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19 April 2025
DRIVERS BEWARE DURING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Double demerit points in holiday season
NSW Police will be out in force during the Easter break prompting a Sydney lawyer to issue a warning to motorists as double demerit points apply.
12 April 2025
BETTER FEEDBACK FROM BREAST SCREENING
FROM April 2025, BreastScreen NSW will begin informing women of their breast density to help assess breast cancer risk. Dense breast tissue can make cancer harder to detect on mammograms and is a known risk factor. The change won’t affect appointment times, and women with high density are encouraged to speak with their doctor. Mammograms remain the best screen-ing method, especially for women aged 50–74, with earlier screening advised for Aboriginal women.
12 April 2025
ROUGH SLEEPING SURGES IN REGIONAL AREAS
ROUGH sleeping in Australia has surged 22% nationwide since 2020, with a 51% rise in NSW - especially in regional areas - due to a worsening housing crisis. More employed Australians are seeking help, and services are over-whelmed. Rising rents, limited social housing, and funding shortfalls are pushing more people into homelessness. Experts warn urgent action and in-vestment in prevention and housing solutions are needed to address what is now a national homelessness emergency.
12 April 2025
FIST RESPONDERS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
THE NSW Government has launched a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for first responders, now including forestry, national parks, and transport workers alongside traditional emergency services. The strategy out-lines 15 priority actions to improve mental health support, with a focus on accessibility in regional areas. Measures include Psychological First Aid train-ing, clinical care referrals, and peer-support services. This proactive approach ensures all first responders receive tailored, trauma-informed support throughout their careers, promoting long-term wellbeing and workforce sustainability.
12 April 2025
GOVT FUNDS FOR WHEELCHAIR TAXI SHORTAGE
THE NSW Government has launched a $15M emergency funding package to address the critical shortage of wheelchair accessible taxis (WATs), which have declined by one-third since 2019. The package includes increased driver incentives, new grants for vehicle costs, and improved driver training. An in-terest-free loan scheme has also been expanded. This urgent response aims to restore access for people with disability, while a longer-term reform plan is being developed in consultation with the community to ensure sustainable transport services.
12 April 2025
SYDNEY CONFIRMED HOST FOR NRL FINALS
SYDNEY has been confirmed as the host of the 2025 NRL and NRLW Grand Finals, to be held on Sunday, October 5 at Accor Stadium. The deal cements Sydney’s status as the home of rugby league, where the Grand Final has tradi-tionally been played. With strong fan interest and the sport’s expansion into global markets, the event will bring major economic and cultural benefits to NSW. It also highlights the city’s growing international profile in major sport-ing events.
12 April 2025
AUSSIE SUPERANNUATION PASSES UK, CANADA
AUSTRALIA’S superannuation system is projected to become the world’s second largest by 2031, surpassing the UK and Canada, according to the Su-per Members Council. With $4.1 trillion in assets, the system is growing twice as fast as global peers, reducing reliance on the Age Pension and easing pres-sure on taxpayers. Key policy settings—universal coverage, compulsory con-tributions, and preservation until retirement - drive its success. A super fund delegation is in the US seeking global investment opportunities to grow mem-bers’ retirement savings further.
