Opportunities to turbocharge economic growth in Western Sydney were explored at the Daily Telegraph’s annual Future Western Sydney event.

Held at Blacktown Workers Club on 4 April 2025, Future Western Sydney was supported by Western Sydney University, Western Sydney International Airport, Walker Group, Powerhouse Museum, Transurban and Clubs NSW.

New data from Tourism Research Australia shows Western Sydney attracted nearly one in every five (19 per cent) domestic overnight visitors and one in every seven (15.3 per cent) international visitors to Sydney during 2024.

Daily Telegraph Editor Ben English described Western Sydney as an "emerging powerhouse economy fuelled by extraordinary cultural depth and diversity".

“Future Western Sydney celebrates the triumphs of this dynamic, multicultural area at a time when huge infrastructure projects, including the city’s second international airport, are surging ahead," he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the audience there was “something seismic” underway in the region.

“A reimagining of Sydney – our great city with its gaze no longer fixed on its harbour and Sydney CBD but turned here – to the west, where the opportunities are here to be seized,” he said.

“And importantly, where the opportunities are being seized right now.”

Mr Albanese said the construction of Western Sydney Airport had already supported more than 11,000 direct jobs and would support almost 28,000 jobs within five years of opening.

“Enhancing Sydney’s status as a global city, the airport will meet Sydney's growing aviation needs and act as a catalyst for further economic growth in Western Sydney,” he said.

“As part of this catalyst, the Western Sydney Aerotropolis will drive innovation and jobs growth in Western Sydney. At its heart, Bradfield City Centre will house an Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility that will support local manufacturing businesses to thrive.”

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton said Western Sydney was critical to the prosperity of Australia.

“Western Sydney is a place of aspiration. It’s a place of entrepreneurship,” he said.

The event included a panel discussion featuring Western Sydney International Airport CEO Simon Hickey, Walker Corporation CEO David Gallant, Western Sydney University Professor Andy Marks and Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah.

"Our greatest asset is our diversity and I think Western Sydney is really a place that can be a national and international destination for visitors to have really authentic, cultural experiences that are very distinctive,” Ms Havilah said.

“The more that we build that and the more we share that in terms of our profile and our brand is a real opportunity as well."

Mayor of Blacktown City Brad Bunting said the Future Western Sydney event was a “welcome acknowledgement of what we in Blacktown have long known that the future of our state and our nation is being built right here in Western Sydney”.

“Western Sydney is Australia's third-largest economy, and we are growing faster than almost anywhere else in the country,” he said.

“With a booming population and one of the most diverse, dynamic, and ambitious communities in the country, Blacktown City represents both the future workforce and the future opportunity.

“This growth brings enormous potential but also significant pressure on infrastructure, services, and jobs that must be carefully planned for and supported.

“Today's event recognised that Western Sydney is a region of many communities, with shared aspirations and distinct challenges. Blacktown City is proud to be part of that conversation.”

Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund

The recently announced $8 million Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, administered by Destination NSW, will turbocharge visitation to the region.

The fund will incentivise international airlines to fly new routes into Western Sydney International Airport (WSI). This funding will be matched by WSI, representing a combined fund value of $16 million to boost airline capacity.

Prioritising visitor economy infrastructure around Western Sydney International Airport was identified in the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy Review as an opportunity to unlock further growth.

WSI will play an important role in achieving the NSW Government’s goal of $91 billion of visitor expenditure by 2035, with the total $16 million funding package forecast to deliver more than 162,000 international visitors to NSW and generate an estimated $530 million of visitor expenditure.

Learn more about the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund here.

Western Sydney includes data from 12 LGAs: Blacktown, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith, The Hills Shire and Wollondilly. Potential response bias is noted in the data due to the close proximity of LGA’s as such results may be interpreted as indicative only.