fabricated using a low-temperature separation technique that reflects 98.7% of sunlight and minimises heat gain. “Unlike conventional cooling technologies, this metafilm requires no electricity or mechanical systems,” says co-author Dr Xianhu Liu from Zhengzhou University. “Most existing passive radiative cooling systems rely on petrochemical-based polymers or ceramics that raise environmental concerns. By using biodegradable PLA, we are presenting a green alternative that offers high solar reflectance, strong thermal emission, sustainability, and durability.” In real-world applications, the metafilm showed an average temperature drop of 4.9°C during the day and 5.1°C at night. Field tests conducted in both China and Australia confirmed its stability and efficiency under harsh environmental conditions. Even after 120 hours in strong acid and the equivalent of eight months’ outdoor UV exposure, the metafilm retained cooling power of up to 6.5°C. Perhaps most significantly, the simulations revealed that the metafilm could cut annual energy consumption by up to 20.3% in cities such as Lhasa, China, by reducing dependence on air conditioning. “This isn’t just a lab-scale success”, says co-author Professor Jun Ma from the University of South Australia. “Our film is scalable, durable and completely degradable,” he says. “This research aims to contribute to sustainable development by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and exploring feasible pathways to improve human comfort while minimising environmental impact.” The discovery addresses a major challenge in the field: how to reconcile high-performance cooling with eco-friendly degradation. The researchers are now exploring large-scale manufacturing opportunities and potential applications in buildings, transport, agriculture, electronics, and the biomedical field, including cooling wound dressings.

The Goonellabah Tennis Club believes in the proverb, 'If you can't beat them, join them'. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, pickleball is forcing traditional sporting organisations to change their thinking as they look to the future.Last weekend, the Goonellabah Tennis Club opened six (6) brand new pickleball courts at its Reserve Street home. Two synthetic grass tennis courts made way for the new pickleball courts, leaving three for members to play the traditional game, which has been the case since the club opened in the 1960s.Graham Lancaster, President of the Goonellabah Tennis Club and Pickleball Club (as it is now known), said the traditional game of tennis is a declining sport in Australia and around the world."Pickleball is a very productive sport that is very new and potentially in the Olympics, so it's one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. It's quite similar to tennis in a lot of ways, but uses a lot less training, energy, technique and ability, that sort of thing. Any age can play it from 3 to 99, I would think, so yeah, there's no limit." (Graham Lancaster with the pickleball bats and ball)Popular belief is that pickleball is an older person's sport; however, Graham says there is a lot of interest from young people."A lot of young ones are picking up. We probably had at least a third of the people who turned up to the opening, and there were about 50, who were in their teens or the 20 to 30 age group, so the younger cohort. Down in Ballina, they've got about 350 members in Pickleball now and mainly the older ones, because they just don't have any more capacity for the younger ones. We're hoping to have a facility that's open for everyone to use."For the Goonellabah Tennis Club and Pickleball Club, this is not about financial survival, but it will help their financial viability in the future."We've been quite a cashed-up club through tennis for many years, so we use our own funds to build these courts, $120,000, and we're not under any threat of closing anything, but we want to be viable and we want to offer a service. Our courts and our facility are fantastic, second to none, in a beautiful location next to the Goonellabah Soccer Club.(The traditional synthetic grass tennis court and the new pickleball courts on Reserve Street, Goonellabah)"It's just a really nice facility we've got, and we want to see it utilised. We're only charging $5 a hit, basically, for two hours for a social comp, and membership is $60, so it's very affordable, and we have paddles there, people don't have to buy anything. They can just turn up. If you want to book a court for family or friends, court hire is $10 for 30 minutes, and can be completed online. Click here to book a court. Or think about a different Christmas party in 2025.There is LED lighting, so night pickleball is available using an electronic entry system. You retrieve bats and balls in the same way.Graham and the team have started a social comp on Monday and Tuesday evenings, which they are looking to expand as demand warrants. They are looking for more volunteers to help run pickleball. You can get in touch by calling 0419 984 088.The Goonellabah Tennis and Pickleball Club is on Reserve Street, Goonellabah, off Rous Road.

We are back to what feels like the usual weekend weather forecast, with a shower or two on the cards.The BoM says 0-5mm for Saturday and 0-4mm for Sunday. Most of the forecast rain will occur on Monday with 4-35mm on the radar and 90% chance of rain.There is no major event this weekend; however, there are a few things to do around the Lismore LGA.The next major event is LisAmore! on Sunday, July 6 at the Lismore Turf Club.The Lismore Farmers Market gets underway at 7:30 tomorrow morning at the Lismore Showground. Fresh fruit and veg, hot breakfast, tea & coffee and specialty items for sale, as well as live music from Georgia Cortes Rayner.The Nimbin Markets are on this weekend again because it is the fifth Sunday of the month. Head up to the hills to have a look for some unique artisan products unique to the Nimbin community from 9am to 3pm.Well-known photographer Jacklyn Wagner's 'Through the Heart' photographic exhibition opens tonight at 6pm at the Lismore Regional Gallery at The Quad.Through the Heart captures the human stories behind the February and March 2022 floods. It was first shown at NSW Parliament House in November 2022.Lismore Regional Gallery is open 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. The exhibition runs until Sunday, August 10.The Lismore Rainforest Botanic Guided Walk this month will be through the Sensory and Useful Plant Gardens.It is an easy hour-long walk on unpaved paths. Cost is $5 for adults, with children free, cash only. Meet at the visitors centre at 9:45am for a 10am start.If live music is your scene, there is plenty over the weekend.The Northern Rivers Hotel has Al Cole's Drummer Not Included tonight from 6pm and Rokustix for the Sunday Session from 2pm.The Lismore Workers Club has Chev Wilson in the main lounge tonight.Concerts coming to the Workers Club include:Dorothy the Dinosaur Spectacular on Sunday, July 27Herman's Hermits on Friday, August 8Fleetwood Max on Thursday, August 14Oh What a Night - a tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons on Saturday, September 20, andThe Flying Forties on Saturday, October 4.For more details or to book, click here.The Iran/Israel bombings have caused fuel prices to increase between 7 and 10 cents a litre over the last seven days. Here is the list of the cheapest service stations, saving you the most money in each town:E10 is 174.9 at the 7-Eleven in South Lismore, the Ampol Foodary on Woodlark Street in Lismore and the EG Ampol on Simeoni Drive, Goonellabah, 176.9 at the NightOwl Puma on Johnston Street in Casino, and 165.5 at the Mobil and The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Unleaded 91 is 176.9 across Lismore, 179.3 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 167.5 at the Metro and the Mobil on River Street, Ballina.U95 is 184.9 at the two Independents (Brad & Sharon) on Terania Street, North Lismore and the Liberty on Ballina Road and the Independent at East Lismore, 198.9 at the Independent on Canterbury Street, and 178.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.U98 is 192.9 at the Liberty on Ballina Road in Lismore, and the Liberty on Union Street, South Lismore, 199.9 at the two Independents on Hare and Centre Street in Casino, and 187.5 at The Metro on River Street in Ballina.Diesel is 179.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road in Lismore, 182.9 at The United and the Casino Roadhouse on Johnston Street in Casino, and 188.7 at the Ampol on Links Avenue, East Ballina.Have a great weekend!Now, have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

There is a lot of heavy machinery on Conway Street, as road resurfacing continues across the LGA. That appears to be the only rebuild progress being made along the street that has TAFE Lismore on one side of the street.In November 2023, TAFE Lismore was a hive of activity as contractors prepared three buildings for demolition work. Buildings C1, D and K below look to have been removed.Buildings B, C, and E are a lot more complicated as they are heritage-listed, playing a significant part in the history of Lismore:Building C – Former Ambulance Station (1933)Building E – Former Trades School (1929)Building B – Former Drill Hall (1906)(An overhead image of the TAFE buildings. Photo: supplied)The Lismore App contacted TAFE NSW for an update on the site. In a written response, a spokesperson said, “TAFE NSW Lismore reopened in early 2025, with theory-based training returning to the campus. Some training continues to be delivered from leased premises at Southern Cross University."In the coming weeks, a Development Application will be submitted to Lismore City Council for the demolition of buildings that were extensively damaged by flooding and can’t be repaired. The DA will also propose to restore the on-site car parking for community use. "At the same time, TAFE NSW is finalising an insurance claim with iCare. Subject to the outcome, TAFE NSW is proposing to repair, upgrade, and construct new facilities in the Northern Rivers region."Currently, Community Pharmacy, Retail, Career Pathways and Digital Literacy, Auslan, and English Language programs are being delivered at TAFE NSW Lismore."TAFE NSW will continue to update the community as planning progresses.”That left more questions than answers.Are there more buildings to be demolished? Does repair, upgrade and construct new facilities in the Northern Rivers mean the Lismore campus? If yes, in what form and when?The insurance claim with iCare is interesting because it is owned by the NSW Government. You would hope for a favourable outcome.

The $150 million Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP) was first announced by Senator Murray Watt in February 2023. It is funded through NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) and delivered through the NSWRA (NSW Reconstruction Authority)Thirty-six (36) projects across seven Northern Rivers LGA's, some 'shovel ready' were to transform Lismore and the Northern Rivers into one of the most disaster-resilient regions in NSW.Nothing happened for the next fourteen months, with Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin saying, "We’re going in circles. Can someone please step in and take charge of this recovery so we don’t go round in circles. These projects were shovel-ready and don't need an implementation plan" in May 2023.Two years later, some projects have been completed, and some still have a long way to go before being completed. Those are the more complex projects that require a detailed assessment, such as the Ballina bridge duplication on River Street.Alex Wilson, Program Director with the NSWRA, told the Lismore App that there is increasing public awareness around flood risk, which is different, obviously, from physical flood risk management measures like infrastructure."And then we've got projects that are nature-based solutions, which also differ, then, from increasing community resilience. One of the examples of those was that we partnered with the Australian Red Cross, where they have been establishing community-led resilience teams under this program, which were put to the test and received really well during the effects of extra-tropical cyclone Alfred, including Minion and Federal, so down to the local, smaller communities," Alex said."It performed really well, and some of the feedback was really, really positive there."The Red Cross approached small communities that tend to become isolated or cut off, either through power, phone reception, trees down blocking roads or water blocking roads. They work with the local community-led resilience team to develop a plan and a local contact network.So, if there's an event like Alfred, they can meet at certain times of day at a designated building to pick up supplies, dried food for example, and use Wi-Fi, which is turned on twice a day using a Starlink (if they have one) that is run on batteries to send messages to family and friends.Tropical Cyclone Alfred was the first time that these community-led resilience team programs were put to the test."I don't want to say it was a good test, but it was an opportune time for them, having gone through their training and planning, to actually put the processes into practice. It came out successfully," Alex said.The Australian Red Cross Community-led Resilience Project (CRT) had a target of building community resilience in 70 communities across the 7 Northern NSW LGAs (note that building community resilience includes measures other than establishing a CRT). That target has been exceeded, with 88 communities reached to date.The CRT program commenced in Tweed LGA after flooding from TC Debbie in 2017. There are 5 CRTs established (or being established) within the Lismore LGA.If you would like to get in touch with your local CRT, email the Australian Red Cross at: NSWRESILIENCE@redcross.org.au. The largest NRRRP project in dollar terms is the duplication of Fishery Creek Bridge on River Street and Canal Bridge on Tamarind Drive in Ballina. The cost is around $40 million, or roughly 27% of the $150 million budget. The project work has been split into a couple of different portions.(An artists impression of the River Street bridge at Ballina)"We've got an early works portion, which is known as pre-loading the ground. This is due to commence late July, early August, on site," Alex explained."The main bridge contract is currently out to market. That closes at the end of June, and so that will then be assessed and awarded as quickly as possible after that."When we've got an actual contractor, we'll have a better idea of timing for physically constructing the bridges. I can tell you that we've, aside from the preload that's due to start next month, Ballina Council has already been moving water mains, Telstra cables, clearing the sites, essentially for the bridges to be constructed, because we've got overhead power lines, services in the ground under the river at both locations and street lights and things. So, so they've been doing all the preparation work."There is a loose delivery time frame for the bridge projects, but Alex didn't want to divulge the ETA until they have a builder on board and they have confidence in their deliverables."Their construction methodology is obviously part of the assessment, and will be reviewing the program taken. One builder might come in six months quicker than another builder, but it might be out of the budget, for example. So, there's a lot of different factors to get them to work on and assess those tenders. Once we've got firm dates, I'll happily let you know what they are."The next most expensive projects are the Lismore pump station upgrades and the raising of two bridges at Tatham (between Casino and Coraki), which are currently underway.Alex revealed that the nature-based solution projects will be the last to be completed as part of the $150 million NRRRP. They are slated for completion in late 2027."We're reforesting riparian zones along river banks. There are two projects there. One of them is caring for catchments, and our delivery partner there is the North Coast Regional Landcare Network. And then the other one is Heal the Rivers, which is through Jagun Alliance, through First Nations organisation, Jagun Alliance.Alex said there are a number of projects within each program, so North Coast Regional Landcare Network has 35 project sites, with Jagun slightly fewer. All are spread out over the Richmond River Catchment. Their purpose is to slow the flow of water through the catchment and into the Wilsons River or Leycester Creek system.Some of the more expensive projects on the list of the 15 completed NRRRP projects include:Filling in data gaps for floor-level surveys for homes and buildings. These were done by driving around in a ute with a LiDAR scanner after it was noticed that multiple councils had gaps in different locations, which they needed to complete their Flood Risk Management Plans.Revitalise South and East Lismore Town DrainsPublic Proposal - Lismore Flood Mitigation, Northern Rivers Resilience InitiativeDairy Flat road improvementsThearles Canal culvert upgradeNew pump systems behind Dorothy Street, MurwillumbahThe Lismore LGA is benefiting from just over $29.4 million, or around 20% of the overall $150 million in funding.Two of the projects within the Lismore LGA have been completed with Rouse County Council, having completed the revitalisation of the South and East Lismore town drains, which allows a clearer path for the stormwater to reach the Wilsons River.This was tested with good effect during Tropical Cyclone Alfred."There were some anecdotal references there from local residents and people who haven't seen those drains working as well as they did for a very long time. Thistles Soccer Club showed up to mop their clubhouse out, and they didn't have to. Normally, in the past, that sort of size flood would have caused the club rooms to flood.The second project to be completed was community drain clearing through Lismore City Council.Garon Clough, Projects Director - Flood Resilience Program for Lismore City Council said, "There were locations identified from the community that had stormwater constraints, and they wanted them to be addressed. We went and targeted high-profile areas throughout the urban area to get stormwater functioning again. So it was a maintenance activity, allocation of funds to reset the function of residential drains."There is a lot of detail to cover when looking at the rest of Lismore's five more projects, including a major rebuild of the Browns Creek Pump Station. This will be covered in a special edition on Monday morning.

Two men will face court today, charged following an investigation into alleged aggravated break and enter incidents at a shopping centre in Lismore.About 5.30am yesterday (Wednesday, 25 June 2025), two people allegedly forced their way into a shopping centre through a smashed window.Several businesses were targeted with cash, jewellery and watches stolen.No injuries have been reported to police.Police attached to Richmond Police District attended and established several crime scenes.Following extensive inquiries, police arrested two men – aged 22 and 28 – at a caravan park in Byron Bay yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 25 June 2025).A search warrant was executed at a cabin a short time later, where police allegedly located and seized items believed to have been stolen during property offences alleged to have occurred at Lismore, Ballina, and Byron Bay in recent weeks.Both men were taken to Byron Bay Police Station.The younger man was charged with three counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal.The older man was charged with nine offences:Three counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company stealTwo counts of break and enter house etc stealTwo counts of break and enter dwelling-house etc with intentAttempted break and enter dwelling-house etc with intent, andLarceny.An outstanding warrant was also executed for alleged traffic and bail offences.Both men were refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday, 26 June 2025).

The NSW Government welcomes the National Health and Medical Research Council’s publication today of the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which confirm new, lower values for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian drinking water supplies.The NSW Government can confirm that all NSW public drinking water supplies – across metropolitan and regional areas - currently meet the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.All Sydney Water and Hunter Water drinking water supplies meet the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and agencies have a regular testing regimen in place to ensure water is safe to drink.All 83 local water utilities in regional NSW that supply areas not serviced by Sydney and Hunter Water tested their water supplies in 2024. This testing initially showed that 80 of 83 water utilities had water supplies that met the draft guidelines released in October 2024.The NSW Government has been working with the remaining three local water utilities that had water supplies that exceeded the draft guidelines to manage PFAS levels and conduct ongoing monitoring. These three water supplies also now meet the updated guidelines.NSW Health has recommended that all 83 local water utilities test each of their drinking water supplies again in 2025, to assess the risk and also undertake source water testing in order to determine the ongoing frequency of PFAS testing in drinking water.While these local water utilities meet the new drinking water guidelines currently, ongoing work and longer term investment is required to maintain current levels. The NSW Government will work with councils to ensure appropriate long-term measures are put in place.Importantly, any PFAS detections above the guideline values, like the detection of many other water quality characteristics, should not be viewed as a pass/fail measure, but should trigger investigation and guide monitoring and response actions.The NSW Government is working to ensure all NSW water supplies – in metropolitan and regional areas – are equipped with long-term solutions to ensure effective management of PFAS risks. including treatment if needed.This includes in the Blue Mountains, where the NSW Government understands residents have concerns about their supply after 2024 testing showed the presence of PFAS in drinking water at the Cascade Water Filtration Plant. A number of measures have been put in place and according to the most recent monitoring results, NSW Health and Sydney Water have advised drinking water in the Blue Mountains meets the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is safe to drink.More information about the NSW Government’s action in relation to PFAS and drinking water is available at www.nsw.gov.au/pfas.Minister for Water Rose Jackson said, “We welcome the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines published today. Since the draft proposal in October last year, our agencies have been working hard to bring our state’s water utilities into line with the new, lower PFAS values.“As a result of this work, testing in 2024 or 2025 from all drinking water supplies across NSW meets the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and I want to assure people that NSW drinking water remains safe to drink.“This isn’t about meeting the updated guidelines as a one-off testing result – Sydney Water, Hunter Water and WaterNSW have a rigorous system of regular monitoring to detect and manage PFAS and help address levels before they become an exceedance.“I recognise there is community concern about PFAS levels in water, and we are committed to continuously improving our approach in line with national guidelines and the latest evidence.”Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “The NSW Government understands the community’s concerns about PFAS; our management of PFAS is informed by the best science and evidence.“That is why we have supported the NSW Chief Health Officer convening the NSW Health Expert Advisory Panel on PFAS to review the latest evidence and provide independent advice.”Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “Our work dealing with this legacy contaminant is ongoing in NSW with more than 1,100 legacy sites assessed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, and the NSW PFAS Expert Panel and the PFAS Technical Advisory Group established to provide cross-government assessment and advice.”

Health insurers are delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in additional payments to private hospitals to help them through a challenging period of rising costs and a shift towards more technology-driven out-of-hospital care.Following a request from Health Minister Mark Butler for health insurers to lift payments to private hospitals, the most recent Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data shows health insurance payments to private hospitals jumped 7.7% in the year to March 2025. During the same period, health insurers paid private hospitals 4.2% more per episode of treatment. This jump in hospital payments comes after health insurers paid more than $5 billion back to health fund members due to lower claims during the pandemic. CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, Dr Rachel David, said health insurers were acting on Minister Butler’s concerns about the private hospital sector by cutting their own costs and lifting payments to hospitals for the care they deliver. “Health insurers need private hospitals to survive. We want our 12 million members investing in hospital cover to receive rapid access to high-quality hospital treatment where and when they need it. With this in mind, we are paying hospitals more to help them meet rising costs for care, including higher staff wages,” Dr David said. “The health insurance sector is listening and acting. We will continue to work with hospitals, doctors and the government on ways to improve our private health system and help modernise it so it can meet the needs of our population demanding more affordable, convenient and connected care.” Dr David said health insurers were examining their own costs to maximise their own efficiency and striking more innovative contracts with hospital groups to deliver members more options for care. “We have seen some great collaboration between private hospitals and health insurers recently to contract for more out-of-hospital services such as chemotherapy, rehabilitation, wound care and mental health treatment. This reduces costs for hospitals, insurers and patients while delivering better health outcomes. This is the way of the future.”   She said health insurers were also continuing to offer potential solutions to overcome specific challenges facing private maternity care. This includes a proposal for insurers to pay more towards private obstetrics if women were given more choice about who provided their care in the private system before a private hospital birth. “We have a good supply of private hospital services across most parts of the country, so we are confident people with hospital cover will retain access to high-quality services near their homes. We are continuing to work on ways to improve maternity care and mental health care so we can create a stronger sector. “We also know that the high cost to see some specialist doctors in the community is causing many Australians to forego care and not use private hospitals. This will continue to dampen demand for private hospitals and must be addressed as part of the bigger picture. We will continue to work with the government and doctors on this.” Health insurers continue to be among the most highly scrutinised businesses in the Australian economy, Dr David said. “Health insurers’ financial data is published quarterly by the prudential regulator. Both the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Department of Health review this thoroughly during the annual premium setting process, and the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report on the sector’s performance under consumer law yearly.  “There is no need for additional regulation in a sector where pricing and performance is controlled this tightly by the government. Instead, we are advocating for private sector reform to bring data collection and transparency for hospitals and other providers up to the same standard.”