Social enterprise leader Kylie Flament is standing as an independent for the NSW state seat of Keira, held by Labor since 2011. The seat is currently held by NSW Health Minister Ryan Park. Flament, who has never held political office, says voters want alternatives to party politics. Her campaign launch drew about 100 people at Corrimal Community Centre on October 17. Her main priorities include hospital wait times and housing. She says her campaign starts with far less funding than the major parties, which receive public money based on past vote tallies.
A preliminary audit has found that about 20,000 endoscopy procedures in New South Wales may be overdue, with final figures still to be validated. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said on Saturday the government would invest $17 million to address the delays. The audit followed concerns raised by clinicians and patients about endoscopy wait times. Endoscopies are used to investigate, diagnose and monitor a range of conditions, including bowel cancer. Cancer Council NSW chief executive Sarah Hosking said prolonged delays have long been a concern for patients and that early detection is vital.
Close to 300 general practitioners across New South Wales have finished training to diagnose and treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Another 300 GPs are due to start training next month. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said rural and regional areas were prioritised, as access to diagnosis there has been difficult. Previously, people needed to see a psychiatrist, paediatrician or psychologist, which meant long waits and high fees. Reforms also include free assessments and funding for specialist support for GPs.
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Almost 300 GPs across NSW have completed extra training to assess, diagnose and begin prescribing medication for ADHD in adults and children. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the change is designed to give patients faster access to care, particularly in regional and remote areas. GPs will be supported by specialist psychiatrists and paediatricians and can still refer patients to specialists. The government says up to 2500 free GP ADHD assessments will be funded, potentially saving eligible patients up to $1500 a year. A further 300 GPs are expected to start the training next month.
Murray MP Helen Dalton says her bill to split the Murrumbidgee Local Health District would separate management and budgets but keep clinical links between hospitals and specialists. She said decisions across the region are currently made from Wagga Wagga and that services at the new Griffith hospital are not yet operating as promised. The proposed Western Riverina district would run from Leeton to Balranald. The Murrumbidgee district opposes the bill, as does the AMA (NSW). Health Minister Ryan Park said he is not convinced a split is the best way forward. The bill awaits a Legislative Assembly vote.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has criticised a One Nation cartoon that uses her vaginal prolapse as a punchline. Lambie disclosed the condition in an emotional Senate speech in August, saying it required surgery and five months of leave. She said she would not demand the video's removal but urged Pauline Hanson's team, especially the men, to take it down. Other politicians, including independent MP Monique Ryan and Queensland Labor MP Kara Cook, have condemned the cartoon. Labor's Tim Ayres called it cheap and nasty political propaganda.
A 48-year-old man, Raymond James Dungay, is accused of spraying petrol on three patients at Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital and trying to ignite it. Police guard him after he did not apply for bail at a bedside court hearing. One patient, Randovan Banic, suffered minor burns and has been moved to intensive care. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has ordered an immediate investigation and says he wants the man removed from the hospital. The incident occurred late on Tuesday but was not made public until about 24 hours later, which Shadow Health Minister Sarah Mitchell criticised.
A patient at Prince of Wales hospital in Randwick has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly setting a fellow patient on fire. Police allege Raymond James Dungay, 48, poured petrol on three patients on Tuesday evening before igniting one of them. Hospital staff quickly put out the fire. The 54-year-old victim suffered minor burns, while two others were treated for minor injuries and are in a stable condition. Dungay is expected to face a bail hearing. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park apologised and ordered a departmental review.
NSW Health has shut down Joey's Mini Mart & Drive Thru in Campbelltown, which authorities say was selling illicit tobacco and vapes through a laneway service window. The business had been promoted as an international grocer. Over two days last week, inspectors closed 10 retailers and seized 420,000 illicit cigarettes, 60kg of loose-leaf tobacco and more than 4,000 illicit vapes, worth around $600,000. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said illegal businesses keep reopening under new names while the federal tobacco excise stays high. Health experts have opposed cutting the excise, which has raised legal cigarette prices.
Multicultural Health Week 2026 in NSW encouraged physical activity for mental health, with a focus on accessible health information for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The campaign, themed “Improving our mental health and wellbeing through physical activity”, was launched at the State Library of NSW by Health Minister Ryan Park and Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson. Resources, including factsheets in 41 languages and a new online portal for vaccination information, remain available year-round to support community health and vaccination efforts.
Construction has finished on the Warrawong Community Health Centre, built on the former Port Kembla Hospital grounds in the Illawarra. Once it opens in the coming weeks, residents will be able to reach antenatal care, child health checks, sexual health testing, mental health counselling and drug and alcohol support in one place. The building includes landscaped spaces, an outdoor play area for children and local artwork chosen from submissions by regional creatives and students. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park described the milestone as important for community-based care, while local members of parliament highlighted the wider investment in regional facilities.
Hackers raised temperatures on fridges and freezers at hundreds of French supermarkets, spoiling food worth millions of euros. Les Mousquetaires said fridges at about 150 of its stores were heated to 50 degrees Celsius overnight. French authorities are investigating, and a software vulnerability linked to Danish company Danfoss has been identified. Australian cyber security experts say supermarkets using similar centralised systems could face similar attacks, though the exact method remains unconfirmed.
Wildlife carers across New South Wales say they have never seen so many flying foxes give birth to premature pups. Since late September, rescue groups have responded to more than 460 reports of malnourished grey-headed flying foxes. One volunteer group estimates about 95 per cent of premature pups will die in care. Volunteers say the cause of the starvation event is unknown, and an government department says temporary food shortages may be a factor but no cause is confirmed. Rescue groups have only about 40 volunteers available, and carers are feeding pups every two hours.
The NSW government is investing $7.2 million in an early intervention allied health pilot to help older patients recover at home and reduce hospital stays. The program will support up to 330 people annually with chronic and complex health needs, offering services like mobility assistance, home safety checks, and carer training. The pilot will involve various health professionals and aim to improve care planning and rehabilitation for older people transitioning from hospital or receiving care at home.
Health professionals and policymakers gathered in Parramatta to explore strategies for enhancing preventive healthcare in NSW. With the state's elderly population set to grow significantly, the summit addressed expanding chronic disease prevention, mental health support, and equitable healthcare access. The NSW Government released a comprehensive health report to guide discussions on practical approaches to improving population health. Recent initiatives, including a new health hub in Campbelltown and an early intervention pilot program, aim to reduce hospital pressures and support community healthcare. Health Minister Ryan Park emphasised the importance of early intervention to prevent serious illness and hospitalisation.
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Health experts, government officials, and academics have gathered in Parramatta for the 2026 NSW Preventive Health Summit. The two-day event aims to strengthen preventive health approaches as the state's ageing population and chronic disease rates rise. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the summit would challenge assumptions and identify practical actions to boost health outcomes and empower healthcare professionals. The NSW Government will also release a report on the state's health, with discussions focusing on preventing chronic disease and supporting healthy ageing.
Molong’s hospital will receive a solar electricity system upgrade as part of a $850,000 investment in five Western NSW health facilities. The funding comes from the Regional Health Minor Works Program, with the government stating the upgrades will improve infrastructure and health services. The project is expected to take up to 24 months to complete, with local MPs welcoming the investment.
