The NSW Government has released its Half-Yearly Review showing a result broadly in line with Budget expectations.A deterioration in the 2024-25 Budget result is offset by improvements in the budget result across the forward estimates. The Government’s fiscal strategy is maintaining expense growth at an average annual rate of 1.8 per cent, in line with the Budget but well below the 9.7 per cent expense growth occurring 2018-19 and 2022-23. 2024-252025-262026-272027-28TotalVariance in Budget result-$1,350m$271m$628m$211m-$240mThe 2024-25 Budget result is driven by known risk pressures, primarily:A $995.1 million increase in expenses from insurance and compensation scheme valuationsA $453.6 million increase in interest expenses due to movements in projected bond yields and borrowings, as the Government refinances COVID-19 debt at higher interest ratesA $458.6 million decline in state taxation revenue in 2024-25 (before increasing in later years), andA $440.8 million reduction in revenue from Sydney Water due to a reporting error.The 2027-28 deficit is now projected to be $1.3 billion, down from $1.5 billion at the 2024-25 Budget.A $6.6 billion public sector wages investment is accounted for by offsets and productivity gains, creating no additional debt.Total revenue is expected to increase by $6 billion over the Budget and forward estimates, largely driven by upgrades to Commonwealth payments, GST revenue and payroll tax.Disaster recovery funding comprises a significant portion of the Commonwealth grants upgrades.A $2.5 billion increase in GST revenue over four years reflects a larger GST pool, updated state budget data and a revised forecasting methodology.Revenue increases in 2024-25 are partially offset by reduced transfer duty, which is revised down by $391.7 million for the year, but up by $428.9 million over the four years to 2027-28.The Half-Yearly Review shows that the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to a responsible fiscal approach is yielding results for the people of NSW.The 2024 Half-Yearly Review can be found here.

Australian rescue teams are set to depart for Vanuatu with fears the death toll will rise on the South Pacific island nation following a devastating earthquake.At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck about 30km west of Port Vila at lunchtime on Tuesday.An Australian rescue team and a medical assistance team were preparing to fly to Vanuatu on Wednesday morning on air force transport planes.Aftershocks, including one 6.1 magnitude quake, had further rattled the island and rescue efforts.(Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says Australia will do it can to help Vanuatu. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said there were no reports of Australian casualties from the quake."We will continually liaise with the Vanuatu government about what further assistance we can provide as this unfolds," he told ABC Radio."Clearly, this is a very significant incident and we hold anxiety about how it will unfold."Some Australian embassy staff suffered "small scrapes", and the government was still in the process of contacting local staff, Mr Marles said.The Australian High Commission to Vanuatu's communications systems had been impacted as a result of the quake, High Commissioner Max Willis said in a post on X.Mr Marles said Australia had been in high-level contact with the Vanuatu government, but telecommunications systems were being strained."We're talking about countries which have fragile infrastructure to begin with, so there are really significant challenges in these moments," he said."That said, our contacts with Vanuatu are strong."We're well-practised in terms of doing humanitarian and disaster release contingencies and measures in countries around the Pacific, including Vanuatu, so we're in a good position to be able to provide the assistance needed."The Australian government was preparing to provide further assistance based on Vanuatu's needs.French ambassador to Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, Jean-Baptiste Jeangene Vilmer, said France was working with Australia and New Zealand to organise disaster relief."Many victims in the country, flights suspended, communications cut, no water or electricity, we are organising relief," he posted on X.By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

A new poll has revealed that 70% of participants support a 15% pay rise for NSW nurses and midwives as NSW government continues to battle the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA).The state government has been at loggerheads with the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) since May, unwilling to negotiate a deal beyond its original baseline public sector pay offer of 3% per cent over three years, excluding superannuation.Polling and analysis of marginal electorates conducted by the RedBridge Group revealed voters had overwhelming support for the NSWNMA’s pay claim, with 70% of participants in support of a 15% pay increase, including 71% of Labor voters, 66% of Coalition voters and 90% of Greens voters.Support increased (80% overall) when respondents learned nurses and midwives were leaving NSW due to the pay disparity with other states, including the 18% pay gap for early career nurses and midwives compared to their Queensland counterparts.NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said the Minns government had failed to recognise the vital contribution nurses and midwives make to the state’s public health system and in their broader communities.“Our members feel incredibly under-valued by the Minns Labor government and are devastated they are being forced to contemplate moving interstate for better pay and conditions or leaving their chosen professions altogether,” said Ms Candish.“The people of NSW expect their public health system to provide accessible and appropriate care to every patient who needs it, but voters have witnessed the demoralising working conditions for themselves, and they know the sacrifices nurses and midwives make to provide care.“This report is further evidence of just how out of touch this government is with the electorate. By punishing nurses and midwives, they are punishing the people of NSW and poorly managing our state’s health system.”Director of Strategy and Analytics at RedBridge, Kos Samaras, said Labor was vulnerable on healthcare.“Voters’ existing opinion of the NSW Labor government’s policies and performance in this area is lower than the government should be comfortable with, and this ongoing industrial dispute has the potential to pull this down further,” said Mr Samaras.“Labor’s softest supporters do not rate it highly when it comes to healthcare. In fact, the Coalition is better rated by Labor voters on healthcare than Labor is scored by Coalition voters.”Sixty-seven per cent of voters said the ongoing pay dispute with nurses and midwives decreased their confidence in the NSW government’s ability to manage healthcare, and 61 per cent said their view of the government was shaped by whether it increased the pay for nurses and midwives.“Voters in these marginal seats say the current state of the NSW public health system is important to their vote at the 2025 federal election, and it matters most to those who are supportive of the pay demands of nurses and midwives,” added Mr Samaras.NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Michael Whaites confirmed the union’s pay and conditions dispute was headed towards arbitration after the Minns government applied to progress its inadequate pay offer in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.“This government cannot be allowed to ram through a three-year award that offers only 3% per annum. Underpaying nurses and midwives like this is simply not good enough, and we intend to continue our fight,” said Mr Whaites.

The NSW Government announced today that a 12-month trial of body-worn cameras for NSW hospital security staff has now commenced to improve safety for staff, patients and visitors.It will see all security staff in participating hospitals equipped with body-worn cameras.They will be able to activate these cameras in response to incidents involving aggression and violence in the hospital, where there is risk of harm to staff, patients or others.The trial will determine how effective the technology is at deterring and de-escalating violent incidents and will be independently evaluated once completed.Beginning with Royal North Shore, the trial will expand to a total of 15 hospitals across Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter, the Illawarra, the Mid North Coast, New England, Northern NSW and Western NSW. Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney’s north has become the first public hospital in NSW to trial the technology.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, 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.”Gerard Hayes, Health Services Union, said, “Hospital staff are not punching bags, yet they cop vile and violent abuse all the time.“A trial like this will give offenders pause for thought and provide a stronger base of evidence when staff are assaulted.“If this can prevent even a small portion of assaults, we are all for it."

Two Australian families are receiving assistance after a group of tourists fell ill in a suspected alcohol poisoning incident in Fiji.Police and health officials were investigating an alleged alcohol poisoning at a resort on Fiji's Coral Coast after seven guests fell ill after drinking alcohol, local media reported.The victims were taken to Sigatoka Hospital on Saturday night with "nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms", Fijivillage.com reported.It said two of the victims were later transferred to Lautoka Hospital.The victims are reportedly aged between 18 and 56.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Sunday it was providing consular assistance to two Australian families in Fiji."Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson said.The department revised its travel advice for Fiji on Sunday following the incident."We continue to advise exercise normal safety precautions," the Smart Traveller advice for Fiji said."Be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks."Get urgent medical help if you suspect drink spiking."The incident in Fiji follows a mass poisoning that killed at least six tourists in Laos including two Australians.Nineteen-year-old Melbourne friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died in Thai hospitals in November of suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos.By Dominic Giannini and Suzanne Simonot in Canberra

The five remaining members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling ring are back in Australia after serving more than 19 years in jail in Indonesia.Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen and Michael Czugaj arrived in Australia from Indonesia on Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.Their future custodial status remains unknown, with the prime minister saying they would "have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration here in Australia"."We would like to convey our deep appreciation to the government of Indonesia for its co-operation to facilitate the men's return to Australia on humanitarian grounds," Mr Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a joint statement on Sunday."This reflects the strong bilateral relationship and mutual respect between Indonesia and Australia."The five repatriated Australians were among nine arrested in 2005 after trying to smuggle heroin and had been behind bars serving life sentences in Bali.Mr Albanese acknowledged the men had committed "serious offences" but said it was "time for them to come home"."Australia respects Indonesia's sovereignty and legal processes and we appreciate Indonesia's compassionate consideration of this matter," he said.He said the government would "continue to co-operate" with Indonesia to counter narcotics trafficking and transnational crime."Australia shares Indonesia's concern about the serious problem illicit drugs represents," he said.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it was"time for them to come home". (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Mr Albanese thanked President Prabowo Subianto for Indonesia's co-operation and commitment to working with Australia on the men's return."I have conveyed my personal appreciation to President Prabowo for his act of compassion," he said.Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia, while Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.Bali Nine member Renae Lawrence was released from prison in Indonesia in 2018. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)The Australian government had consistently advocated for the men and provided consular support to them and their families."We ask that the media respect the privacy of the men and their families at this time," Mr Albanese said.Jakarta was reportedly seeking the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia as part of any deal to bring the Bali Nine members home.By Suzanne Simonot in Canberra

High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) has officially opened its office in Newcastle today, establishing the city as the birthplace of Australia’s first high-speed rail line.Alongside the new office, HSRA has established an information centre, inviting the community to connect with the project and view potential station designs.Community engagement will be critical to the success of the rail line, which will connect Newcastle to Sydney in about an hour, and the centre will form a hub for ongoing engagement. The designs provide a glimpse inside potential carriages as well as a mock-up of a station, revealing how it could be integrated into communities, paving the way for a new type of travel that complements existing transport services.(An artist impression of a Business Class carriage)A business case is on track to be delivered to the Australian Government at the end of this year, with experts from across Australia and around the world confirming the first stage of high-speed rail will unlock new homes, create new jobs and stimulate the economy. The High Speed Rail Authority Office and Community Information Centre opening in Newcastle was part of the Albanese Government’s $500 million commitment to planning an east coast high-speed rail network.The proposed line from Newcastle to Sydney would use world-class trains capable of travelling up to 320 km/h on a dedicated railway line. They would have onboard high-speed Wi-Fi, food and beverage options, luggage storage and pet-friendly areas.The information hub will officially open in the new year, but the community was invited for a first look today to witness the project as it comes to life. Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said, “High-speed rail means generations of new opportunities for regional Australia, creating more jobs in more locations and giving people greater choices in where they live, work, study and play.“Our transformational investment in high-speed rail will help shape Australia for decades to come.”Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said, “Newcastle will be the birthplace of high-speed rail in Australia, forever changing how we get around our great country.“Our Government is committed to high-speed rail, which represents the next chapter in the economic story of Newcastle and the Hunter.“The route will open a host of housing, employment and business opportunities for the region, as well as providing sustainable, low-emissions transport.“I know that Novocastrians cannot wait to see this project come to fruition.”High Speed Rail Authority CEO Tim Parker said, “Journeys will be reliable, quick, convenient and comfortable.“Right now, we’re working on how to build a new railway in complex areas and the engineering challenges we would face.“There would be stations in central Newcastle, the Central Coast and central Sydney with intermediate stations under consideration as part of business case work.“From the Central Coast to Newcastle or to Sydney, the trip would be 30 minutes.”

The NSW Government has taken another step towards creating a fairer toll road system for Sydney, presenting an In Principle Agreement to the motorway concessionaires which provides a pathway to more detailed negotiations in 2025.The Government expects the In Principle Agreement to be signed off by the end of the year by concessionaires who hold the ten privately-owned toll road concessions of Sydney’s 13 toll roads.It sets out further areas to discuss and refine as part of the next stage of creating a genuine toll network and a new network-wide pricing structure across the tangle of different private contracts.The NSW Government has committed to tilting the system back in favour of motorists and ending the era of Liberal Party “Toll-Mania” with a fairer, network-wide pricing structure.If concessionaires sign the In Principle Agreement, it will allow the process to enter the second stage of the direct dealing towards toll reform and enable negotiation of a new network-wide pricing method.The NSW Government is committed to respecting the value of the motorway contracts – but is also intent that windfall gains that stem from toll reform go to the NSW public, rather than private operators.The Minns Labor Government’s $60 toll cap has been an effective, targeted cost-of-living relief measure, with motorists in the most car-reliant suburbs of western Sydney claiming the most cash back.The Government entered negotiations with the concessionaires after the July 16 release of the final report of the Toll Review of Professor Allan Fels and Dr David Cousins.Their report declared Sydney’s toll road network to be a poorly functioning patchwork of numerous different price structures that will cost motorists $195 billion in nominal terms in tolls over the next three and a half decades on top of the billions they have already paid.The Government’s objectives would require the new price structure to:Deliver fairer tollsLower tolls for those who must travel longer distancesCreate a network out of the different toll roads with a network-wide pricing structureCreate a more efficient Sydney road network that takes more trucks off suburban streetsMinister for Roads John Graham said, “The Minns Labor Government is committed to restoring fairness to the toll system and putting the interests of motorists first.“These have been tough discussions so far, but I am pleased to say we believe we are closely enough aligned on objectives to continue negotiations.“Creating a fairer system is no easy task given the contracts that were left behind by the previous Coalition government, but we believe reform remains possible.“We expect to have the In Principle Agreement signed by December 31.“Toll reform is a critical part of the NSW Government’s cost of living agenda. As we negotiate towards a single network with a network-wide pricing structure, we continue to offer toll relief under the $60 toll cap.“We have already legislated to establish NSW Motorways, a state-owned entity that will oversee a reformed toll road network and allow the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal to monitor toll prices in Sydney, as well as facilitating the establishment of an industry toll customer ombudsman.”Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said, “Negotiations are on track. We’ve put an In Principle Agreement to the concessionaires and look forward to continuing negotiations in the new year.“We have said all along that this is about relief and reform for drivers. “Motorists across Sydney are getting cost of living relief with our $60 toll cap, while we are moving ahead on sensible long-term reform.“Sydney’s complex and costly web of tolls are another privatisation legacy of the former government. We are working to make this fairer.”

Overseas migration added 446,000 people to Australia's population in the 2023-24 financial year, compared to 536,000 people in 2022-2023, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).Jenny Dobak, ABS head of migration statistics, said: “This fall represents the first annual drop in net overseas migration since Australia’s borders re-opened in 2021-22.“Migrant arrivals fell by 10 per cent compared to 2022-23, while migrant departures rose by 8 per cent.“This change in net overseas migration is led by a decrease in migrant arrivals, largely temporary visa holders, while departures increased during the same period. It follows a period of multiple record increases in net overseas migration consistent with a catchup in arrivals following almost two years of border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.”In 2023-24, there were 667,000 migrant arrivals to Australia. Almost three in four arrivals were on temporary visas (465,000). Just under half of temporary visa holders arriving were international students (207,000).The number of migrant departures in 2023-24 rose to 221,000 people, up from 204,000 the year before.“We are seeing some temporary visa holders starting to leave after having arrived as part of the large rise in arrivals seen after borders reopened. For example, migrant departures on temporary student visas doubled in 2023-24 compared to the year before,” Ms Dobak said.The top five countries of birth for overseas migrants in 2023-24 were India, China, Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.The median age of migrant arrivals was 27, and for migrant departures, it was 31.

Australia's population grew by 2.1 per cent in the year to 30 June 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 June 2024 was 27.2 million people, an increase of 552,000 people since the same time last year.“There were 666,800 overseas migration arrivals and 221,200 departures. This means that 445,600 people were added to our population for the year to 30 June 2024, continuing a recent downward trend in net overseas migration."Natural increase, which is made up of births and deaths, was 106,400 people, up 3.4 per cent from the previous year. There were 289,100 births and 182,700 deaths registered over the period, with births dropping 0.7 per cent and deaths falling 2.9 per cent.“Western Australia had the fastest rise in population, growing 2.8 per cent in the last year. This was followed by Victoria, which grew by 2.4 per cent, and Queensland, which rose 2.3 per cent,” Ms Cho said.Tasmania saw the least growth, with a 0.3 per cent rise in population over the period.

Aussies have capitalised on Black Friday and Cyber sales, with Australia Post’s parcel data from the cyber weekend (29 November – 2 December) revealing a record eCommerce period with online purchases up 7.8% compared to the same time last year.1This year’s most popular purchase category for Aussies was specialty food and liquor, experiencing year-on-year (YoY) growth of 23.6%. This was followed by health and beauty with YoY growth of 6.1%, hobbies and recreational goods at 5%, and fashion and apparel at 4.3%.Across the country, Queensland saw the strongest growth in online purchases YoY at 12.1%, followed by the Northern Territory and Tasmania at 9.7%.Australia Post Executive General Manager, Parcel, Post, and eCommerce Services, Gary Starr, said delivery teams are well equipped to meet the increased delivery demands.“Cyber sales have provided Aussies with a great opportunity to drive their dollar further which is why the sales events have been history making.“Customers can be assured that we’ve added more capacity across our workforce, including recruiting thousands of new team members, weekend deliveries, and more freighter capacity to manage the increased volume. We’ve also extended Post Office trading hours in select locations.”Australia Post also saw an uptick in App usage with 1.7 million customers2 using the Aus Post App over the cyber period, up 22% from the same time last year. 6.8 million App pages were viewed during the cyber period, with the parcel tracking feature the most popular.Australia Post is encouraging customers to get their Christmas gifts in the Post as the deadline for last sending dates fast approaches."While many have already made their purchases ahead of time, there are those who love a last-minute dash. We want to reassure customers that we are more prepared than ever to ensure that every parcel sent by our last sending dates will be delivered by Christmas day.“It is, however, important that customers understand that if they miss our Parcel Post and Express Post cut-off dates, there is a possibility their parcel will arrive after Christmas day," Mr Starr emphasised.To give items the best chance of arriving on time, parcels should be sent by Friday, 20 December for most destinations within Australia, or if sending via Express Post by Monday, 23 December. People sending to or from Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and outside a metro area should allow additional time.

The NSW Government is employing 300 new workers to support foster children to stay connected to their families and keep them safe.   Family time, or family visits between children in foster care and their birth families, often requires support and supervision by trained staff.  Until now, this support has predominantly been outsourced to private service providers and cost the taxpayer $14.2 million in 2023/24.   As part of the State Government’s ongoing reform of the foster care system, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) will now directly employ up to 300 family-time workers.  The expansion of family time workers will improve support for children and their families through:  increased consistency in staff training more support for positive interactions during family time  recruiting 20% of specialist staff who identify as Aboriginal to increase culturally appropriate assistance based on a family’s culture and needs  strengthening relationships between DCJ, families and children through consistent staffing The expansion of this service will also provide more opportunities for parents to build their skills and confidence in raising their kids, helping to show they can care for them safely. As trust and safety are established, contact could become more frequent and less supervised, which may also lead to a decision to restore the child to their family through the Children’s Court. Last week, the Minns Labor Government released the ‘System review into out-of-home care,’ which examined the $2 billion outsourced foster care system. The review’s authors were often unable to follow the dollar to determine if taxpayer funds were being used to meaningfully support vulnerable children and young people.  By directly employing family-time workers, the NSW Government is ensuring these workers are equipped to provide stronger support to foster children and their families. The decision is also responsive to the review's recommendation to embed relational approaches in out-of-home care services by ensuring the same workers are supporting the same families each time.  DCJ has started recruiting for these roles across NSW in Sydney, Murrumbidgee, Western NSW and Far West. This will be followed by recruitment efforts in all other areas across the state next year.   Family time workers will be supported by dedicated DCJ team leaders and provided with comprehensive training and guidelines to enable them to work with children and families.   A 2022 research report about birth family contact in NSW found more than half of staff across NGOs and DCJ needed more training in supervising visits. The expansion of this service will allow the NSW Government to provide this training.  Additionally, this expansion will increase opportunities for family time workers to become caseworkers and contribute towards decreasing staff vacancies across the state.  For further information or to apply, please visit the family time worker website.   Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said, “It is very important that children in care remain connected with their families where it's safe to do so.  “Our goal is to do all we can to restore children to their families. Supervised family visits are an essential part of that process.  “Directly employing family time workers is an important element of the Minns Labor Government’s sweeping reforms of the foster care system, aimed at improving outcomes for vulnerable children and reducing unnecessary costs.  “We are entering a significant time of change so that we can make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and families across NSW.”  Mark Tinelt, Aboriginal Family Time Team Leader, said, “I am looking forward to my role as one of the newly appointed Aboriginal-identified family time team leaders.  “This program is about re-creating relationships between children and parents, their supports, and, more importantly, the relationship between our mob in community and DCJ.  “Over the next few years, we will be positioned in an extraordinarily unique space where Aboriginal People, working with DCJ, will be empowered to continue the stories of our old People, our song lines, our kinship connections and our cultural responsibilities by facilitating healing spaces for families and their supports.”  Andrea Te Ua, Family Time Team Leader, said, “I have been a family time worker and worked with DCJ for 15 years.  “Being a previous contact worker was a very rewarding experience. Family time workers play an important role in ensuring children in care are connected to their families and spend meaningful, quality time with them.  “I am excited as a newly appointed family time team leader to lead family time workers to deliver quality and culturally appropriate family time services.” 

The arrest of two men in Australia sparked an international investigation that saved six children in the Philippines from sexual abuse.Two women were also arrested in the Philippines after two child sexual abuse investigations in Australia uncovered crucial evidence.A 41-year-old Tasmanian man from Kings Meadows, near Launceston, was arrested in April over online child abuse offences, sparking a joint investigation between federal police in Australia and the Philippines.Investigators seized child abuse images and videos as well as a text conversation with a person who had sold child abuse material that was stored on the charged man's mobile phone.Digital forensic analysis of the phone led Australian Federal Police investigators to evidence that the seller and the child victims were in the Philippines.A second man, 41, was arrested at Melbourne Airport in April after child abuse material was found on his phone when he arrived on a flight from the Philippines. A search of his home uncovered evidence of contact offending against child victims offshore.Intelligence from both investigations was provided to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre and AFP investigators in Manila identified common aspects between the cases, including victims linked to both men.On November 14, police and social workers executed search warrants in the Cagayan De Oro region in the southern Philippines.Two women, aged 43 and 23, were charged with human trafficking and child abuse material offences that carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.AFP investigators concluded the child victims were in the Philippines. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)The children, the youngest just two years old, were removed from harm and placed in the care of child welfare services.  The rescues and arrests were a powerful reminder of why the AFP worked closely with partners around the globe, AFP Manila liaison officer Detective Sergeant Daisie Beckensall said."These children's lives have been irrecoverably damaged, and we know there are too many other children still at risk," she said."That is why we will never give up our fight to keep children safe and stop those who try to exploit or abuse them."The Tasmanian man was charged with four counts of using a carriage service for child abuse material and four counts of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16. The matter is still before the courts.The Victorian man was charged by the AFP with several counts of possessing, soliciting and causing the transmission of child abuse material using a carriage service, one count of grooming a person to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16 outside Australia and one count of engaging in sexual activity with a child outside of Australia. He pleaded guilty on November 28 and will be sentenced in April.1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028By Abe Maddison in Adelaide

Public consultation opened today on the draft GenCost 2024-25 Report, an annual assessment of Australia’s future electricity generation costs used in infrastructure planning. GenCost is a technology-agnostic and policy-neutral report published by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).  (The nine-week public consultation period for the draft 2024-25 GenCost Report is now open for input._It focuses on cost estimates for new build electricity generation, storage, and hydrogen technologies, providing business leaders and decision makers with updated capital costs and data comparisons for their planning and financing studies. The draft report found renewables continue to have the lowest cost range of any new-build electricity generation technology, for the seventh year in a row.  It also found inflationary pressures continue to ease but the impact on each technology’s unique raw material inputs and supply chains remains mixed. Key points Large-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) capital costs have fallen 8 per cent two years in a row. Battery costs recorded the largest annual reduction, with capital costs falling 20 per cent. Onshore wind generation costs increased 2 per cent (but at a reduced rate from an 8 per cent increase last year), reflecting ongoing but moderate increases in equipment and installation costs. Gas turbine costings increased 11 per cent, reflecting the additional cost of being hydrogen ready which is now an industry standard. Modelling nuclear’s long operational life factor across all new-build electricity generation technologies presents no unique cost advantage over other technologies. ​CSIRO’s Director of Energy, Dr Dietmar Tourbier, said GenCost provides objective cost benchmarks using the best available and verifiable data. “GenCost’s annual update delivers data-based forecasts that support informed decision-making across the energy sector,” Dr Tourbier said.  “Collaboration and transparency are central to this process, and the feedback we receive plays a vital role in ensuring our data and projections are relevant and impactful.”  Nuclear updates Since GenCost provided the first detailed costings for new-build, large-scale nuclear electricity generation in Australia, three considerations have emerged regarding a facility’s:   Longer operational life (60 years) Estimated capacity factor range for Australia (the average time it operates at full capacity) Estimated development time (the planning, regulatory, community and construction activities anticipated to introduce a new domestic electricity source). ​CSIRO Chief Energy Economist and GenCost lead author, Mr Paul Graham, said today’s draft report found no unique cost advantage in nuclear technology. “Similar cost savings can be achieved with shorter-lived technologies, including renewables, even when accounting for the need to build them twice,” Mr Graham said.  “The lack of an economic advantage is due to the substantial nuclear re-investment costs required to achieve long operational life.” The draft report found GenCost’s previous analysis of nuclear’s capacity factor range of 53-89 per cent fair and remains unaltered based on verifiable data and consideration of Australia’s unique electricity generation sector.  It also reported that global median nuclear construction times have increased from 6 years to 8.2 years over the last 5 years, placing a development timeframe of between 12-17 years. Based on this analysis, GenCost maintained the total development lead time for nuclear in Australia will be at least 15 years. GenCost’s modelling methods and data sources are published online, and its authors actively respond to and engage the spectrum of interests across the electricity generation sector. Collaborative partner, AEMO, complements this through provision of industry data, technical review of information and facilitation of consultation. The draft GenCost 2024-25 report is open for consultation until 11 February 2025. Feedback should be sent to AEMO.The final GenCost 2024-25 report will be released in the second quarter of 2025. Download the GenCost 2024-25 consultation draft.

The majority of casual employees prefer to work in casual employment, according to new data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).David Taylor, ABS head of labour statistics, said, “Three-quarters of casual employees currently prefer casual employment, with the flexibility in hours the main reason for over half of these people. The higher hourly pay rate was the main reason for almost a quarter of people preferring casual employment.”“For the one-quarter of casual employees who would prefer a non-casual job, the most common reasons were to have paid leave entitlements or have more secure employment.”.There were over 2.5 million employees without paid holiday or sick leave entitlements – a commonly used measure of casual workers – in August 2024. This represents 22 per cent of all employees (and 18 per cent of all employed people).“Casual employment was particularly impacted by the pandemic, falling from around 25 per cent of employees to under 21 per cent in 2020. While the share of casual employees subsequently rose to almost 24 per cent between 2020 and 2022, it has since dropped to just over 22 per cent of all employees in August 2024.” Mr Taylor said.Working from homeWorking from home is still more common among Australians after the pandemic, but slightly less than it was a year ago.“Our latest data, for August 2024, shows that 36 per cent of Australians usually work from home. While this was slightly down from 37 per cent in 2023, it was still four percentage points above the pre-pandemic level. This shows that many of the changes in working arrangements have continued beyond the pandemic.” Mr Taylor said.The main reasons people usually worked from home was to work more flexibly or choose their own hours, followed by operating a business from home or having a home-based job.Further details can be found in Working arrangements.Employee earningsHalf of all employees earned at least $1,396 a week in their main job in August 2024. This was an extra $96 a week, or 7.4 per cent more than in August 2023. Median hourly earnings were $40.00, up from $39.70 in August 2023.Median weekly earnings were around $1,700 for full-time employees, and $691 for part-time employees.The occupation groups with highest median weekly earnings were Managers ($2,100 per week) and Professionals ($1,827). The lowest were Sales workers ($714) and Labourers ($900).Further details can be found in Employee earnings.Trade union membershipThe number of trade union members rose by 175,800 to 1.6 million employees between August 2022 and August 2024. The trade union membership rate was 13.1 per cent of all employees in August 2024, compared with 12.5 per cent in August 2022 and 16.3 per cent 10 years ago.Further details can be found in Trade union membership.

The political fight over the federal government's response to anti-Semitism has ramped up following the firebombing of a synagogue as the opposition promised a crackdown.The firebombing at Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue is being investigated by Victoria Police and an Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism squad, with a meeting set for Monday.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese believes it has hallmarks of an act of terror, saying anti-Semitism has no place in Australia.The attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea happened in the early hours of Friday. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused him of not taking a stronger line, pledging to deport people on visas who display anti-Semitic behaviour and a dedicated federal task force to tackle the issue.If the coalition is elected after next year's federal election, the federal police-led body will tasked with investigating historic complaints about anti-Semitism dating back to October 7, 2023.This includes "blatant acts of discrimination, racism online and threats that have been made to people of Jewish faith", Mr Dutton said in Melbourne on Monday.Investigations into public display of symbols, incitement, harassment and other offences that didn't result in criminal charges will be re-opened.Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson pledged to issue a ministerial direction to the AFP to prioritise anti-Semitism and amend migration laws to ensure anti-Semitic conduct is captured.Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has already cancelled and denied visas to people who've made anti-Semitic remarks - which is possible under the character test for visas.Stronger laws cracking down on the display of terror symbols passed federal parliament in October and anti-doxxing protections in November, without the support of the opposition.Doxxing refers to the revealing of a person's private information, such as phone numbers or addresses, without their consent and is often used to encourage harassment.Labor has also appointed Australia's first special envoy to combat anti-Semitism.Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who is Jewish, called for unity over "partisan bickering", given the distress and fear being felt in the Jewish community."I have experienced levels of anti-Semitism, as has every Australian Jew, like we have never experienced it before in our lives," he said."That's got to stop and it's not a time for finger-pointing, it's not a time for cheap criticisms."The government on Sunday announced an extra $32.5 million in funding over the next 18 months to improve security measures to protect the Jewish community.While politicians have branded the synagogue attack an act of terror, Mr Dreyfus said while the attack caused fear and distress, which was "a core part of a terrorist activity", it was important that police be able to conduct their assessments without political interference.Ex-federal Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who is a member of Melbourne's Jewish community, claimed "the government's weakness (in calling out anti-Semitism) has emboldened those who hate and emboldened those who harm"."It's clearly a terrorist attack under the legislation, it's a house of worship, so it's a religiously motivated attack," he told Nine's Today Show on Monday.The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has written to the prime minister asking him "to reflect on how this has been allowed to occur".It wants Mr Albanese to "review the government's rhetoric and public statements on anti-Semitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".Lifeline 13 11 14beyondblue 1300 22 4636By Dominic Giannini in Canberra

The Minns Labor Government will consider reforms to laws regulating protests outside religious institutions and places of worship that aim to intimidate or prevent religious people from practicing their faith in NSW, to prevent the scenes of division seen outside the Great Synagogue of last week.  Everyone has a right to gather at mosques, churches, synagogues, and places of worship to participate in their faith free from intimidation.And while everyone has the right to protest peacefully in NSW, the right to peaceful assembly does not permit or excuse the intimidation or vilification of people based on their faith or religion. There have been too many instances across the country in recent times, where places of worship have been the target of protests.Protesting outside places of religious worship is inflammatory and provocative.Freedom of religious expression is critical to what makes Australia and NSW a free and democratic society.NSW must strike the right balance between religious freedoms and the right to protest in the interests of community harmony.We celebrate being a multicultural, multi-faith nation as we should, and nowhere more so than NSW, where we are an example to the world of how we can live together, as one people despite our differences.Premier Chris Minns said, “I’ve asked the Attorney General and The Cabinet Office to look at ways we can better protect places of worship from protests and provide reform options to Government.” “I am horrified by the attack at the Addas Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, and the recent sight of protests out the front of a religious institution.“Being heckled on the way in to observe your faith is not consistent with the principles of a multi-cultural, multi-faith community where all are protected by law from someone stopping them from prayer.“Holding the line isn’t enough. We have to go further and ensure that people’s rights to religious freedom of expression and worship is protected.”Attorney General Michael Daley said, “Religious freedom is the bedrock of our multicultural state. People have the right to feel safe in their own city, in their own churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship.” “While we respect the right to protest we want to send a clear message that it should not be impinging on people gathering freely with their chosen faith community.”Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said, “Our multicultural and multifaith society is one of our state’s greatest achievements, but it can’t be taken for granted. It requires constant vigilance and work to ensure harmony is maintained.“Whilst the majority of citizens are united in our ability to empathise and to learn from the many cultures that make up our great state, unfortunately, we have seen a rise in Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents.  “The announcement today to explore legislative or regulatory reform is a logical next step to ensure all faith communities in our state have the protection required to practice freedom of religion.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today published the new Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), the first major update to Australia’s occupation classification in 20 years.Australian Statistician Dr David Gruen said, “Having an occupation classification that reflects the modern labour market supports efficient, accurate and informed decision-making by governments, industry and businesses.”“Key benefits are the inclusion of new and emerging occupations, better coverage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander occupations and the removal of gendered language like ‘man’ and ‘woman’ from occupation titles and descriptions.”In 2022, the Australian government announced $23.7 million funding over four years for the ABS to comprehensively review the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and put in place a maintenance program from 2025.The formal consultation period for the review took over 200 days, involved over 2,000 groups and received 800 submissions from interested parties across Commonwealth and State Government agencies, and private industry.Dr Gruen said “The update to the classification has been a huge, coordinated effort across many teams over the past two years. While today marks a key milestone, there is more to do. “The ABS is committed to regular updates of OSCA and we are developing a plan for ongoing feedback.”The new classification is available on the ABS website and will be reflected in official labour market statistics from September 2026, and in 2026 Census data outputs.  For more information: About OSCA | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)Occupation Classification for Australia (OSCA), 2024, version 1.0

Public hospital admissions for elective surgery were the highest on record in 2023–24, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), indicating a return to pre-COVID levels of elective surgical activity.There were 771,600 admissions from public hospital elective surgery waitlists in 2023–24 (excluding the Northern Territory*), a 5% increase from 735,500 in 2022–23. These findings are contained in new updates to the AIHW’s MyHospitals platform, showing national, state and hospital-level elective surgery wait times and emergency department presentations in 2023–24. ‘While most elective surgeries performed in Australia are undertaken in private hospitals, the information presented in this update provides an overview of elective surgeries from public hospital waitlists,’ said AIHW spokesperson Clara Jellie.‘The increase in the number of admissions from public hospital elective surgery waitlists follows a period of considerable disruption to the health system as a result of the pandemic, where we saw fluctuations in the numbers of elective surgeries being performed as outbreaks of COVID-19 impacted patients, and the availability of hospital staff and resources.‘Elective surgeries are procedures that are deemed medically necessary, but are planned surgeries that are not conducted as a result of an emergency presentation, and as a result, may be subject to delays.’The largest increases in elective surgery admissions compared with 2022–23 was seen in the Australian Capital Territory (19%) and Victoria (10%). Over a 5-year period, the largest increases in admissions were in Tasmania (10% annual average increase since 2019–20), and in Victoria (4.9%). Cataract extraction was the most common procedure for those admitted from an elective surgery waitlist, accounting for 11% of all intended procedures. Although the most common surgical specialty associated with admissions was general surgery, representing 20% of all surgeries, the areas of surgical speciality that have seen the greatest percentage increases in admissions from elective surgery waitlists were vascular surgery (12% increase compared with 2022–23) and paediatric surgery (8.2% annual average growth since 2019–20). Improvements in waiting times for elective surgery waitlist admissions have also been recorded, according to the new updates released today.Half (50%) of all patients were admitted within 46 days in 2023–24, an improvement from 49 days in 2022–23. Nine in 10 (90%) patients were admitted within 329 days – down from 361 days in 2022–23. Around 6.4% of patients waited more than a year – down from 9.6% in the previous reporting period (2022–23).The number of emergency department presentations increased by 0.4% in 2023–24, with 8.83 million emergency department presentations (excluding the Northern Territory) compared with 8.80 million in 2022–23. Around 2 in 3 (67%) emergency department patients were ‘seen on time’ for their urgency category, a slight increase from 65% in 2022–23. Nearly 100% of resuscitation patients were seen immediately, and 67% of those categorised as emergency cases (where clinical care should start within 10 minutes) were seen on time. These patients accounted for 18% of all emergency department presentations; the remaining 82% were categorised as urgent, semi-urgent or non-urgent patients. *The AIHW expects to update published information to include data for Northern Territory once finalised.*