Minns flags health overhaul and fish kill review

Phoebe Loomes and Farid Farid | March 29, 2023

NSW Premier Chris Minns has flagged an overhaul of the state’s stretched health system and announced a review into a mass fish kill at Menindee to prevent future environmental catastrophes.

The premier travelled to the far-western NSW town on Wednesday where millions of fish washed up dead in the Darling River.

He also announced an inquiry to scrutinise the state’s $33 billion health budget, a Labor election pledge to address stretched emergency departments and ambulance services.

The government on Tuesday announced it would appoint a task force to slash the elective surgery wait list, which is currently 100,000 people long.

In travelling to Menindee to view the mass fish kill Mr Minns said he wanted to make sure the people of regional NSW knew they would be a priority for this incoming government.

“The images of fish piling up on the side of the banks of this beautiful river was a concern for us and we wanted to make sure that we saw it with our own eyes, listen to the community and get an understanding of how the emergency response has taken place.”

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, who accompanied Mr Minns for the visit, said the new government would commission an independent review into the fish kills to understand how to prevent future ecological disasters. 

It would most likely be led by the state’s chief scientist, she said.

As counting continues, Labor is unlikely to form majority government, with the party sitting on 45 seats and falling behind in three of the remaining four seats still in doubt. 

The ABC has called Miranda for Liberal incumbent Eleni Petinos and the seat of Kiama for independent Gareth Ward, who faces rape and indecent assault charges.

Mr Ward, who denies the allegations, on Wednesday thanked his supporters for an election victory that “may have seemed impossible to some”.

Labor remains ahead in Ryde but trails in Goulburn, Holsworthy and Terrigal.

Mr Minns said he was hopeful of securing more seats but the government would deal with any MPs to pass legislation after three independents signalled their support.

He also voiced concerns about how long the count was taking, although he stopped short of criticising the state’s electoral commission.

“For many people they’d be frustrated with the count particularly if you’re one of those seats that haven’t been determined yet. You need to know who your local member of parliament is,” he said.

Labor is on track to land eight seats in the upper house, while the coalition looks likely to secure at least six seats.

Meanwhile, Mr Minns rejected a call from NRL bosses to upgrade several Sydney football grounds, saying schools and hospitals were more important.

“I want to make it clear that we’re not going to fund suburban stadiums in NSW at the expense of schools and hospitals,” he told reporters.

“When you’ve got 66,000 people walking into an emergency department turning around and leaving without getting any treatment at all over a three month period, it’s clear we’ve got a crisis”.

The premier said his government had inherited nearly $200 billion in debt and was committed to fixing essential services.