Midnight Mafia on 3 May 2025 will be the second music festival to participate in the NSW pill testing trial.Illicit drugs remain illegal in NSW. The NSW Government reiterates that there will always be risks involved when consuming these substances, and this is not an endorsement of illicit drug use.The pill testing trial is designed to help patrons make safer choices by connecting them with experienced health and peer staff who can provide information along with harm reduction advice.The first trial site was located at the Yours and Owls music festival in Wollongong on 1 and 2 March 2025.The free and anonymous drug checking service allows festival patrons to bring a small sample of substances they intend to consume to be analysed. Qualified health staff provide a rapid evaluation of the main components of the substance in line with available technology, and an indication of potency where possible.The service is staffed by peer workers, health workers and analysts who clearly communicate the capabilities and limitations of pill testing to festival patrons. Patrons are never advised that a drug is safe to use.Staff at the service can also provide patrons with referral to health and welfare services available at the event and in the community.NSW Health and NSW Police Force are working closely with festival organisers and other stakeholders to ensure safe and effective implementation of the trial at these events. The trial operates alongside other harm reduction and medical services at participating festivals.The trial will run for 12 months and will be independently evaluated. Up to ten additional festivals will be included in the trial following Midnight Mafia.The trial comes after the NSW Government’s Drug Summit concluded in early December. The recently released Report on the 2024 New South Wales Drug Summit provides a priority action recommending a trial of music festival-based drug testing.Further information on the NSW drug checking trial can be found here.More information for young people on how to keep themselves and their friends safe at music festivals is available on the Your Room website.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “We want to make clear no level of illicit drug use is safe.“This trial is about helping festival goers make more informed decisions about drug use with the goal of reducing harm and saving lives.“As we saw at the first trial site at the Yours and Owls festival, collaboration between all stakeholders is critical to ensuring the trial runs effectively.“We thank their event team for hosting, the patrons who visited the service, the dedicated NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) peer workers, and the Forensic & Analytical Science Service. “The NSW Government looks forward to listening to the evidence and applying the lessons learned as this drug checking trial progresses.”Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said, “I commend the NSW Government and NSW Health for this evidence-based and harm reducing trial.“Pill testing is all about keeping people safe, Informed, and can ultimately safe lives.”

Mortgage-holders are set for further relief, with economists declaring you can "lock in" an upcoming interest rate cut.Quarterly numbers released on Wednesday are expected to show core inflation has dropped within the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range, paving the way for a rate cut at its May 20 meeting.Economists from Australia's big four banks have all forecasted the Reserve Bank's preferred measure of annual trimmed mean inflation will come in at either 2.8 or 2.9 per cent - within its target range of two to three per cent.(Economists at the big four banks forecast inflation to be within the Reserve Bank's target range. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)The annual rate leapt out of the target range in early 2022, triggering 12 rate rises in 13 months.The central bank cut its cash rate to 4.10 per cent in February, and Westpac Group chief economist Luci Ellis said another cut in May was guaranteed."You can lock in a (0.25 per cent) cut in May, even if the Q1 inflation data is a shade disappointing," she said."For the time being, we continue to expect a total of three further cuts (0.75 per cent in total), including the cut in May, with August and November pencilled in for the other two cuts."Each 25 basis point cut would shave about $90 off monthly repayments on a typical $600,000 mortgage.While some wondered if the global economic uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs might trigger a larger than usual cut - as high as 0.5 per cent - Dr Ellis said that was not plausible.(Trimmed mean inflation is expected to come in at either 2.8 or 2.9 per cent. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)She labelled commentary suggesting the double-cut "breathless" and said Australia was less affected by the tariffs than other economies."If the board were to do something other than cut by 0.25 per cent in May, it might consider a 0.35 per cent move to 3.75 per cent," she said."To be clear, we regard this as a very outside chance."NAB, however, disagreed and has prepared for a 0.5 per cent rate cut, also predicting annual trimmed mean inflation would be recorded at 2.8 per cent."We think quarterly CPI will largely take a back seat to rising global uncertainty," its weekly markets report read."Our base case is that the RBA will deliver a 50bp cut in May to take policy more quickly towards neutral."(US President Donald Trump is set to mark his first 100 days in office. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Retail sales figures are due out on Friday, while US policy developments will continue to be of interest as Trump celebrates his first 100 days in office at a rally in Michigan on Tuesday.Investors on Wall Street have meanwhile parsed a spate of earnings looking for signs of easing tensions in the US-China trade dispute.The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices were bolstered by gains in the "magnificent seven" group of artificial intelligence-related megacaps on Friday, while the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was more muted.The latter rose 20.10 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 40,113.50, the S&P gained 40.44 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 5,525.21 and the Nasdaq gained 216.90 points, or 1.26 per cent, to 17,382.94.In a shortened trade week, Australian share futures lifted only 2.0 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 7,786.The S&P/ASX200 rose 47.7 points, or 0.60 per cent on Thursday, before the Anzac Day public holiday, to 7,968.2, as the broader All Ordinaries gained 49.9 points, or 0.61 per cent, to 8,175.1.By Alex Mitchell in Sydney

Australia's growth outlook has been slashed by a major international body as US President Donald Trump's trade upheaval sends market volatility skywards.The United Nations financial agency, the International Monetary Fund, said uncertainty had surged to unprecedented levels in its World Economic Outlook for April.Mr Trump's latest comments - that the US would be "very nice" in negotiations with China - followed conciliatory remarks from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that sent Wall St shares bouncing back from heavy losses overnight.The Australian bourse jumped more than 1.5 per cent on Wednesday morning.(Global fallout from US tariffs has hit Australia's prospects for economic growth. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)Despite the positive reaction, the fluctuating daily pronouncements are damaging the economy.The fund downgraded Australia's economic growth projection for 2025 to 1.6 per cent from 2.1 per cent in January.Global growth is also expected to be half a percentage point lower at 2.8 per cent.Equity markets had suffered heavy losses since Mr Trump's tariff announcement on April 2, but US stocks potentially had further to fall, the IMF said."Major policy shifts are resetting the global trade system and giving rise to uncertainty that is once again testing the resilience of the global economy," the agency said in the document, released on Tuesday, US time.If the agency's predictions are borne out, about $13 billion would be shaved off Australia's economy.The potential hit to the economy is worse than feared by Treasury, which predicted only a 0.1 per cent reduction in growth in its budget, reaffirmed in the pre-election economic and fiscal outlook earlier in April.Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government's job was not to "follow the bouncing ball of daily announcements and shifts", given the unpredictability around tariffs and trade negotiations."Our job is to make our economy more resilient, to engage with our colleagues and counterparts around the world, to find the most diverse, reliable markets that we can," he told reporters on Wednesday."Obviously, a big concern to us is the impact on the Chinese economy of these escalating trade tensions."(Treasurer Jim Chalmers is concerned about the unpredictability of tariffs and trade negotiations. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)China's GDP growth was downgraded by 0.6 per cent to four per cent in 2025, below Beijing's target of five per cent growth.Tariffs will dominate talks between global financial leaders gathering at IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington during the week.Finance ministers from around the globe will be eagerly seeking meetings with Mr Bessent, who is leading trade negotiations, to strike a tariff exemption deal.Dr Chalmers will be a notable absentee while he is tied up campaigning for the federal election.He said Australians would be worse off and more vulnerable to global economic uncertainty if Opposition Leader Peter Dutton won the election on May 3.(Inflation is expected to come in lower for 2025 than first forecast. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said the downgrade was a warning that Australia needed fiscal buffers to the budget, which Labor had abandoned when it came into government."One of the things that we have said is that we will bring the budget back to a path of structural surplus," she said."It's going to take some time, because so much of that windfall revenue gain that has come through from the Labor government in the last couple of years has been squandered or it's been spent in recurrent expenditure baked into the budget."Australian GDP growth is expected to pick up to 2.1 per cent in 2026, slightly lower than the 2.2 per cent projected in January.Headline inflation is projected to come in 0.8 percentage points lower in 2025 than previously forecast, at 2.5 per cent, before accelerating strongly to 3.5 per cent in 2026, once federal energy rebates come off.By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

Pope Francis's Australian-like informality and love of the people are being remembered as millions of Catholics mourn the pontiff's passing.The 88-year-old's death on Monday after a recent serious health battle was marked by tolling church bells and preparations for scores of memorial masses for the Catholic leader.Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, who met Francis about 20 times, described the Pope as very easy to talk to and almost like "an Australian in terms of his informality".(Tributes are flowing for Pope Francis, who is being remembered kindly by bishops and everyday people. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)"He was a man of deep compassion ... I count it a great privilege that I got to talk to him so many times," he told ABC TV."He shared a real passion for the marginalised, for refugees, for people who felt alienated from society, for people who were poor, financially and emotionally."Many mourners attended early masses at local cathedrals following the Pope's passing.Outside Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral, Stephen said Francis had continued Pope John Paul II's legacy as a man of the people.(Mourners attend early masses to pay tribute to the Pope, remembered as a man of the people. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)"That's what Pope Francis brought to this world: really giving everyone hope and not just making the church something that's symbolic," he told AAP."He went to the prisons to wash the feet of the captives; it's like he was representing Jesus in the truest form."Mark Andrews stopped by the cathedral before work on Tuesday and said Francis's legacy spread outside Catholicism."People across faiths saw his value and his kindness ... he was a good man in every sense," he said.(Anthony Albanese put campaigning on hold to attend a memorial at St Patrick's Cathedral. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is Catholic, said the major party leaders had agreed to dial back election campaigning on Tuesday as a sign of respect.He attended mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne on a rainy Tuesday morning.Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president and Perth Archbishop Tim Costelloe reflected on images taken just hours before the Pope's death, when Francis made a public appearance at St Peter's Square."Even though he was so sick, and so weak, he was determined to be with his people," he told ABC radio."Being with his people, being present to his people, was probably the great gift that he brought to the church and to the world."National flags on government buildings will fly at half-mast on Tuesday as a mark of respect.(Flags are being flown at half mast for the late Pope Francis, who is being remembered for humility. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)The Pope's death could also prove a turning point in Australia's relationship with the Vatican after Francis overlooked local archbishops when selecting the nation's sole cardinal in December.Cardinal Mykola Bychok said he was filled with sadness for the loss of a "pope of peace" and a man of simple piety."I am grateful for the late Holy Father's frequent appeals for a just peace in Ukraine and for the efforts of the Holy See that he oversaw - known and secret - that in some way helped bring relief to the imprisoned and suffering," the Ukrainian-born, Melbourne-based cardinal said.Cardinal Bychok was on his way to the Middle East on a pilgrimage, but will divert to Rome to take part in the funeral rites before joining other cardinal electors to choose the 267th and next pope.Mourners paid tribute to a progressive Pope who was a champion of refugees and the poor. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)The change in leadership could also offer a chance for Australian church leaders to "reset" dealings with the Vatican, Deakin and Oxford universities' Catholic historian Miles Pattenden said.After Cardinal George Pell's 2023 death, Francis overlooked local archbishops when selecting the nation's next cardinal in December."It was an extraordinary snub that Francis made Mykola Bychok, the Ukrainian Australian bishop, cardinal and not the archbishop of Sydney," Dr Pattenden said."There's no way to read that except as a rebuke to Sydney."

Holidaymakers are warned to avoid any unnecessary risks as powerful swells lash the east coast, resulting in record drownings in one state.Seven people are confirmed dead - six in NSW and one in Victoria - with the search for two others missing since Good Friday continuing on Easter Monday.In the latest tragedy, a nine-year-old boy died after becoming trapped between rocks at a popular holiday spot on the NSW mid-north coast.Police and other emergency services tried to free the boy from the site at South West Rocks on Sunday afternoon, but he died at the scene.(A man is still missing after a large wave dragged him into the sea at Little Bay on Friday. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce described the deadly Easter stretch as one of one of the "most horrific weekends on record in NSW".He said crews had also taken part in countless rescues as he urged people to steer clear of rock platforms during the large surf, which was leading to many people being washed off rocks. "We're asking people to avoid the rock platforms all together, particularly where the swell has not abated yet, and rock fishers to please wear a life jacket," Mr Pearce said on Monday."I can't stress enough how important it is for the public to be aware of the surf conditions when visiting the coastline and to not place themselves in a position of unnecessary risk."(Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce described the weekend toll as tragic. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)Unseasonally warm conditions fuelled large crowds at many beaches and waterways over the holiday period.Rescue crews in NSW and Victoria continued to search for two men missing since Friday.They included a 24-year-old who was swept off the rocks at Little Bay, in Sydney's east, and a 41-year-old man exploring the beach near San Remo in Victoria.Neither have been spotted since going into the water.The older man was with a group of fellow Chinese nationals living in Pakenham when three of the friends were knocked into the ocean by a wave. One woman was rescued, but the missing man's wife drowned.(Swimmers and anglers are being urged to beware of huge swells and not to take risks. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Emergency services were also called to Wattamolla in Sydney's Royal National Park at 11am on Sunday following reports two people were swept off the rocks while fishing.One of the duo was winched to safety, but the other was unable to be revived and died at the scene. A 58-year-old fisherman also died after being swept into water at Wollongong Harbour on Friday morning, while another fisherman died after being swept off rocks at Green Cape, near Eden on the NSW south coast, that afternoon.A man drowned at Mosman, on Sydney's north shore, on Friday.(Royal Life Saving Australia says people are often putting themselves in danger in the water. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with those who had lost loved-ones."Australians love the water, we love the surf," he said."Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, to be careful of your kids."Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Justin Carr said the deaths happened in extreme weather conditions when people had often put themselves in danger. Those activities included walking along rocky shelves, getting too close to the water to take pictures of the storm swell and rock fishing when it wasn't safe.An average of six people have drowned each Easter long weekend over the past 20 years, according to the organisation.By Melissa Meehan in Melbourne

Farmers are at their wits’ end dealing with wild rabbits as a plague of the pests sweeps across parts of NSW. NSW Farmers’ Junee Branch Chair Martin Honner said landholders in the Junee, Illabo, Wagga Wagga and surrounding districts were losing the battle to contain the destructive pests as they were reported in unprecedented numbers across the Riverina.  “The Easter Bunny is one thing, but these pests are a whole other ball game that have been introduced into our nation and have been causing havoc ever since,” Mr Honner said. “Every night, our paddocks are crawling with thousands of wild rabbits, who are ravaging our crops and pastures until there’s not a skerrick left on the ground. “Numbers are well and truly past crisis point, and no matter how hard we try to contain these rabbits ourselves, the sheer scale of the population means we need huge investment, manpower and recognition of this problem if we can ever hope to get it under control.” NSW Farmers’ Conservation and Resource Management Committee Chair Bronwyn Petrie said funding for coordinated, targeted pest control programs was needed to address the serious threat presented by the pests across the state. “Controlling introduced pests like rabbits is essential for our environment and our animals, but it’s costing farmers huge sums of money, as well as time they don’t have,” Mrs Petrie said. “What the federal government has promised to spend on fighting pests and weeds is a pittance compared to the problem, and our state government also needs to increase funding for coordinated pest control programs if we want to see any shift at all. “Rabbits are just one example of what farmers are up against here in NSW, and we’re up to our ears containing that pest alone.” 

A man’s hand has been severed during an assault this morning at Coffs Harbour.Emergency services responded to reports that a man’s left hand had been cut off during an assault at a home on Toormina Place, Coffs Harbour, about 6.45am today (Wednesday, 16 April 2025).NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 59-year-old man at the scene before he was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.Two women, aged 58 and 80, who were in the premises at the time, were not injured.Officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District have been told two men – one of whom is believed to be known to the 59-year-old man - had assaulted him. They left before police arrived.A crime scene has been established, and an investigation into the incident commenced.As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with information about the matter – or was in the area at the time with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage – to contact Coffs Harbour Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Construction has now started on Australia’s first-ever wildlife specialist teaching veterinary hospital at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.This $80 million state-of-the-art facility will replace the current hospital, which has played a critical role in wildlife care since the 1970s. The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will expand the zoo’s critical rescue and rehabilitation work by delivering new surgical, rehabilitation and recovery facilities to cater for hundreds of animals per year. As a dedicated specialist teaching hospital, it will also enable widespread training and upskilling of wildlife carers, students and veterinary practitioners – further protecting Australia’s unique biodiversity against ever-increasing natural disasters. The 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires affected billions of animals, including koalas, wallabies, platypuses and critically endangered amphibians, which Taronga’s hospital team was instrumental in treating. The devastation of these fires demonstrated a national need for a new, state-of-the-art wildlife hospital.Taronga’s new multipurpose facility will feature:Modern surgical facilities and specialised rehabilitation and recovery spaces for species such as marine turtles, reptiles and amphibians before they return to the wild.Increased quarantine facilities for animals confiscated in illegal wildlife trade seizures and for those transferred from other zoos as part of global conservation breeding programs.Australia’s first Zoo Nutrition Centre dedicated to managing the diets of the zoo's animals.A pathology lab for onsite analysis and testing.Public viewing galleries through which zoo guests can safely watch animal health checks and veterinary procedures.The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital is funded by the NSW Government through an investment of $40.7 million. A further $40 million is being raised through philanthropic donations. This facility will support the important role of volunteer wildlife carers by educating and sharing knowledge with volunteers. This will improve the state’s capacity to respond to wildlife crises through wildlife first aid. The NSW Government is undergoing state-wide consultation on the wildlife rehabilitation sector to gain a detailed understanding of how NSW can improve the way we care for our native animals. Premier Chris Minns said, “Taronga’s new wildlife hospital will be a truly unique facility as Australia’s first wildlife specialist teaching hospital.“Once opened, this new hospital will allow specialist vets to deliver treatments, surgeries, and rehabilitation for our native species – and families will be able to come to watch them in action doing what they do best. “Our country is fortunate to have so many unique species, and this facility will enable us to protect even more of our Australian wildlife for generations to come.”Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “As natural disasters become more common, veterinarians and vet nurses are increasingly being called upon to rescue and rehabilitate severely impacted wildlife.“This facility will not only give us the tools we need to rehabilitate our wildlife, it will also allow for us to share critical knowledge with wildlife carers all over the state.”Taronga Conservation Society Australia Chief Executive Cameron Kerr AO said, “Taronga’s Wildlife Hospitals in Sydney and Dubbo treat approximately 1,500 sick, injured or orphaned native animals for treatment and rehabilitation a year, caring for a range of wildlife from marine turtles to echidnas, possums, sea birds, snakes and everything in between.“Every year, we see first-hand the increasing need to treat and care for wildlife. At Taronga, we are driven by our purpose to secure a shared future for wildlife and people. We knew we had a duty to forge the next step. The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will allow our expert veterinary team to care for and protect even more of our precious, native animals, and inspire future conservationists and veterinary practitioners to protect Australia’s unique species.”

The NSW Government is delivering increased funding for the Small Group Tuition Program in NSW public schools this year, with $80 million invested to lift literacy and numeracy outcomes for students who need extra support to keep on track and meet their potential.  Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Group Tuition Program was made permanent in NSW public schools through an election commitment delivered by the state government.This will enable students to get access to intensive and targeted teaching in the critical foundational skills of literacy and numeracy.The ongoing Small Group Tuition Program is a central component of the Better and Fairer Schools Funding Agreement between the Commonwealth and NSW governments.The NSW Government has enhanced the program to align clearly with evidence-based explicit teaching, while new reporting requirements will also ensure there is a measurable impact on students’ learning progress. The Small Group Tuition Program improves reading and numeracy skills for primary and secondary students while also providing valuable practical experience for student-teachers pursuing their Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualifications, as they can be employed as tutors in the program.With the lift in funding for 2025, schools will be able to increase Small Group Tuition interventions from 10 to 15 weeks.The program has been informed by research undertaken by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), which recommends tutoring students in small groups at the “needs additional support” NAPLAN proficiency level. Additionally, Grattan Institute research found that Small Group Tuition is the most effective way of reducing learning and development equity gaps.Funding is determined based on the number of students identified through the 2024 NAPLAN proficiency standards, ensuring that resources are allocated where they are needed most.NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “The Minns Labor Government is making this significant investment as part of our record education funding, to ensure every public school student can achieve their full potential.“In addition to this funding boost for Small Group Tuition, the new reporting guidelines will make sure we are monitoring student progress in developing critical literacy and numeracy skills.“This is part of our work to reverse declining student outcomes after more than a decade of neglect and mismanagement under the former Liberal Nationals government.  “The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding the NSW public education system to ensure all students have access to a world-class public education and the opportunity to succeed.”

The number of people facing illicit drug charges in the criminal courts fell 9 per cent to 38,039 defendants in the 2023–24 financial year, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).Samantha Hall, head of ABS crime and justice statistics, said: 'The number of people facing illicit drug charges has generally been declining in recent years. Around 20,000 fewer defendants faced illicit drug charges in 2023–24 compared to 2018–19.'This was mainly due to a drop in drug possession or use offences in court, down 34 per cent from 2018–19.' There were fewer defendants with illicit drug charges in all states and territories, except in the Northern Territory (up 12 per cent or 38 defendants from 2022–23) and Western Australia (up 8 per cent or 497).Males accounted for three-quarters (74 per cent) of defendants on illicit drug charges. Around 1 per cent of defendants on illicit drug charges were aged under 18 years. Almost all (99 per cent) of those receiving a court judgement on illicit drug charges had a guilty outcome. Of these guilty defendants, over half (55 per cent or 19,407 defendants) received a fine as their principal sentence. The median amount for fines was $400. A further 12 per cent (4,246 defendants) were sentenced to a good behaviour order, and 9 per cent (3,145) to custody in a correctional institution.Nationally, the total number of criminal court defendants for all charges fell by 3 per cent between 2022–23 and 2023–24.

Digital Photo Card holders will be given access to an upgraded digital identity document from this month in a major step forward in developing the NSW Government’s Digital ID and Wallet.Commencing as a pilot project, people will have a more secure way to prove their identity and age, with the upgrade to existing NSW Digital Photo Cards allowing users to share only their required information via a digital ‘handshake’.The pilot will initially operate in three Service NSW Centres at Auburn, Blacktown, and Parramatta from today.Unlike the existing digital ‘copy’ of a customer’s Photo Card stored inside their Service NSW app, the upgraded card will enable people to digitally share information needed for a transaction via QR code without handing over their phone or identity document. The upgraded card is the first government-verifiable photo credential in Australia to be built to these international standards. The new security standards will make it harder for people to misuse the credentials or steal people’s information by keeping information more secure.It will allow people to share their ID and qualifications for a range of tasks and transactions safely and conveniently while ensuring personal information and privacy are better protected.The pilot project is testing the technology platform that will enable digital credentials such as driver's licences, trade qualifications, and working with children checks, securely stored inside the new digital wallet on the Service NSW app.These future upgrades will enable people to selectively disclose their information – for example, only providing confirmation that you are over 18 – preventing unnecessary sharing of personal details and avoiding the need to hand over your physical documents or phone. In the pilot phase, customers completing eligible transactions will present their upgraded Digital Photo Card at the Service NSW counter, where staff will use a device to verify the credential in real-time. This process will test verification of the card and the digital sharing of information with customer’s consent.Successful testing of the upgraded credential paves the way for ongoing rollout of the Digital ID and Wallet program which could see a range of licences upgraded to the new credential standard.Further legislation is required to enable wider use of NSW Digital IDs across government and accredited commercial partners, with consultation planned in late 2025.The pilot builds on the recent success of online Working with Children Check renewals and the First Aid Certificate trial with St John Ambulance. Customers who have an existing NSW Digital Photo Card can voluntarily participate in the pilot, and upgrading their card will only take a matter of minutes.Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said, "This pilot of Australia’s first government-issued digital photo credential is an exciting step towards a digital future for NSW where people have greater control over their digital identity and security.“It paves the way for more credentials to be rebuilt to the new international security standard, allowing people to only share the information they choose and creating easier access to essential documents, including in an emergency.“Upgrading this credential means that over time, more than one million NSW residents who have a Photo Card instead of a driver licence can also benefit from these security and privacy enhancements, including people who are vulnerable, elderly, disabled or new migrants.“The digital photo credential is another way we are building better services for the people of NSW and helping people to better safeguard their identity.”Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “The NSW Digital Photo Card will follow international ISO standards allowing it to eventually be used across other states, territories and countries while making it harder for someone else to use credentials and pretend to be you. “The pilot uplifts security of this primary document and enhances the privacy protections to help keep your identity information and credentials more secure.“Feedback from the pilot will provide the NSW Government with direction in planning for future statewide rollouts.”

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have backed in their plans to tackle cost of living pressures as they made their case to voters during the first leaders' debate of the federal election campaign.The prime minister won the contest on Tuesday evening, after a group of 100 undecided voters cast their ballot at a "people's forum" hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph.Forty-four per cent of the group voted in favour of Mr Albanese, with 35 per cent for the opposition leader, and 21 per cent still undecided.Polling has shown the race to reach majority government is tight.(Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton were asked how they would react to US President Donald Trump's tariffs. (Jason Edwards/AAP PHOTOS)Both leaders were cautious in their responses and avoided any major gaffes at the event in western Sydney.Education, rising healthcare costs, and energy bill relief were among the issues asked by the voters.About half the room of participants raised their hands when asked if they were struggling with cost of living, which is the defining issue of this election.Mr Dutton was repeatedly asked about his rhetoric on migration, as audience members asked what he could do to avoid "demonising" them."We have to have a managed migration program and our argument is that you can reduce it from the record level of at the moment, down by 25 per cent for two years, which will create about 100,000 homes and that will help young Australians get into housing," he said.Answering a question about health, Mr Albanese pulled out a Medicare card - something he has done repeatedly during the campaign - as Labor places the issue at the forefront of its re-election bid."Labor created Medicare will strengthen Medicare, and will make sure that in the future we get those bulk billing rates back up to 90 per cent," he said.Mr Dutton vowed there would be no cuts to healthcare if the coalition is elected, and rebutted Labor's claims about his record.(Mr Dutton was repeatedly asked about his rhetoric on migration. (Jason Edwards/AAP PHOTOS)Both leaders were asked how they would react to US President Donald Trump after he imposed tariffs on every country.Nationals Senator Matt Canavan sent his "thoughts and prayers" to Mr Dutton, after the leader's father Bruce was rushed to hospital just hours before the debate started.Western Sydney is a key battleground for the two major parties.But Labor also faces new challenges from independent candidates from the city's Muslim communities who feel angry and let down by the position taken by the government on the Israel-Gaza war.Both were asked about their response to the conflict during the debate.Mr Dutton has pledged a 25 cents a litre cut to the price of petrol by halving the fuel excise for 12 months if the coalition is elected.Asked why he wouldn't commit to the promised cuts to the fuel excise, Mr Albanese said it would "disappear in a year like the last time it happened"."This is from the Scott Morrison playbook," he said.Modelling conducted by Frontier Economics has found the coalition's national gas plan will see a 23 per cent reduction in wholesale gas prices.This would result in a seven per cent reduction in retail gas bills for residential customers, and three per cent reduction in residential electricity prices.By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra

Migrant and refugee communities will have better access to culturally appropriate mental health support thanks to a new partnership between Beyond Blue and settlement agency AMES Australia.The two organisations have joined together to make it easier and more efficient for people to find the support that best suits them, when they need it.   Together, AMES Australia and Beyond Blue support thousands of people each year with information, advice, resources and referrals.  The partnership will improve access to mental health resources and information on supports/services for many marginalised communities; including refugees and migrants, and those who face additional barriers to accessing help.  With one-third of people in Australia born overseas, an increase in people finding refuge and safety in Australia, the continued impact of racism and discrimination, and current global conflicts, the need for more inclusive approaches to mental health is greater than ever.  Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said the partnership will address the unique mental health needs of individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD), particularly those for whom English is a second language, or who have low literacy levels.  “By working together, we aim to promote the importance of good mental health and destigmatisation and deepen understandings of mental health support services across the community.  “We hope that by coming together, we can ensure that mental health support is accessible, and comprehensive to those who need it most,” she said.  AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the partnership would help improve access to mental health support for migrant and refugee communities.   “We know that refugees and migrants are among the most vulnerable in our society to the effects of poor mental health. We also know that they often find it difficult to access services of all kinds, including mental health support,” Ms Scarth said.  This important work is also a critical step in informing better policy, research, and service development for diverse communities.  Beyond Blue’s most recent Australia’s 2024 Mental Health and Wellbeing Check found that respondents from multicultural communities were less likely to know where to go for information about mental health compared to the rest of the population.  Respondents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds were less likely to seek professional support(e.g. visiting a psychologist, GP, or calling a phone helpline) but were more likely to reach out to friends and family for support and guidance.  The main support avenues for CALD community respondents were friends (63%), family members or relatives (47%), intimate partners (44%) and community/or religious leaders (11%). Nepalese-born mum of three, Reshma Manandhar knows all too well the feelings of helplessness, overwhelm and anxiety after settling in Australia more than 20 years ago. “My cultural norms were very different to my Australian neighbours, this stems from the way I was brought up; in Nepal you can’t call a phone line and tell them your problems – they simply don’t exist,” Ms Manandhar said. “It was culturally instilled; you share problems with just your family – but now I see sharing issues with a kind-listening ear, as an advantage – sometimes your family isn’t best placed to help you, and you’d benefit from more formal early intervention. “For people in CALD groups, this collaboration will afford people the opportunity to not only learn a new language (English) but also help identify emotions and help them understand at what stage and where to get help for poor mental health; this is planting the seed for a more mentally healthy Australia,” she said.  Ms Harman said around half of refugees internationally experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suffer from anxiety and psychological distress.  “Despite this, rates of help-seeking are often low which can be linked to lower levels of mental health literacy and different cultural understandings of mental health.” “Multicultural communities may find it difficult to use mainstream services because of language and cultural barriers, may be confused about how services operate, or simply be unaware of what supports are available,”she said. “In 70 years of servicing migrant and refugee communities in Australia, we at AMES Australia have learned that partnerships can help us extend our reach and maximise our impact in supporting individuals, families and communities from diverse backgrounds,” Ms Scarth said. “That’s why we are pleased to be partnering with Beyond Blue to provide better access to mental health support to people from migrant and refugee communities.” Ms Harman said if delivering important mental health information, in an accessible and respectful way, results in an uptake of earlier mental health support for people who belong to at-risk communities, then they will have a much better chance of getting better easier and earlier, before they reach crisis point. The relationship will also: Provide targeted training: Beyond Blue will continue to provide training for AMES Australia staff and volunteers who work in multicultural communities, to build on their knowledge around mental health issues, educate them about distress and the early warning signs, plus where communities can find support. Develop culturally sensitive and accessible resources: Collaborate on mental health resources, including translated information materials, to ensure accessibility for diverse communities. For example, with the support of Scope Australia, Beyond Blue and AMES Australia recently launched: Understanding anxiety and depression (Easy English guide) and the How to get support (Easy English guide); two simple guides AMES Australia can share and use with their clients and community.  Promote awareness and education: Work together on public awareness campaigns and community events to reduce stigma surrounding mental health issues and promote wellbeing within multicultural communities. 

Plastic pollution littering Australian coastlines has dropped by more than a third over the last decade, according to research by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. Researchers surveyed inland, riverine, and coastal habitats across six metropolitan regions across Australia, including Hobart in Tasmania, Newcastle in New South Wales, Perth in Western Australia, Port Augusta in South Australia, Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.  Dr Denise Hardesty, Senior Research Scientist from CSIRO and co-author, said with up to 53 million metric tonnes of plastic waste estimated to enter aquatic ecosystems by 2030, it was heartening to see a significant decrease in plastic pollution on Australian beaches and coasts. “Three-quarters of the rubbish we find on our beaches is plastic, and flexible plastics, such as food packaging, are the most harmful to wildlife,” Dr Hardesty said. “Along with a 39 per cent reduction in plastic waste in coastal areas, we also saw a 16 per cent increase in areas we surveyed with no plastic debris at all. “Decreases of plastic pollution in the coastal environment were observed in Newcastle, Perth, and the Sunshine Coast, with increases in Hobart and Port Augusta.  “Although there are still areas for concern, it's exciting to see a significant decrease in plastic pollution as people around the country are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of plastic waste on people, communities and wildlife.” A total of 8383 debris items were recorded across 1907 surveys within a 100-kilometre radius of each city. Polystyrene (24 per cent) and cigarette butts (20 per cent) were the most found items, followed by food wrappers, bottle lids and caps. Plastic fragments were also commonly recorded.  The most prevalent items in each region were: Alice Springs: beverage cans Hobart: beverage bottles Newcastle: cigarette butts Perth: cigarette butts Port Augusta: food wrappers/labels Sunshine Coast: cigarette butts ​Dr Steph Brodie, CSIRO Research Scientist and co-author, said the surveys help to identify debris hotspots, understand how land use influences debris in the environment, and how waste ends up on our coastlines.  “We found that areas with intensive land use and socio-economically disadvantaged areas tended to have higher levels of debris,” Dr Brodie said. “Understanding the types and amount of plastic pollution in our environment provides critical data to develop strategies to stop it ending up there in the first place. “These results will help to inform waste management and can be used to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of plastic waste policies, practices and education campaigns to reduce debris in metropolitan regions.” The paper, "Drivers of environmental debris in metropolitan areas: a continental scale assessment," published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, compares data from surveys conducted a decade ago and builds on previous work that showed a 29 per cent reduction in plastic waste across all of Australia.  It is part of CSIRO’s research to end plastic waste, with a goal of an 80 per cent reduction in plastic waste entering the environment by 2030.  This research received funding from the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, with the comparable data from 2011-2014 funded by Shell Australia. 

US tariffs have wreaked havoc on financial markets but could force the Reserve Bank of Australia to deliver more mortgage relief sooner.ANZ Bank - until recently the most hawkish of the big four banks - on Friday upped its interest rate cut predictions due to the carnage US President Donald Trump's tariffs are expected to inflict on the global economy.After previously predicting just one more rate cut, the bank's economists now believe the RBA will deliver three more 25-basis point cuts by August.That would bring the cash rate down to 3.35 per cent, saving the average mortgage holder an additional $269 a month in repayments.(The chaotic US tariff attack may hasten some relief for Australian borrowers. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)ANZ thinks a mega 50-basis point cut at the central bank board's next meeting in May is on the cards, as insurance against an expected collapse in business and consumer confidence."On the information we have to hand, the market reaction and past RBA responses to global shocks, more aggressive RBA easing now seems more likely than not," ANZ's economics team said in a research report.The move comes after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick trashed Australia's biosecurity regime, claiming it was being used to "block" American markets as he attempted to justify Mr Trump's executive order pinning 10 per cent tariffs on Australian imports.The United States has long taken issue with Australia's ban on uncooked American beef imports, which has been in place since a 2003 mad cow disease outbreak.(US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick thinks Australia's biosecurity concerns are "nonsense". (AP PHOTO)Australia also does not allow fresh pork imports, uncooked poultry or pears and apples from the US to prevent pests and bacteria.Mr Lutnick decried these restrictions."This is nonsense. This is all nonsense," he told CNN."What happens is, they block our markets."When we open those markets, our volumes grow, our farmers will thrive and the price of groceries will come down."There was some validity to American accusations Australia used "beyond-the-border" tariffs, Australian National University politics lecturer Jill Sheppard said."Rather than imposing financial tariffs, we use the biosecurity regime as a form of trade policy," she told AAP."Everyone involved in primary industries knows it. Everyone that watches politics knows it."(The US administration believes Australia's biosecurity measures on produce are blocking trade. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have taken a bipartisan position on the issue, with both promising not to undermine Australia's biosecurity in US tariff negotiations.US and world stock markets have tanked amid fears the tariffs could spark a global recession.Wall Street marked its biggest one-day percentage loss - nearly four per cent - since mid-2020 when the COVID pandemic was in play.The Australian stock market followed suit, falling 1.8 per cent by Friday afternoon following a 0.9 per cent drop the day prior.Tariffs are expected to directly reduce Australia's GDP by about 0.2 per cent, but the indirect impact of the measures on global trade could lead to a bigger hit to the domestic economy."What we have seen overnight is a fall in the stock market globally," Mr Albanese told ABC Radio on Friday."There is concern that this will lead to lower economic growth right around the world, and of course, as a trading nation, that will have an impact on us."Negotiations with the US administration continue, but Mr Dutton believes his government could bring more to the table if elected."When we were in government last, we negotiated for Australia to be exempt and this prime minister has failed that test," he told reporters in Sydney.No country has successfully secured an exemption from US tariffs.With a federal election on the horizon, the tariffs could provide leaders an opportunity to reinvigorate their campaigns."It's an opportunity for both to show strength," said Headline Advisory director Andrew Carswell, who previously served as a media adviser to former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison.By Kat Wong and Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

The Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold in a consensus decision dominated by a big, orange elephant in the boardroom.US President Donald Trump's tariffs cloud the outlook for future rate cuts, following the RBA's widely-anticipated decision to hold the cash rate at 4.1 per cent on Tuesday.Global uncertainty was a significant risk identified by the board in its post-meeting statement, as the world awaits Mr Trump's 'Liberation Day' reciprocal tariff announcements on Wednesday, US time."Recent announcements from the US on tariffs are having an impact on confidence globally and this would likely be amplified if the scope of tariffs widens, or other countries take retaliatory measures," the board said.That has implications for Australia's growth and inflation prospects - and ergo rate cuts.(RBA governor Michele Bullock is still concerned about inflation. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)"The question we're asking ourselves is what it might do to activity globally and inflation in Australia as we move on," RBA governor Michele Bullock told reporters following the decision.Much will depend on how China acts in response. If the trade war escalates that's bad for growth and could encourage the RBA to ease rates more to avoid unemployment rising.But if China - Australia's largest partner - leans into fiscal stimulus, the hit to domestic activity would be limited.That lack of clarity justified the Reserve Bank's decision to keep rates on hold, said KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynne."Uncertainty around US tariffs with respect to 'if', 'how much', 'how long', and 'on what' means the RBA has to keep its powder dry," he said.HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham said global developments were more likely to pose a downside risk for local inflation rather than an upside risk, thereby supporting more cuts than less.The board reiterated it was "cautious" about the inflation outlook, although recent data suggested a continued easing in price growth.The headline consumer price index slowed from 2.5 to 2.4 per cent in February, below the midpoint of the RBA's two-to-three per cent target band, in monthly figures released last week.Food was the main driver behind the recent pick up in household consumption. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)But the RBA will be looking for more proof in less volatile quarterly inflation data due to be released before its next meeting in May.Following Tuesday's decision, markets were pricing in 17 basis points of cuts for the May meeting - or about a two-thirds chance.The implication of the federal election result on government spending was another uncertainty adding to the RBA's caution, said BDO Economics Partner Anders Magnusson."The RBA has taken a cautious approach by holding the cash rate and waiting for the March quarter CPI release and the results of the upcoming election," he said.The economy was making welcome and encouraging progress, said Treasurer Jim Chalmers."But we know that there will be work to do because the global environment is so uncertain and people are still under pressure," he said. Ms Bullock said the inflationary effects of the federal budget, revealed last week, were "pretty much awash"."It's pretty much the same fiscal impulse, I think, as we've got in our forecasts at the moment, so that's not driving any change in our inflationary forecasts," she said.But weak productivity growth remained a concern for the RBA, threatening to drive up inflation in the long term if wages continued to rise faster than prices.Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor blamed the government for the "lacklustre" productivity outcome."The truth is, getting interest rates down when there's no productivity in the economy is extremely difficult," he said.The RBA noted domestic consumption appeared to be recovering with food the main pick-up, although some sectors continued to report a weakness in demand.That was borne out in retail sales figures released by the ABS earlier on Tuesday.Spending picked up 0.2 per cent in trade in February, slightly below consensus expectations for a 0.3 per cent rise in spending, in a further sign that household consumption is recovering gradually.

The NSW Government’s 12-month trial of body worn cameras continues to be rolled out in selected hospitals in NSW.Liverpool and Bankstown-Lidcombe hospitals have now joined the trial, with the aim of improving safety for staff, patients and visitors.Minister for Health Ryan Park said a total of five hospitals across northern Sydney, south western Sydney and the Illawarra are now participating in the trial, which commenced at Royal North Shore Hospital in December 2024. Security staff in participating hospitals are equipped with body-worn cameras and can activate these cameras in response to incidents involving aggression and violence in the hospital, where there is a risk of harm to staff, patients or others.The trial will determine how effective the presence of the cameras are at deterring and de-escalating violent incidents and will be independently evaluated once completed.Body worn cameras are one strategy intended to keep everyone safe in NSW public hospitals. NSW Health facilities also have a number of other key strategies in place to ensure the safest possible environment for staff, patients and visitors. These include:Ongoing risk assessments to identify and manage emerging security risks.Safety huddles to share information on patient related safety risk with incoming workers.Patient management plans that set out specific arrangements to keep both the patient and healthcare workers safe when providing care.Multi-disciplinary Code Black (duress) response teams. This includes the use of NSW Health security staff/Health and Security Assistants to assist clinical staff with the management of incidents.Workplaces designed to enhance line of sight for staff and reduce entrapment, including dual egress at staff stations and in treatments rooms.Lockdown arrangements including secure entry points between public and clinical areas and secure perimeters for facilities, particularly after hours.Personal mobile and fixed duress alarms for staff to ensure they can summon assistance when necessary.Closed circuit television (CCTV) and effective lighting to ensure visibility.Procedures to enhance car park security, including regular security patrols.This trial is part of the ongoing implementation of recommendations from the Anderson Review of Hospital Security and follows implementation of other recommendations by the NSW Government to improve hospital security.These include the establishment of the Safety and Security Improvement Unit within the Ministry of Health, the standardising of code black procedures, and enhanced support for patient experience officers.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “The safety of our staff and patients is my top priority as the Minister for Health.“Any instances of aggression towards staff will not be tolerated, and appropriate action will always be taken against individuals who behave in such a manner.“I look forward to the results of this trial which will provide insight into how we can reduce instances of violence and aggression in our public hospitals.”

According to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), one in 15 adults (6.6 percent) has diabetes, up from one in 20 (5.1 percent) a decade earlier.James Mowle, ABS head of health statistics, said: ‘Males are more likely to have diabetes than females. And adults living in the most disadvantaged areas are more likely to have diabetes than those in the least disadvantaged areas.’Older people are more likely to have diabetes than younger people. Another 2.7 per cent of adults are at high risk of diabetes.Nearly a third of adult Australians (30.2 per cent) have high total cholesterol, down from 33.2 per cent in 2011–12. Females (32.1 per cent) are more likely to have high cholesterol than males (28.2 per cent).The survey also revealed that one in five adults (20.6 per cent) has a vitamin D deficiency, which is more likely to occur in winter than summer (since sun exposure is one way of getting the vitamin) and varies significantly by state.‘Results showed 26.1 per cent of Australian adults are vitamin D deficient in winter, compared to 15.5 per cent in summer. We know that vitamin D is essential for the body to absorb calcium effectively, which is important for bone health and muscle function. A severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to brittle and fragile bones.’ Mr. Mowle said.

Australians ate 2.3 per cent more meat and poultry in 2023-24 compared to the previous financial year, an average consumption of 145 grams per person per day, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Paul Atyeo, ABS health statistics spokesperson, said: ‘Compared to six years ago, we’re eating 13 per cent more poultry per person, while beef, lamb, and pork consumption has risen by 1.8 per cent. At the same time, we’ve been eating less processed meats, which have dropped 12 per cent since 2018-19.’ Poultry made up around 44 per cent of total meat and poultry consumption in 2023-24, while 36 per cent was beef, lamb, and pork. The remainder was from processed meat with 12 per cent and sausages with 8 per cent. ‘We’re also buying more bottled water, up by 3.9 per cent over the last year. Soft drinks also went up by 2.2 per cent, and energy and sports drinks combined saw a 9.3 per cent rise. Meanwhile, fruit juices and fruit drinks dropped by 4.8 per cent.’ Chocolate appeared to lose favour over the last year (down 5.7 per cent) but there was a 10 per cent rise in potato chips.   Australians are also eating more berries.  ‘While most fruit categories have seen a fall since 2018-19, we’re eating 24 per cent more berries than we did six years ago.’ Mr Atyeo said. For more information, please refer to the Apparent Consumption of Selected Foodstuffs, Australia, 2023-24 report, available for free download from the ABS website: https://www.abs.gov.au