The state government is building a safer New South Wales for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.  New rules require all bail decisions in NSW courts to be made by a magistrate or judge, while tough new penalties will apply for breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.    Magistrates and judges to make bail decisions  Registrars will continue to play an important role in the administration of our courts but no longer have the legal power to make bail decisions.  The laws, announced last year to reform how the justice system handles cases of domestic and family violence, came into effect this month.  The NSW Government has invested $39 million to increase the capacity of the courts to support the reforms, with 35 audio-visual courtroom upgrades to improve remote hearing facilities across a range of matters including bail hearings.  The funds were announced last year and formed part of a package of $245.6 million in the 2024-25 NSW Budget to address domestic and family violence through primary prevention, earlier intervention and crisis responses.  All first-appearance bail applications are now managed through a Centralised Bail Court at Parramatta Children’s Court, with the number of acting magistrates increased from three to six.  Four additional magistrates have been recruited to manage Local Court bail applications and recruitment is underway for another three.  It follows the introduction of tough bail laws to make it harder for those accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.    Tougher penalties for ADVO breach  People who breach an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) will face up to five years’ imprisonment under tough new penalties which apply from Monday.  Two new offences target both serious and repeat breaches of ADVOs. Breaching an ADVO with the intention of causing harm or fear will carry a maximum penalty of three years’ jail.  Those who breach an ADVO three times within a month face a maximum penalty of five years’ jail.  Existing penalties for breaching an ADVO, up to two years’ jail, will continue to apply.  Last year, the Minns Labor Government introduced tough new reforms making it harder for those accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.  Serious alleged domestic violence offenders who are granted bail are now electronically monitored by Corrective Services.  Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders to monitor and supervise high-risk offenders, modelled on a scheme to combat organised crime, will also begin later this year.  These reforms are part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to take action to reduce and ultimately eliminate domestic and family violence in our state.  The new ADVO offences were legislated last year but commence on Monday following a period of training and education for justice agencies.    Attorney General, Michael Daley said, “The NSW Government is making important changes to the court system to ensure the safety of the community and improve protections for domestic and family violence victim-survivors.  “This includes investing in court infrastructure and strengthening our laws to give the community greater certainty around bail decisions.  “Registrars perform a valuable public service and will continue to play an important role in the administration of our courts.  “Decisions about bail can be difficult and complex and the NSW Government believes they are most appropriately handled by a magistrate or judge.  “New ADVO offences will help hold perpetrators to account and strengthen protections for victim-survivors.  “They target serious, repeat behaviour indicating a high risk of harm to someone protected by an ADVO.  “These laws are tough, and they need to be. Domestic and family violence offenders are among the state’s most serious criminals.  “The NSW Government will continue to look at ways we can improve the law to protect women and children from domestic and family violence.”    Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “The NSW Government is working hard to build a safer New South Wales by reducing domestic and family violence in our communities.  “We are committed to making sure victim-survivors of domestic and family violence are safe and supported when they escape violence, as well as holding perpetrators to account for their actions.  “The new ADVO offences show that our justice system is enhancing the protections for victim-survivors of domestic violence and boosting their safety.  “Everyone in New South Wales deserves to live safe in their homes, free from violence. That’s why a key priority for this government is to address the underlying attitudes that tolerate and condone gendered violence through our primary prevention strategy.”    Women’s Safety Commissioner, Dr Hannah Tonkin said, “The new ADVO offences prioritise the safety of women and children and send a clear message that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated.  “This will make a practical difference to women and children who experience serious and repeated violence, while also strengthening accountability for offenders.  “We need a multi-pronged approach to prevent domestic and family violence in our communities, and stronger penalties for ADVO breaches are an important piece of the puzzle.”  

The NSW Government is today announcing sweeping legislation that will ban all future public-private partnerships being imposed on the state’s acute hospitals.The legislation will protect hospitals that provide services such as emergency, surgical and inpatient services from any future government entering into such partnerships that limit public control over hospital services. The Health Services Amendment (PPP Prohibition) Bill 2025 (NSW) will achieve this by preventing governments from entering into a Northern Beaches-style arrangement to build or operate an acute public hospital.This law will honour the memory and legacy of toddler Joe Massa, who tragically died in September last year.The protection of the state’s acute hospitals will apply to any future government that seeks to pursue a privatisation agenda.Health Minister Ryan Park will introduce legislation in the NSW Legislative Assembly to amend the Health Services Act 1997 (NSW) to this effect.This legislation forms part of the Government’s broader response to ongoing community concerns in relation to the quality and safety of health services delivered at Northern Beaches Hospital, including: A parliamentary inquiry into the hospital;A review of the systems and processes surrounding paediatric care at Northern Beaches Hospital, led by the Clinical Excellence Commission;A roundtable to improve the accessibility of the REACH protocol (Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way);Requesting a coronial inquest; andA commitment to ensure Healthscope implements all recommendations of the Serious Adverse Event Review into Joe Massa’s death.Premier Chris Minns said, “Today we are announcing that under ‘Joe’s Law’, NSW will ban all future public-private partnerships being imposed on the state’s acute hospitals.“As a Labor government, we believe critical public services like acute hospitals should remain in public hands, safeguarded from privatisation.“The NSW Government is committed to delivering the healthcare that the people of NSW rely on to keep our communities safe.”Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “Today, we are announcing a ban on public-private partnerships being imposed on our state’s acute hospitals.“From the very beginning, we’ve adamantly opposed these sorts of arrangements – and we will continue to oppose them, now and into the future.“What we are doing today is to deliver further protection of our hospitals – honouring the memory and legacy of toddler Joe Massa.“Joe’s Law will mean that public hospitals which provide services such as emergency, surgical and inpatient services, will be protected under this government and from any future government that wishes to enter into such partnerships with private providers.“Our major and local community hospitals should be run by the people.”

Australia is on track for structural deficits as far as the government can see, clouding the economy's final approach to a soft landing.Treasurer Jim Chalmers' federal budget unveiled on Tuesday night locks in underlying deficits until 2035/36 as a result of ballooning spending and lower revenue growth than previous years.The 2024/25 year budget is now estimated to be $27.6 billion in the red, more than $600 million worse than anticipated in the December mid-year update, following two brief surpluses.But the headline deficit paints an even bleaker picture, with off-budget spending pushing $104 billion in the five years to 2028/29.(Structural deficits are clouding the Australian economy's final approach to a soft landing. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)That includes investments in projects like the NBN, Snowy Hydro and student debt write-offs, which are supposed to make a return for the government but still contribute to debt.Independent economist Chris Richardson estimated the fundamentals of the budget have worsened by about $50 billion in recent years."Making permanent promises off the back of a temporary spurt of revenue is an old mistake - and that's what this measure of the structural budget position suggests that we've done," he said.The treasurer looked on the bright side, comparing the state of the budget now with even gloomier forecasts before Labor came to office in 2022, touting a $207 billion improvement to the bottom line.That has saved taxpayers from being on the hook for $60 billion in interest costs over the decade."These are some of the dividends of our responsible economic management," Dr Chalmers told parliament in his budget speech."Achieved through a combination of spending restraint, finding savings and banking revenue upgrades."(The federal government has made improvements to structural spending pressures like the NDIS. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)The government has banked almost 70 per cent of upgrades in tax revenue and made improvements to structural spending pressures like the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and aged care in interest costs, Dr Chalmers said.But the budget shows the improvement to the bottom line has come as a result of parameter variations - factors outside the government's control - rather than policy decisions, which resulted in a $34 billion hit to cumulative deficits over the five-year forecast.Tax receipts were also impacted by a $6.9 billion downgrade in the tobacco excise, which has encouraged a lucrative black market for cigarettes and vapes.The government provided another $156.7 million to boost a crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade.(Authorities are continually trying to stop the flow of illegal vapes, and cigarettes. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)The structural degradation in the budget means Australia will eclipse $1 trillion in federal debt for the first time in the next financial year, putting the nation in a worse place to respond to economic shocks.Treasury revised down Australia's growth outlook for this financial year to 1.5 per cent, with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred delivering a 0.25 per cent hit to quarterly growth.Amid slowing growth in China, wars in Europe and the Middle East, and Donald Trump's tariffs, the Treasury predicts the global economy to grow at its slowest rate since the 1990s.But Australian GDP would grow stronger in future years, while China and the US slowed, revealing a new-found "Australian exceptionalism", Dr Chalmers said.Encouragingly, much of this recovery will be fuelled by the private sector."Tariffs and tensions abroad have been accompanied by storms at home," he said."Storm clouds are gathering in the global economy too."Australia is neither uniquely impacted nor immune from these pressures, but we are among the best placed to navigate them."(Australia will eclipse $1 trillion in federal debt for the first time in the next financial year. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Underlying inflation, excluding the impact of energy rebates and fuel, is expected to be back in the Reserve Bank's target band by the middle of this year, six months earlier than previously expected.Wages, meanwhile, are expected to keep growing faster than inflation until at least 2028/29.Treasury predicts growth in living standards, as measured by real household disposable income per capita, will accelerate to two per cent, boosted by more tax cuts announced in the budget, which will support a pick up in consumption."All of this means the soft landing we have been planning and preparing for is looking more and more likely," Dr Chalmers said.By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

Business bosses are furious about a "heavy-handed" measure designed to help workers take better-paid jobs or start their own companies.The workplace change contained in the federal budget means workers earning less than $175,000 cannot be "handcuffed" to their jobs.The change is subject to legislation and expected to take force in two years.Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew McKellar blasted the budget measure. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Businesses will be unable to impose non-compete clauses, which stop or restrict people from moving to a competing employer, on their workers.Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said the change was unnecessary."It's a heavy-handed measure," he told AAP."This is something that really will affect particularly a lot of smaller businesses who invest in time to train their staff to pass on their intellectual property. "They then face the risk that if those staff move on, they can go to a competitor, and very quickly you're at a competitive disadvantage, in many cases, if you're just a small business."Research out of the US, where the Federal Trade Commission has moved to ban non-competes entirely, suggests it would improve business start-up rates and would affect several industries including finance, health and beauty.("Invisible handcuffs are there, and that's really unfair," nurse practitioner Leanne Boase said. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)Leanne Boase is a nurse practitioner in Melbourne's outer north as well as chief executive of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners. When she left a GP clinic, she co-owned, her former practice partner tried to prevent her working at rival clinics within 25km for 10 years."I wasn't free to actually move into a different practice location, and my patients were not free to have the choice to continue to see me as a provider, and that's what worried me," she told AAP."Invisible handcuffs are there, and that's really unfair."More than three million Australians are covered by such clauses, including childcare workers, hair stylists, and construction employees.The Labor government is also considering expanding the ban on non-competes to people earning more than $175,000 - the threshold defined as high income under Fair Work legislation.The changes could add $5 billion, or 0.2 per cent of GDP, to the economy each year, according to Productivity Commission modelling.(Many childcare workers are among those subject to non-compete clauses in employment contracts. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Non-compete clauses have been found to drive down wages by an average of $2700 for workers, according to analysis by research institute e61.The government will also clamp down on loopholes in competition law that allow businesses using "no-poach" agreements to stop workers from being hired by competitors.The crackdown will also extend to employers making anti-competitive deals that cap workers' pay and conditions without their knowledge or consent.By Tess Ikonomou and Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

Taxpayers are being promised $10 a week of relief in a pre-election sweetener, as Jim Chalmers lays out the economic case for a second term of a Labor government.In his fourth federal budget handed down on Tuesday night, weeks before Australians go to the polls, the treasurer revealed the average earner would be $536 a year better off once the tax cuts are fully implemented.But workers will have to wait more than a year before they get the first hit of additional hip-pocket relief.(Jim Chalmers unveiled tax cuts for workers in his fourth federal budget. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)The first round will be from July 2026, with those on an average income (about $80,000) getting a $268 boost, with the second round coming in from July 2027.After the government's 2024/25 tax cuts are included, it's estimated taxpayers will be more than $2500 a year - or about $50 a week - better off overall in 2027/28. The cuts will cost $17 billion over the next four years, but Dr Chalmers said the first tax rate would be at its lowest level in more than 50 years."These additional tax cuts are modest but will make a difference," the treasurer said.The tax measures are among multiple cost-of-living measures that have been locked in by the government in a pitch to voters before the federal election, due to be held in May.(The tax cuts are among several cost-of-living measures that have been locked in by the government. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)Dr Chalmers said the economy was "turning a corner" after previous years of high inflation, insisting better days were to come despite global uncertainty."The plan at the core of this budget is about more than putting the worst behind us. It's about seizing the best of what's ahead of us," he said."We've come a long way, but there's more work to do. This budget is our plan for a new generation of prosperity in a new world of uncertainty. "It's a plan to help finish the fight against inflation."The budget comes as Australia and other countries brace for further tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, after he targeted steel and aluminium exports.A $20 million Buy Australia campaign will be set up in response to the tariff threat, which will encourage shoppers to buy local products.The treasurer said the budget was a "platform for prosperity in a world of uncertainty".(The federal budget contains power bill relief for households and one million small businesses. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Among the cost-of-living measures already announced were a further $150 in power bill relief for households and one million small businesses, to be handed out in two lots of $75 rebates through to December, under an $1.8 billion package.Health measures have been reiterated through $7.9 billion to expand bulk billing to 90 per cent of GP appointments by 2030, and an extra $644 million to build more urgent care medical clinics.Scripts for medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will also be capped at $25 for non-concession card holders.The low-income threshold for the Medicare levy has also been lifted by more than $1200 for singles and about $2700 for families.Student loans would also be cut by 20 per cent for all three million people with a HECS debt, which would wipe $16 billion from all balances.From July, students can also earn more before they would have to repay their remaining debt, with the threshold rising from just over $54,000 to $67,000.(Supermarket competition and costs for consumers are in the spotlight ahead of a federal election. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)The budget also included funding for the consumer watchdog to crack down on misleading conduct by major supermarkets, with more than $38 million set aside.An extra $240 million will also be spent for states and territories to relax planning laws to allow more supermarkets to open and increase competition in the sector.First home-buyers will also be helped through an $800 million expansion of the Help to Buy scheme, which allows people to purchase a property with a lower deposit.The government will set aside almost $6 million to enforce a ban of foreign buyers purchasing a home in Australia for two years, which starts in April.By Andrew Brown in Canberra

The Federal and NSW Governments are working together to deliver more critical frontline family, domestic and sexual violence services in NSW.Both governments have demonstrated their commitment to ending gender-based violence by renewing the five-year National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses.Under the agreement, the Australian Government will provide an additional $110.6 million to NSW to bolster family, domestic and sexual violence services and action in the state.This additional investment will bring the total Commonwealth funding by the Albanese Government for NSW to $210.6 million since 2022.Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said renewing the FDSV National Partnership demonstrated the dedication of governments to making real and meaningful change for Australians.“Under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, all governments have made a commitment to ending gender-based violence in Australia, which requires us to come together and focus efforts and funding where it is needed most for victim-survivors and people at risk of violence,” Minister Rishworth said.“This funding and renewed agreement with NSW will strengthen funding to frontline services and further our shared goal of creating a safer Australia.”Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said addressing domestic, family and sexual violence is priority for the NSW Government.“We welcome the additional $110 million from the Federal Government under the National Partnership Agreement. With matched funding by the NSW Government, we will be focusing on the important work of driving down the prevalence of domestic, family and sexual violence in our state.”  The renewed FDSV National Partnership will deliver over $700 million across all jurisdictions in new, matched investments from the Commonwealth and states and territories, supporting frontline FDSV services, including specialist services for women and children impacted by FDSV, and men’s behaviour change programs.An additional $1 million will also be used for an independent evaluation of the renewed FDSV National Partnership.More information on the FDSV National Partnership Agreement is available on the Federal Financial Relations website.If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services:Available 24/7: Call, text or online chatMon-Fri, 9am - midnight AEST (except national public holidays): Video call (no appointment needed) If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.Feeling worried or no good? Connect with 13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit www.13yarn.org.au No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.

One of Australia’s most beloved and successful performers, the late Peter Allen is one of 16 new blue plaque recipients, as the NSW Government spotlights remarkable stories that have shaped our state’s rich history.Born Peter Woolnough in Tenterfield, Peter’s ambition and extraordinary talent took him all around the world. Despite his international success, Peter never lost touch with his roots, often reflecting on his small-town upbringing in his music.Today, Peter Allen represents different things to different people. To many, he is the writer of the quintessential Australian songs ‘Tenterfield Saddler’ and ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ as well as a dazzling entertainer known for his flamboyant persona. To others, he was a gay icon and courageous trailblazer who put a face to the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s.Known as The Boy From Oz, Peter’s early performances at the New England Hotel in Armidale will be honoured with this prestigious blue plaque.Chosen from 184 public nominations, these 16 new plaques join 49 blue plaques already announced. Each plaque is an invitation to explore the untold stories that connect us across the state.All nominations are assessed by Heritage NSW and independent historians.For more information visit blueplaques.nsw.gov.au.Minister for the North Coast and Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said, “We’re claiming Peter Allen as a proud son of Tenterfield but we’re happy to share him with Armidale, where he gave his early performances at the New England Hotel.“I’m thrilled that Peter’s Northern Tablelands musical beginnings and his incredible contributions to Australia’s cultural landscape will be honoured with this blue plaque in the region.“His legacy is that of singer-songwriter burning with talent and charisma whose star shone brightly on the world stage but who never forgot where he came from.”Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe said, “These new blue plaques represent a vibrant mix of stories. From fearless activists and creative talents to events that unite us all, these plaques capture the diverse people and moments that have woven NSW’s unique heritage.“I encourage everyone to seek out our state’s blue plaques, whether you’re exploring your neighbourhood or travelling further afield.”

The NSW Government’s Rental Taskforce has hit the ground running, with a recent investigation into incorrect charges for rental background checks resulting in almost $50,000 being returned to renters.The Taskforce is also coming down hard on real estate agents who were found to have misappropriated trust funds and rental bonds.Following a $8.4 million investment by the NSW Government, the Rental Taskforce has been analysing activities and trends within the rental market and conducting education and compliance activities such as inspections, audits, and blitzes to prevent and act on breaches of the law.This work has recently resulted in refunds totalling $47,321 for renters after a company was found to be selling background checks to renters.The NSW Parliament passed changes to rental laws in October 2024, banning landlords from making rental applicants pay for background checks before or when entering into a tenancy.The NSW Fair Trading investigation revealed an online rental application platform had charged more than 2300 rental applicants for background checks allegedly due to a system error. Rental applicants were charged $19.95 for a search of public databases and the National Tenancy Database, but following engagement from the Rental Taskforce, the platform has since voluntarily refunded affected consumers, disabled the background check feature on its website in NSW, and committed to periodic reviews to ensure compliance.NSW Fair Trading is asking for any rental applicants who have been charged for a background check to lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading by visiting: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/fair-trading/complaints-and-enquiries/housing-and-property.NSW Fair Trading has also been working with NSW Police on several cases in recent months where trust funds or rental bonds have been misappropriated. On 7 March 2025, Parramatta Local Court sentenced real estate agent Vanessa Nguyen to a 15-month Intensive Correction Order (ICO), with a condition to complete 180 hours of community service and to pay $80,866.20 in compensation, after a NSW Fair Trading investigation revealed she had taken more than $100,000 dishonestly from NSW Rental Bonds and a trust account managed at Ray White Canley Heights. Nguyen made 25 rental bond claims totalling more than $50,000, and on 14 separate occasions transferred a total sum of $50,505 from the agency’s trust account into her personal account.  Nguyen pleaded guilty and was convicted of two offences of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. By law, real estate agents are obligated to place client funds in trust accounts which cannot be used for any purpose other than for that client. In late 2024, NSW Fair Trading completed two prosecutions where a property manager and an administration assistant at real estate agency First National Parramatta, plead guilty to charges relating to the misappropriation of funds from Rental Bonds.   Rachel Fares was sentenced to a 12-month Community Corrections Order in December 2024 after pleading guilty to one charge of fraud under the NSW Crimes Act for misappropriating $1,801.34 of Rental Bonds, and one charge for money laundering after she received approximately $7,400 in circumstances where there were reasonable grounds to suspect it was the proceeds of crime.      In a related matter, property manager Matthew Rizk was sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order with 40 hours of community service in October 2024 for one count of fraud under the NSW Crimes Act for misappropriating the sum of approximately $15,436 related to rental bonds. In January 2025, an investigation into property agent Bree Patricia Callaghan revealed she had diverted trust account funds, including rental payments, into her personal bank account and cancelled property management fees. NSW Fair Trading cancelled Callaghan’s property licence and disqualified her from holding a property licence for 10 years.Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said, “The return of almost $50,000 in incorrect charges back to renters demonstrates that the Minns Labor Government’s Rental Taskforce has hit the ground running and is doing the job it was set up to do. “The significant prosecutions and punishments we are seeing for real estate agents also shows that the message is clear – if you are doing the wrong thing, the Rental Taskforce will catch you and serious legal consequences will follow. “The new Rental Taskforce is a multi-disciplinary team bringing together new and existing resources drawn from across NSW Fair Trading, focused on preventing and responding to breaches of rental laws to create a more equitable market for the 2.3 million renters in this state.”

As part of the Federal Government's pre-budget announcements, today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government will provide another $150 in Energy Bill Relief, extending energy rebates until the end of 2025. This cost-of-living relief measure will help every household and small business. From 1 July 2025, every household and around one million small businesses will see another $150 in rebates automatically applied to their electricity bills in quarterly instalments, on top of the previous rebates already being rolled out to Australian households and small businesses. Treasury estimates this will directly reduce headline inflation by around half of a percentage point in 2025, and reduce household bills by 7.5 per cent on average nationally, compared to bills without the extension. As the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown, the energy bill rebates we have been rolling out with the states have directly reduced electricity prices. In 2024, electricity prices fell 25.2 per cent, but would have fallen just 1.6 per cent without energy rebates. The extension of energy bill rebates will cost $1.8 billion over the forward estimates.  In addition, the ACCC’s Inquiry into the National Electricity Market will be extended for 12 months, helping to ensure households and small businesses are getting a fair deal from their energy retailer. The Albanese Labor Government’s energy reforms will help consumers to switch between energy plans to secure the best value for their money, remove excessive fees and charges, and ensure people get the concessions they are entitled to, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars per year. We are providing immediate relief on energy bills now while we continue to progress the overdue reform needed to deliver the modern, affordable and reliable energy grid Australians deserve. Our economic plan is all about finishing the fight against inflation, providing responsible cost of living relief and building a stronger and more productive economy.  Helping with the cost of living is the number one priority of the Albanese Government and the Budget, and that’s what our energy rebates will do.

The NSW Government and the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announced that the 2025 NRL and NRLW Grand Finals will be held on Sunday, 5 October at Accor Stadium in Sydney. This deal keeps the NRL’s biggest event in its birthplace and home, where it has been played every year since the birth of rugby league in Australia in 1908—except for the Covid-affected 2021 season.With the 2025 NRL season shaping up as one of the most competitive in years and the NRLW continuing its rapid growth, fans from across Australia and New Zealand will head to Sydney for the Grand Final over the October long weekend.Following an exciting season launch in Las Vegas, the NRL is expected to deliver more thrills in 2025. The Penrith Panthers will chase a fifth straight title, a feat last achieved by St George in the 1950s and 60s.As the NRL expands its audience in the US and Asia-Pacific, Sydney and NSW remain the heart of rugby league. The Grand Final will showcase the city to a growing international fan base.The NSW Government also recently announced its new events framework, listing the NRL Grand Final as a ‘Foundation Event’—one of the state’s most significant events for its economic, social, and cultural impact.Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said, “NSW is the home of rugby league, and Sydney is unquestionably the greatest rugby league city in the world, so there really is no better place to be hosting the NRL’s showpiece event.“The NRL Grand Final is one of our nation’s greatest annual sporting events, and with NSW representing more than half of the clubs across both the NRL and NRLW competitions, this is great news for the thousands of fans who will come together to celebrate in our city.”Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said, “The NRL has done a fantastic job in promoting and expanding the game to new markets across the US and Asia-Pacific. As such, we need to make sure we cement Sydney’s legacy as the home of rugby league and build on its reputation in these markets as one of the world’s great cities for major sporting events.“As we’ve seen with the Las Vegas effect, rugby league fans from all over Australia and the world will flock to Sydney for the NRL and NRLW Grand Finals and I can’t wait to see Accor Stadium abuzz with the atmosphere of 82,500 rugby league fans on Grand Final day.“Not only is this a big win for sport fans but it is fantastic news for pubs, hotels, restaurants and retailers in NSW who can now start to plan for this iconic event.”National Rugby League CEO Andrew Abdo said, “We are pleased to confirm that Sydney will host the NRL and NRLW Telstra Grand Finals for season 2025.“Thank you to the NSW Government for the ongoing support of Rugby League and to Premier Chris Minns and Minister Steve Kamper, who have worked with us to reach an agreement for this year’s Grand Final.”

The NSW Government is enhancing the Service NSW app to improve digital accessibility, strengthen data security, and boost user experience.More than 3 million people are actively using the Service NSW app each month, with additional features being rolled out to help reduce digital barriers for the community.New features added over recent months include a digital wallet to store licences for easy access; a Service NSW Centre finder; and multi-factor authentication push notifications.The Service NSW app has also been undergoing a major update to design to improve accessibility for users who have visual impairments.New features now available in the palm of your hand include:Service NSW Centre Finder: App users can search for their nearest Service NSW Centre or Mobile Service Centre by entering a postcode or suburb. A map will display the nearest centres and details including address, opening times, and directions to the centre.Digital Wallet Update: Customers can easily access all their licences in the one spot and set favourites to organise their licences on the home screen. Voucher Sharing: Customers with a digital Active and Creative Kids voucher can share their vouchers with other nominated Service NSW app users, making it easier for families to redeem the vouchers for sport, recreational, creative, or cultural activities.Update your personal details: Customers can keep their MyServiceNSW Account details up to date via the mobile app, including their preferred name, phone number, and address. Multi-factor Authentication Push Notifications: People who choose to secure their MyServiceNSW Account with multi-factor authentication can respond to a push notification in the Service NSW app to access their account.Service NSW will begin introducing mandatory multi-factor authentication for new MyServiceNSW account holders this month with functionality on track to be rolled out to all users by 2026.This security enhancement significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised account access while helping keep personal data safe.  Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said, “The Service NSW app is all about making it easier for customers to interact with government, and we are constantly looking at ways to improve functionality, accessibility, and security.“Whether it’s finding your nearest Service NSW Centre, sharing your Active and Creative Kids voucher with a family member or easier access to your licences via the digital wallet, the changes will make it easier for the community to use.“Connecting people living with disabilities with government information and services is so important, and changes to design elements on the Service NSW app will help customers with visual impairments perform the digital transactions they need via the app.“Service NSW takes data protection and cyber security very seriously and is working to roll out mandatory multi-factor authentication, adding an additional layer of security for customers’ information and helping prevent unauthorised account access.“The app also provides information on the latest services, including how to access toll relief through the Minns Labor Government’s $60 toll cap which has already returned $100 million to hip pockets.”

Australia's population grew by 1.8 per cent in the 12 months leading up to 30 September 2024, according to the latest figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).Beidar Cho, ABS head of demography, said: 'Our population at 30 September 2024 was 27.3 million people, that's 484,000 more people since the same time in 2023.'There were 617,900 people arriving from overseas and 238,100 departures. This means that 379,800 people were added to our population from overseas migration for the year to 30 September 2024, continuing a downward trend in recent quarters.'Natural increase (births minus deaths) added 104,200 people, down 3.0 per cent from the previous year. There were 291,200 births and 187,000 deaths registered over the period.'Western Australia had the fastest increase in population growth, up 2.5 per cent in the last year. This was followed by Victoria, which grew by 2.1 per cent, and Queensland which rose 2.0 per cent,' Ms Cho said.Tasmania saw the least growth over the 12-month period, with a 0.3 per cent rise in population.

Australia must focus on fiscal space in the 2025-26 Budget to manage rising debt and future economic and geopolitical challenges. Fiscal space refers to a government’s ability to spend in response to economic shocks without jeopardising long-term stability. It allows for emergency support during crises like recessions or global downturns without excessive borrowing or harsh austerity measures. As the Australian federal government prepares to hand down the 2025-26 Budget next week, Scientia Professor Richard Holden from the School of Economics at UNSW Business School has warned that rising deficits threaten this flexibility. After major spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said restoring fiscal discipline is crucial to ensuring the Australian economy can respond effectively to future economic shocks. “Since 1996, Australia has had fiscal rules. Both sides of politics, including governments under Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, and then Kevin Rudd again, had fiscal rules that said we would not spend more than this percent of GDP, and that forces a kind of discipline. And those were thrown out in early 2020, and I think the question is whether they're going to come back,” said Prof. Holden, a leading Australian economist, speaking at an e61 and UNSW Sydney policy research partnership launch. He told delegates that the upcoming budget must include enough fiscal space to cushion against potential economic shocks, and he didn’t hold back in his analysis. “I worry it has something to do with the people who are in politics,” he said. While acknowledging that Australia still has good politicians, he questioned whether the political system is attracting the best and brightest in the way it did during the reformist Hawke-Keating era (from 1983 to 1996). How much is the Australian government in debt? The latest data shows net debt is forecast to increase from 32.0% of GDP ($881.9 billion) in 2024-25 to 35.7% of GDP ($1,136.3 billion) in 2027-28. This substantial debt level underscores the urgency of reinstating fiscal rules to ensure economic resilience against future shocks. But the Australian government’s rising debt burden isn’t just about the sheer size of the budget deficit – it’s about the government’s ability to manage it. “I was asked the other day, what are the two things you'd love to see in this budget? And I said, I'd love to see the treasurer stand up and say, I'm going to re-establish the fiscal rules.  "And we're not going to go back to that percentage right away, but over the course of the next parliament, during the time that I'm treasurer, over the next three years, we're going to go back to that level of fiscal discipline. and we're going to re-establish the rule,” he said. “And the second thing is, we're going to... index our tax brackets to GDP. That means there is no bracket creep. And if there is no bracket, you can't be a lazy government, a lazy treasurer. Those two things together demand and force fiscal discipline.” “Because without it, I think we'll sort of, you know, hope for the best, not plan for the worst, sort of hope for the best and plan for the best, and it probably won't turn out very well.” Fiscal space and Australia’s cost-of-living crisis Soaring rents, high grocery prices, and rising energy bills continue to drive cost-of-living pressures for Australians, making the 2025-26 budget a crucial moment for relief. With Treasurer Jim Chalmers set to announce a deficit of $26.9 billion, the government must balance financial support with fiscal responsibility.  A deficit occurs when spending exceeds revenue, adding to national debt – the total amount owed over time. Sustainable measures, such as targeted subsidies or tax reforms, are essential to easing household strain without deepening Australia’s fiscal challenges.Prof. Holden warned that ongoing primary deficits, where the government is borrowing not just to cover spending but also to pay interest on existing debt (which recently increased by $4.5 billion, from $48.1 billion to $52.6 billion for 2026-27), signal a worrying trend.   Without fiscal space, he said the government has limited capacity to provide relief for households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. This lack of flexibility makes it harder to implement effective support measures, such as targeted financial aid or social welfare programs, that can directly alleviate the pressure on everyday Australians. To restore fiscal discipline and ensure long-term economic stability, Professor Holden argued that clear spending limits are essential – limits Australia had in place prior to the pandemic but abandoned in response to the economic crisis.  Prof. Holden said: “I will note that in each of the last two major crises, COVID and the 2008 financial crisis, we spent more – 10% of GDP – to buffer those shocks. And we need to have what David and Christina Romer called ‘fiscal space’ in order to do that. If you don’t have that fiscal space, you can get very, very bad outcomes.” 

The outstanding and compassionate care provided by MotherSafe to hundreds of thousands of NSW families is being celebrated, as the service marks its 25th anniversary.Minister for Health Ryan Park extended his gratitude to MotherSafe staff for their important role in providing evidence-based information and counselling about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, street drugs, infections, radiation and occupational exposures.Funded by the NSW Government, the free, comprehensive telephone and face-to-face counselling service has received more than 400,000 calls over the last 25 years, from women and healthcare providers seeking health advice through pre-conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding. The service was expanded in 2022 to provide specialist support to pregnant women experiencing severe effects of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum, which are the main causes of hospitalisation in the first half of pregnancy.Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition that causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy for around 1 in 100 women during pregnancy.Women living with hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy are often so sick they can’t go to work, care for themselves or someone else.Through MotherSafe, women with hyperemesis gravidarum are assessed for the severity of their symptoms and given evidence-based information regarding available treatments to help manage their symptoms.The expanded service has been particularly important for women living outside of metropolitan Sydney or who may be too unwell to travel, to access tailored advice from a MotherSafe consultant.Women, families and healthcare professionals can contact a MotherSafe consultant by calling 1800 647 848, or visit the MotherSafe website to access a range of factsheets.Minister for Health, Ryan Park said, “Preconception, pregnancy and breastfeeding are crucial times for the health of women and babies. Having access to clear, evidence-based advice on medications and other exposures is critically important for expectant and new mums.“I want to thank the many dedicated MotherSafe staff who have helped hundreds of thousands of NSW women give their babies the very best start to life.“Hyperemesis gravidarum is the number one cause for hospitalisation in the first half of pregnancy. MotherSafe has helped many women manage the significant physical symptoms and emotional distress that comes with this condition.” Dr Debra Kennedy, Director MotherSafe said, “We are proud to have supported the physical and emotional wellbeing of women and families across NSW over the past 25 years.“MotherSafe provides advice to women who are concerned about medications, infections or exposure to occupational hazards before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding.”Ella Rich said, “I experienced severe nausea and vomiting throughout each of my four pregnancies. Managing my symptoms was really challenging, and I was highly anxious.“It was confirmed I had hyperemesis gravidarum at around 13 weeks during my fourth pregnancy following a medical emergency. The hospital recommended I contact MotherSafe and, as soon as I spoke with them, I felt reassured.“MotherSafe became my lifeline during the remainder of my pregnancy. Knowing I could call a consultant who knew about the medications I was exposed to and hyperemesis gravidarum gave me confidence in the health of my baby and alleviated my stress and anxiety. “MotherSafe got me the right medication to treat my HG and I was never sick again. They answered my calls with empathy and compassion every time and even arranged for me to speak with one of their leading doctors.”

NSW Police have taken more than 90 unlawful weapons off the streets and conducted 34 high-visibility wanding operations in an effort to reduce knife crime.On 9 December 2024, the NSW Government introduced legislation to target the possession of knives, reduce knife crime and improve the overall safety of the community.For the past three months, NSW Police officers have carried out Operation Ares, which are high-visibility policing operations in which officers use handheld scanners or electronic metal-detecting ‘wands’ to detect knives and other weapons.Under the legislation, a senior police officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner or above can declare designated places, which gives police the power to scan people for knives or weapons without a warrant in those locations, such as:public transport station (including bus, train and tram stations) and surrounds;public transport vehicles within two scheduled stops of a designated public transport station;shopping precincts;certain sporting venues andother public places, designated by regulation, including special events and places that are part of the night-time economy.There have been 34 operations carried out across the state in Sydney CBD, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Blacktown, Mt Druitt, Parramatta, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga, Nowra, Bomaderry, Albury and Lavington.In total, 4147 people have been scanned, with 91 unlawful weapons seized, and 67 people have been charged with 71 weapons offences laid.Police have seized an array of weapons, including Tasers (conducted energy devices), slingshots, knuckle dusters, machetes, and folding and kitchen knives.The Premier of NSW, Chris Minns, said that the new legislation is helping police make the community safer.“The number of weapons that have been seized already is shocking.“To have taken almost 100 knives and other weapons off our streets is as horrifying as it is important.“Our tough knife laws are working and getting weapons out of our community.“The NSW Government and NSW Police are confronting knife crime and sending a strong message that it is not tolerated.”Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism said everybody deserved to feel and be safe in public and it’s clear that these new laws are making NSW a safer place.“I want to thank the NSW Police who are working around the clock to seize dangerous weapons and keep our community safe from the devastating effects of knife crime,” Minister Catley said.“There are very few excuses to carry a knife in public – anyone thinking about leaving home with a dangerous weapon should think again.“The NSW Police are cracking down hard and you will be caught.”NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said the operations had successfully taken knives off the streets and made the community safer.“During the 34 operations we have not only seized dangerous knives and weapons but we have arrested 67 people with offences and put them before the courts,” Deputy Commissioner Thurtell said.“There are only very few purposes for anyone to have a knife in their possession in public. In most circumstances, it is illegal and will only lead to tragedy and the death of innocent people.“We want people to feel and be safe while they go about their daily lives at shopping centres or on public transport.“Our high-visibility operations are designed to send a message to people and deter them from carrying knives and weapons.”Police can request that a person produce a metal object, if detected, while in a designated place and failure to comply may result in a maximum penalty of a fine of $5500.Penalties of up to $11,000 or imprisonment of up to 4 years can apply for carrying a knife without a reasonable excuse.The legislation also made it illegal to sell knives to a child under the age of 18, with exemptions for retailers selling to young people who need a knife for their work or study. The penalties for selling knives to juveniles was also increased.

Average speed cameras will be switched on to warning mode for light vehicles in two key regional locations from 1 May.The trial, a recommendation from the 2024 NSW Road Safety Forum, will see the NSW Government flick the switch on cameras measuring a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes and cameras on the Hume Highway measuring a 16km stretch between Coolac and Gundagai to capture speeding light vehicles.These two stretches have been chosen based on several factors, including known crash history. There were a combined total of six fatalities and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022 at these locations.In NSW, average speed cameras only enforce speeding offences for heavy vehicles. However, data shows that in the past five years (2018-2022), almost 80% of all fatalities and serious injuries across all 31 average speed camera lengths in NSW did not involve a heavy vehicle.NSW is unique in that it’s the only place known to use these cameras for just a subset of vehicles. Most other Australian jurisdictions either use Average Speed Cameras for all vehicles or plan to do so in the future. Studies from around the world have shown that average speed enforcement for all vehicles leads to significant reductions in crash-related injuries and fatalities.The trial will have a two-month warning letter period for light vehicle drivers caught speeding on both lengths of road before it is switched to full enforcement mode. From 1 July, those detected speeding will face fines and demerit point penalties. Existing enforcement of heavy vehicle offences at these sites will be unaffected by the trial.A comprehensive communications campaign will begin to roll out before the warning letter period to help alert motorists to the trial.Road signs will notify all drivers that their speed is being monitored by the cameras on the trial stretches, giving them the opportunity to adjust their speed as needed.The average speed camera trial builds on other road safety initiatives introduced by the Minns Labor Government, including:Seatbelt enforcement by the existing mobile phone camera detection networkRemoving a loophole to force all motorists driving on a foreign licence to convert to a NSW licence within six monthsThe demerit return trial that rewarded more than 1 million drivers for maintaining a demerit-offence-free driving record during the second year of the trial  Doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with the addition of 2,700 new locations where a camera can be deployed. Enforcement hours will remain the sameHosting the state’s first Road Safety Forum with international and local expertsSigned National Road Safety Data Agreement with the CommonwealthMinister for Roads, John Graham said, “We know that speed remains our biggest killer on the road, contributing to 41 per cent of all fatalities over the past decade.“Studies from around the world show that using average speed enforcement cameras for all vehicles reduces the road toll, and road trauma.“We know the trial will be a change for motorists in New South Wales, so it will be supported by community and stakeholder communications. All average speed camera locations have warning signs installed.Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said, “Regional NSW is home to a third of the population but is where two-thirds of all road deaths happen.“With the majority of road trauma occurring in our regions we have chosen two regional locations to test the impact these cameras could have on road safety for all road users.“I know this trial will be a change, particularly for regional people who travel through the areas where these two camera lengths are in place, which is why we are committed to ensuring that the community is aware of what we are doing.“We will have a communications strategy in place including the use of print, radio and social media as well as variable messaging signs and mobile billboards to help communicate the trial details to drivers and riders. “We will also have clear warning signs installed before the enforcement sites, but most importantly we will have a 60 day warning period in place so that people have an opportunity to adjust their driving behaviour before they receive a penalty.”

The NSW Government has announced the Western Sydney stadiums’ full strength beer trial will kick off this weekend at CommBank Stadium. The trial will be in place for a six-month period at all NRL, NRLW and A-Leagues matches at CommBank Stadium, Accor Stadium and at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.CommBank Stadium will host three matches this weekend, starting with the Panthers-Roosters NRL clash tonight, Western Sydney Wanderers-Melbourne Victory on Saturday night and Parramatta Eels-Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon.Fans in general public areas will now have access to full-strength, mid-strength, light and zero alcohol options. The success of the trial will be determined following consultation with NSW Police, liquor authorities, sport and entertainment partners and feedback from fans.Venues NSW and NSW Police will work closely to ensure the responsible service of alcohol, as has always been the case for event days. Fans are encouraged to make the most of public transport being included in their ticket, and to always have a Plan B if choosing to drink alcohol.Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said, “For too long there has been a disparity in how sports fans in the West are treated, compared to those in the East."Yesterday we announced that you can now get free public transport to games at CommBank, and today we are once again making full-strength beer available to those in the West and the Hunter.“We recognise that fans have been calling for this for a while and we’re excited to see this trial in place from Friday.”Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said, “The decision to allow the sale of full-strength beer at CommBank and McDonald Jones stadiums brings much needed equity between city dwellers and those of us in the surrounding suburbs.“This decision is not about encouraging people to ‘get on the beers’, it recognises everyone, whether they are in the Eastern Suburbs, Western Sydney or Newcastle, can be equally responsible in their consumption of alcohol.“I congratulate Minister Kamper for bringing fairness and equality back for sporting fans by putting an end to the beer war between the East and West, recognising all of us as responsible adults.“The selection of beer offered should not be restricted by where you are going to watch the footy. This is a great decision by Minister Kamper to bring back equality in our sporting venues”

Canberra mother and Order of Australia recipient, Sarah McGoram OAM, will be climbing Australia’s highest peak this weekend, in the Rare Cancer Australia (RCA) Kosi Challenge, to raise awareness for people living with rare and less common cancers, of which she is one. She’ll be taking on the 21km climb with her husband Tom by her side, along with 700 others from Thredbo Village to the mountains peak and back, all in the name of rare, with a collective goal of raising $750,000 for the vital support services and crisis funding RCA provides its patients and their families.  At just 18, Sarah was diagnosed with Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) and has lived with the rare cancer for her entire adult life. It wasn’t until 20 years after her diagnosis that she met another person who truly understood her situation and could offer real support and hope, that personwas RCA Co-Founder Kate Vines. “When I was diagnosed, there were no support groups, I couldn’t find any information about my disease, I didn’t know anyone else with my disease or have any prospect of support. I was 18 years old and completely lost,” Sarah recalls. “I remember one day, I finally called the RCA support line in a state of panic, and it was Kate who answered. Kate listened to all my questions, helped me understand why I was falling through the cracks in the system, and facing extraordinary treatment expenses, she assured me that I was not alone, and she was there the help.   “My conversation with her in that one phone call was the first time since I was diagnosed that I had felt someone else understood what I was going through and was a turning point for me as a person living with a rare cancer. “Ten years on, I am still being supported by the amazing navigators at RCA, and I am so excited to be feeling well enough to be able to give back and show my support for this wonderful organisation by taking on the Kosi Challenge. “What I love about this event is that it brings together a community of people who otherwise feel quite isolated in their cancer experience. To be able to hike up this mountain and raise a huge amount of money and awareness is so uplifting and it shows that there are people out there who care, and that change is possible,” Sarah says. Each year, over 40,000 Australians are diagnosed with a rare and less common cancer, accounting for 1 in 4 cancer diagnoses. Alarmingly, these cancers are responsible for 1 in 3 cancer deaths, that’s more than 16,000 lives lost every year. RCA CEO, Christine Cockburn, explained why those people diagnosed with a rare or less common type of cancer, face a battle not only for their lives but also against a deeply inequitable system.  “While individually rare and less common cancer types are small in numbers when viewed together, they represent a large number of people and a significant public health challenge,” Ms Cockburn explains. “Our rare community faces a deeply unequal system. Access to specialised expertise and essential treatment is limited and often comes with a heavy price - one that many families simply can’t afford. This “cancer lottery” isn’t just unfair, it’s devastating, and needs to change. “That’s why RCA exists and why we’re all lacing up the hiking boots to climb Mount Kosi this weekend. Together we can help change the story for rare,” she said. Following her climb on Saturday, Sarah will be travelling up to Sydney to have supplementary radiation therapy as a part of the ongoing management of her cancer, so it’s straight on from conquering one challenge to facing another, but this weekend she won't let it dampen her spirits or determination.  “My story is just one of many. I know many patients who are not well enough to walk up Mount Kosi right now, so I’m doing this for them. Individually we are rare, but collectively there are a lot of us. I'd encourage everyone to support Rare Cancers Australia, so they can continue to be a light for all patients in their darkest moments,” she concluded.   

In light of the US administration’s decision to impose tariffs on Australia's steel and aluminium, the NSW Government released a statement:The NSW Government supports the Federal Government continuing to engage with the US administration on this matter.Australia has no tariffs on the US and NSW supports keeping trade free. Tariffs are a recipe for more inflation and slower growth.NSW leads the nation in selling our intelligence and goods to the world, meaning open markets are in the interest of the people of our state.The US decision is also disappointing news given the work to undo 12 years of Liberal-National neglect, when manufacturing declined in eight out of 10 years, is underway.We are a key supplier of metallurgical coal, necessary for the manufacture of steel in Australia and among key US trading partners.As such, we will also be watching closely the impact of these tariffs on our mining sector.Businesses, workers, and economies around the world benefit from open, free and fair trade.These are the values that underpin our economic and trade policies and which we will continue to promote.The Minns Labor Government will continue to support local jobs and industries – including through our ‘If not, why not’ initiative, and the newly released Industry Policy – while reinforcing NSW’s commitment to free trade.The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting local manufacturing workers and industries.