All Environment Protection Authority (EPA) members and supporters are invited to join a lunchtime rally on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, to protest the NSW Government’s devastating cuts to jobs and services announced on 22 October 2025.

The Government plans to slash $20 million from the EPA’s budget and “delimit” 370 roles. (Jargon for “cut’). Of these, 182 staff are directly impacted, including 55 temporary and 69 permanent employees who have been earmarked to go.

These cuts will undermine the EPA’s capacity to safeguard the community and environment. The areas of expertise at risk include (but are not limited to):

• Regulation of contaminated sites, including groundwater contamination at Botany, historic landfills at Sydney Olympic Park, and remediation of the Rhodes Peninsula
• Oversight and response to PFAS contamination near airports and firefighting training grounds
• Management of the Broken Hill lead contamination issue
• Oversight of James Hardie asbestos fill concerns in the Parramatta area
• Regulation of Sydney Water and other utilities, including sewerage and water infrastructure
• Licensing and regulation of high-risk industrial premises, including major hazardous facilities and landfills.
• Assessment of state significant projects such as Sydney Metro and WestConnex
• The EPA’s incident response capacity, where Unit Heads currently play a crucial role as duty managers providing advice and field support.

These are not just job cuts. They are cuts to the vital environmental protections that keep NSW safe and healthy.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Outside the ABC Building, Parramatta Square

Bring your creative placards and your voice – let’s make sure the Government hears us loud and clear!

Industrial Dispute

This rally is in addition to the industrial dispute the PSA has lodged with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, which will be heard on Monday, 2 November 2025.

Spread the Word

Encourage all your colleagues to attend. These cuts will increase workloads for every EPA employee and diminish vital public services.

Regional Members

If you can’t attend in person, show your support by:

• Taking a photo with your co-workers and placards
• Sending your photo to your PSA Organiser for PSA socials
• Emailing through a message of support from your office to be read at the rally.

Together, we can protect our environment, our colleagues, and the critical work of the EPA.
Stand strong. Stand together.

EPA delegates

Jane Burget
Chair

Fred Hennessy
Vice Chair

Simon Lemont
Secretary

Hugo Flloyd
Assistant Secretary

Georgia Meredith
Women’s Contact Officer

Scott King and Izack Mulhbock
Committee delegates

PSA Contacts

Michael Parsons  Organiser

Michael Sinclair Industrial Officer