Public Service Association of NSW

28/08/2026

The Murrumbidgee Council in south-west NSW has voted to implement a four-day working week trial for most staff starting in January.

It is an Australian first for a local council.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-03/murrumbidgee-council-four-day-working-week/106975192

28/08/2026

A warm welcome to our two newest PSA members, Max and Jane from the Blue Mountains Electorate Office.

During today’s visit, our PSA Organiser provided an update on two important PSA campaigns, Beyond Broderick and our Domestic and Family Violence campaign.

Max and Jane have joined the PSA to strengthen their workplace voice and to support and be part of the campaigns that matter to our members.

Also pictured is current PSA member William from the Blue Mountains Electorate Office, proudly supporting the PSA’s Beyond Broderick campaign and proud to be a PSA union member.

It’s great to see members coming together, getting involved and supporting the important work of their union.

Welcome to the PSA, Max and Jane, and thank you William for your continued dedication to the PSA and our membership.

28/08/2026

Wear It Purple was created to ensure every LGBTQIA+ young person knows they are seen, supported and never alone.

We continue to promote safer, more inclusive environments where young people can be proud of who they are and hopeful about their future.

27/08/2026

"There is simply no way to improve housing affordability for those who don't own a house while continuing to build the wealth of those who do, and the national consensus is that affordability must come first," said Alan Kohler.

27/08/2026

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃 $𝟓.𝟖 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐒

The boss of major toll road operator Transurban was paid $5.8 million last year, as the firm brought in over $4 billion in revenue – and motorists continue to face hefty fees for using important roads.

While Chief Executive Officer Michelle Jablko’s total remuneration of $5,825,784 makes her the company's highest paid executive, Transurban’s four other executives also all earned totals ranging from $1.6 to $2.6 million.

It's not just Transurban’s executives taking home lucrative pay packets.

Transurban's 9 board members are paid between $295,000 and $695,000 a year.

Chairman of Transurban’s board, Craig Drummond, is also currently Chair of the AFL Commission.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/toll-road-operator-transurbans-ceo-earns-79-times-the-typical-aussie/

26/08/2026

𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂 & 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐎?

The Family Violence Service (FVS) – the NSW Government's Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service for Blacktown and Penrith - provides high-quality, specialist support to victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

Run by the NSW Government, the service provides crisis support, safety planning, court support, advocacy and case management to help people escape violence and rebuild their lives. It is often the difference between someone remaining trapped in a dangerous situation and finding a path to safety.

But there is only one government-run Family Violence Service of its kind in NSW.

That is not enough.

If we are serious about reducing domestic and family violence, protecting victim-survivors and saving lives, NSW needs Family Violence Service centres across the state, in regional and rural communities where access to specialist support is often limited.

The PSA's 𝗗𝗩 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 campaign is calling for a stronger public sector response to domestic and family violence, including:

• More government-run domestic and family violence services across NSW
• Long-term, secure funding for frontline services
• Better coordination between housing, health, child protection, justice and support services
• More specialist workers and resources to meet growing demand
• A system that guarantees victim-survivors can access support wherever they live

Domestic and family violence is a whole-of-community issue that requires prevention, early intervention and specialist support.

The Minns Government cannot continue to outsource all DV services. The current system is overwhelmed. There is a role for a government-run Family Violence Service across the state.

26/08/2026

26/08/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 met yesterday at PSA House in Sydney to discuss several issues of interest to members. All the individual Advisory and Working Groups came together to discuss, amongst other things, Workers Compensation changes, the PSA's work value salaries case, occupational violence and the Australian Government’s Thriving Kids program.

Murat Dizdar, Secretary NSW Department of Education attended and talked to the DC about permanency, professional learning, work overload and occupational violence.

Troy Wright, PSA Assistant General Secretary also spent time with the DC discussing all of the above the the upcoming Schools' Recognition Week.

PHOTO: Troy with the Schools DC.

26/08/2026

PSA Homes NSW Delegates Mary-Ann McPherson and Bernadette McMahon in Canberra at last week's ACTU's Housing Summit.

25/08/2026

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐒𝐖 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄

When bushfires threaten New South Wales, we rightly celebrate the thousands of Rural Fire Service volunteers who put themselves in harm’s way.

But behind every major bushfire response is a much larger workforce whose contribution is too often invisible.

Across NSW, public sector workers are preparing for fires, reducing risks, protecting communities, fighting on the frontline and helping communities recover long after the television cameras have gone.

Many of them are members of the Public Service Association and CPSU NSW.

The Rural Fires Act recognises that protecting NSW from bushfire is a shared responsibility. Bush Fire Management Committees bring together fire authorities, land managers and other agencies to plan for risk across different types of land.

Our members in the NSW Rural Fire Service are central to that system. They work alongside the RFS's extraordinary volunteer workforce, providing the planning, training, logistics, communications, mitigation, equipment and operational support that allows firefighters to do their jobs.

The NSW State Emergency Service is another important part of the emergency response. The SES supports the RFS and other emergency services during major operations, including bushfires. Its volunteers can provide operational and logistical support, while professional SES staff work across operations, emergency planning, training, communications, community engagement, fleet and infrastructure, technology and volunteer support. When NSW faces a major emergency, our members in the NSW SES and thousands of volunteers work together to provide the capability communities depend on.

In our national parks, National Parks and Wildlife Service employees carry another enormous responsibility. Under the Rural Fires Act, NPWS is both a public authority and a firefighting authority. Its staff conduct hazard reduction, manage fire trails, plan for bushfire risk and fight fires, often in some of the most remote and difficult terrain in Australia. They also protect wildlife, biodiversity and Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage.

Forestry Corporation of NSW employees protect state forests, conduct fire prevention and suppression work and provide trained firefighters and equipment that can be deployed as part of the wider NSW response.

Local Land Services workers have another vital role. When fires hit farming communities, LLS staff work with landholders and support the agricultural and animal emergency response. Their work includes livestock welfare, veterinary and biosecurity expertise, emergency fodder and water, preparedness and helping primary producers recover.

PSA members across the wider NSW Environment portfolio contribute scientific, environmental, biodiversity, heritage, mapping and land-management expertise before, during and after fires.

Crown Lands staff help manage bushfire risks across the vast Crown estate.

And the system extends further still.

Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, Transport for NSW, local councils and other public authorities all have roles in bushfire planning and emergency response. They sit alongside RFS, NPWS, Forestry Corporation, Local Land Services and Crown Lands on bush fire management committees across NSW.

This is what a functioning public sector looks like.

Bushfire protection doesn't begin when a fire truck races down the highway. It begins months and years earlier.

It is the parks staff carrying out hazard reduction. The RFS employee training and supporting volunteers. The SES employee making sure volunteers have the training, equipment, information and operational support they need. The Forestry worker maintaining access to the forest. The scientist assessing environmental risk. The LLS officer helping a farmer protect livestock. The Crown Lands employee managing fire risk. The transport worker keeping critical routes operating.

And when the fire is finally out, public servants are still there, helping communities, farmers and the environment recover.

As NSW prepares for another fire season, we should recognise the people behind that work.

Because when disaster strikes, strong public services don't just matter.

They protect lives.