NSW Budget 2022 live updates: Health, education explained

Labor leader Chris Minns has accused the NSW Government of carelessly racking up debt with a big-spending budget, in the Opposition’s first comments following the budget’s release.

NSW's strong economic rebound from the Covid pandemic will see the state post a better than expected budget result for this financial year but Treasurer Matt Kean’s pre-election cash splash will cause net debt to explode to almost $115 billion.

While the estimated $16.5 billion deficit for this financial year is better than forecast six months ago, major health and flood recovery spending will lead to next year's deficit being three times as large as predicted in December's half year update - at $11.2 billion.

In a budget centred around “supporting families,” $7.2 billion in cost of living relief will be spent next financial year in new and existing measures.

A $150 subsidy will be provided to every school child next year in a newly announced measure to help families pay for uniforms, textbooks, bags and stationery.

Mr Kean’s budget has unveiled tens of billions of dollars in new spending measures, including $15.9 billion to to transform early education and childcare over the next decade.

Follow along for live updates from our state parliament team of Angira Bharadwaj, James O'Doherty, Clarissa Bye, John Rolfe, Lachlan Leeming and Matthew Benns and to find out what this year's budget will bring for you. 

Originally published as NSW Budget 2022 live updates: Health, education explained

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