Ministerial media releases for the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport

The Minns Labor Government is today announcing the delivery of almost 200 life-saving defibrillators to sporting and recreation organisations across the state.

New laws regarding ATMs and EFTPOS machines near gaming machines will be enforced from next month, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s gambling harm minimisation reforms.

The Sydney Marathon’s elevation to World Marathon Major status has led to a surge in demand from international runners, with its first ever ballot attracting more than 79,000 applications for a coveted 35,000 positions on the starting line on August 31.

The most popular names for NSW pubs have been revealed, with Royal Hotel taking the top spot as the most common watering hole in 2025.  

Today over 250 Elvis Presley fans, many dressed in blue suede shoes, are climbing aboard the NSW TrainLink Elvis Express embarking on the seven-hour pilgrimage to the annual Parkes Elvis Festival.

The Minns Labor Government’s mission to bring Sydney back to life will allow Walsh Bay to show its true potential as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading performing arts hotspots during the next three weeks of the Sydney Festival.

Western and South-Western Sydney are fast cementing their reputations as go-to night-time destinations, with St Marys and Bringelly, Merrylands-Guilford and Parramatta experiencing strong growth in food, beverage, leisure and entertainment spending.

More pubs, clubs, bars and now restaurants in regional NSW will be able to trade later over summer thanks to special event extended trading hours and the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms.

A year after launching the state’s first arts, culture and creative industries policy, the NSW Government has made a range of key Board and Trust appointments to drive implementation of the policy and grow the creative industries in NSW. The appointments recognise the role the NSW Cultural Institutions play in supporting the arts and creative industries.

The future of hockey in Coffs Harbour is secure after the Minns Labor Government announced it would provide $800,000 to Coffs Coast Hockey Association to upgrade Coffs Coast Hockey Centre.