# Australia daily digest — 13 Oct 2026

New South Wales ministers dominated the day, introducing a Bill for the Great Koala National Park covering more than 178,000 hectares and a Bill to create the state's first independent Office of Animal Welfare. NSW also reported a red imported fire ant nest found at the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre and a $30 million expansion of short-stay surgery in Western Sydney. In Queensland, Parliament passed home ownership legislation aimed at widening access to first-home concessions.

Source-local date: Tuesday 13 October 2026 (Australia/Sydney). 5 release(s). Canonical: https://mediarelease.co/digests/au/2026-10-13/

## Releases

### [Red Imported Fire Ant nest found at Sydney port intermodal logistics site](https://mediarelease.co/au/mr01923-red-imported-fire-ant-nest-found-at-sydney-port-intermodal-logistics-13102026.html)

Issued by: Minister for Agriculture; Minister for Regional NSW · Original source: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/red-imported-fire-ants-nest-found-at-sydney-port-intermodal-logistics-site

A red imported fire ant nest has been found and treated at the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre in Sydney's inner west after Commonwealth biosecurity surveillance detected ants in a lure. Genetic analysis indicates an overseas container origin rather than Southeast Queensland. NSW has stood up an Incident Management Team and will inspect and treat within 500 metres, then surveillance out to 2 km, ahead of a Biosecurity Control Order.

### [Minns Labor Government delivering more surgeries in Western Sydney](https://mediarelease.co/au/mr01922-minns-labor-government-delivering-more-surgeries-in-western-sydney-13102026.html)

Issued by: Ryan Park, Minister for Health · Original source: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/more-surgeries-western-sydney

About 3,500 Western Sydney patients are expected to benefit from a $30 million NSW investment expanding High Volume Short Stay surgical services, Health Minister Ryan Park said. Nepean and Hawkesbury hospitals aim to deliver about 500 extra surgeries by mid-2027, while Auburn Hospital's cataract short-stay service can perform more than 1,400 procedures a year. Overdue planned surgeries in Western Sydney Local Health District fell to fewer than five.

### [Legislation passed to unlock the door for more home owners](https://mediarelease.co/au/mr01921-legislation-passed-to-unlock-the-door-for-more-home-owners-13102026.html)

Issued by: David Janetzki, Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership · Original source: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/106224

Queensland Parliament has passed the Home Ownership and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, which the Crisafulli Government says will remove technical barriers so more buyers can access first-home concessions, including where an existing shed sits on otherwise vacant land. Officials cited a record 52,500 homes under construction, the fourth consecutive record quarter, and linked the reforms to the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund unlocking 166,000 homes.

### [Minns Government introduces Bill to establish NSW's first independent Office of Animal Welfare](https://mediarelease.co/au/mr01920-minns-government-introduces-bill-to-establish-nsws-first-independent-13102026.html)

Issued by: Minister for Regional NSW · Original source: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/independent-office-of-animal-welfare-bill-introduced

The NSW Government has introduced a Bill to create the state's first independent Office of Animal Welfare, to oversee RSPCA NSW and Animal Welfare League NSW enforcement funded with $12.8 million in the 2026-27 Budget. The statutory office would advise on funding, investigate public complaints about enforcement and promote best-practice compliance, sitting in the Premier's Department portfolio and reporting to the Minister for Agriculture.

### [Landmark legislation introduced to create Great Koala National Park for conservation, culture and recreation](https://mediarelease.co/au/mr01919-landmark-legislation-introduced-to-create-great-koala-national-park-13102026.html)

Issued by: Minister for Agriculture; Minister for Environment and Heritage; Minister for the North Coast; Minister for Regional NSW · Original source: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/landmark-legislation-introduced-to-create-great-koala-national-park-for-conservation-culture-and-recreation

The NSW Government has introduced the National Park Estate (Great Koala National Park Reservations) Bill 2026 to add more than 178,000 hectares of state forest and Crown land on the Mid North Coast to the national park estate. Combined with existing reserves it would create a protected area of more than 475,000 hectares, covering habitat for an estimated 12,000 koalas and over 100 threatened species, while keeping most recreational uses.

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