This paper presents an update on factors driving over-representation of Aboriginal people in prison in New South Wales and current efforts to reduce it. It outlines public discussions on alternatives to imprisonment and recaps key inquiry recommendations on how to reduce Aboriginal incarceration.

Planning for natural disasters and dealing with their aftermath involve input from federal, state and local governments, emergency agencies, non-government organisations and affected communities. This paper focuses on the ‘black summer’ bushfire season of 2019-20 and major flooding in 2022 in New South Wales.

While government policies have helped to increase the initial settlement of migrants and refugees in regional areas, helping newcomers and local receiving communities develop lasting ties remains a challenge. The paper shines a light on policy solutions to address this issue.

This report assesses what New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice has done to improve the response to children who present alone to homelessness services since the Ombudsman’s first reported on this issue in 2018.

Integrity in government has been a key issue in New South Wales for decades. This paper examines a range of topical issues including the funding model for integrity agencies, the regulation of political donations and lobbying and pork barrelling.