Gas in new residential developments
City of Sydney Council is banning indoor gas appliances in new residential developments from Thursday. The new restrictions will only affect new residential constructions, with existing buildings and industrial uses exempt.
Restrictions on new gas appliances come into effect on Thursday, and will expand in 2027. Credit: Adobe Stock
These restrictions will expand in 2027 to include outdoor appliances and all new large commercial buildings, hotels and serviced apartments.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore explained the changes as rooted in gas reliance being “bad for the planet, bad for our finances and bad for our health.”
“Creating more energy-efficient, healthier buildings which will meet future energy standards and avoid expensive retrofitting is an obvious next step,” Moore said.
Apprenticeships
New apprentices beginning training in jobs listed under the Australian Apprenticeship Priority Scheme will have their maximum payment halved from $5000 to $2500.
The Priority Hiring incentive, paid in two instalments across the first year of an apprenticeship, is also halving to $2500. Existing apprenticeships will not be affected.
Apprentices in Key Apprenticeship Program occupations, namely those entering the clean energy and housing construction sectors, are exempt and will continue to receive up to $10,000 across a full-time apprenticeship.
New rules for councillors
New local council codes of meeting practice will come into effect across NSW on Thursday. The new codes of practice must incorporate mandatory provisions of the 2025 Model Meeting Code.
Seven mandated principles encapsulate the new code. Council meetings going forward must be transparent, informed, inclusive, principled, trusted, effective and orderly.
Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said in August 2025 that the new code would simplify the way meetings were conducted, “ensure disorder is dealt with more effectively, that councillors make decisions in full view of the communities they represent, and dignity is returned to council chambers”.
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Modern slavery in NSW government tenders
New “heightened due diligence tender clauses for high modern slavery risk procurements” for NSW government agencies will come into effect on Thursday.
This means that NSW government agencies must include a clause defining modern slavery and mandating that all parties to a tender take “reasonable steps” to “prevent, identify, mitigate and remedy modern slavery” in the procurement chain both within Australia and internationally.
Compliance is optional until July 1, when the inclusion of the clause will become mandatory.