NSW Budget 2025: What we know so far
As the NSW Treasurer hands down his third budget on Tuesday, it is expected to be a no-frills affair. Here is what we already know.
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When the Minns government hands down its third state budget this afternoon, it is expected to be a no frills affair without any bells and whistles.
Both Premier Chris Minns and his Treasurer Daniel Mookhey have repeatedly said that this budget will focus on “need to haves, not nice to haves”. So don’t expect any shiny new Metro projects that aren’t already in the pipeline.
Mr Mookhey has limited funds to play with, and a rapidly increasing wages bill after negotiating multiple public sector pay rises.
The government has also faced a few financial knocks, which will further impact how much it can spend. The Treasurer has said the failure to pass controversial workers compensation reforms through parliament this month has cost the budget around $2.6 billion. The state is also still reeling from the loss of $12 billion in last year’s GST carve-up.
Yet amongst Mr Mookhey’s austere budget, expect a focus on essential services and housing, while removing red tape to increase private investment and boost productivity.
“The task of lifting productivity means building more homes, more power and more water,” Mr Mookhey said in his pre-budget address to the McKell Institute last month.
Here’s a breakdown of what we already know.
Health
$700 million for the construction of the new Bankstown Hospital. The investment will bring the total cost to $2 billion. The former Coalition government invested $1.3 billion in 2019, but inflation and soaring construction costs have forced the government to spend more.
$492 million for a new state-of-the-art pathology hub, supporting pathology services statewide. It will include a new high-security lab for high-risk infectious diseases.
$23 million to help reduce the number of overdue planned surgeries, with the aim of completing 3500 additional surgeries in the next year.
$40.1 million for a complex care centre at Westmead Children’s hospital
$83 million for maternity care, including $44.8 million to increase access to care after birth and $5.7 million to support free vaccinations for pregnant women.
Education
$2.6 billion in the coming financial year to build four new schools comprising 140 classrooms and to upgrade dozens of others.
$411 million funding increase for public school students, bringing total spend to $17,000 per student this calendar year. This includes a $27 million increase to small group tutoring programs as well as phonics support and number screening checks.
$306.5 million invested in TAFE and skills, including $40.2 million over two years for 23,000 fee-free construction apprenticeships, $121 million for TAFE campus repairs and $78 million to convert casual teachers to permanent roles.
$100 million to relocate Bankstown TAFE to make way for the new hospital.
Law, Order and Integrity
$227 million to fund a victim’s support service, helping survivors of violent crimes access counselling and other services.
$49.9 victim-survivors hub, to help support them in legal proceedings in a way they do not have to testify in the same room as their perpetrators.
$34.5 million in court upgrades to Sydney’s Dowing Centre and John Maddison Tower.
$48.3 million for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to fund additional solicitors.
$100.5 million to expand the capacity of the state’s prisons.
$12.8 million for 15 new staff to support child victims and witnesses give evidence in criminal proceedings.
$11.2 million to aid domestic and family violence support services.
$46.3 million for a new police Class one vessel to combat offshore crime and illegal drug importation.
$125.8 million for critical cyber upgrades for the NSW Police.
$500 million to support integrity agencies ICAC, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the NSW Electoral Commission over the next ten years.
Housing, Homelessness and Planning
$20 million to expand existing crisis and transitional housing offerings.
$10 million to the Bill Crews Foundation to support people experiencing homelessness.
The budget will extend tax concessions for build-to-rent housing developments and support new works-in-kind agreements with housing developers to encourage more enabling infrastructure.
$145.1 million to continue funding the NSW Building Commission to crack down on dodgy developers.
$17.7 million to establish the Investment Delivery Authority, which will fast track infrastructure projects that cost more than $1 billion.
Transport and Roads
$452 million for new bus services and vehicles. This includes $56 million on 50 new bendy buses and $150 million to boost bus services in outer Sydney suburbs and the regions.
$78 million for road upgrades in North West Sydney.
$250 million for the Mona Vale Road West project.
$70 million for public transport upgrades to support the new Sydney Fish Market, including $30 million for a new ferry wharf and $40 million to upgrade the light rail stop.
Emergency services
$17 million over two years for 15 new fire engines to replace ageing Fire and Rescue NSW assets.
$34.4 million over four years to support the Rural Fire Service’s aviation activities.
$6.4 million to support the Emergency Alert System, which sends warnings to mobiles and landlines during natural disasters.
Arts and culture
$380 million to support the NSW screen and digital games sector, including $100 million to find the location of a second film studio. $280 million will support existing rebate programs and the Made in NSW fund to encourage the production of local film and television.
Regional NSW
$140 million for the NSW agricultural sector. This includes $100 million boosting biodiversity initiatives and $41.2 million for primary industry research such as AI-assisted farming.
Jobs
$27.3 million over four years to fund the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, which will boost economic development of coal mining regions, with a focus on the Hunter and Central West.
$80 million to fund the Innovation blueprint to support tech start-ups in NSW.
Environment and Energy
$3 million to clean up Coogee beach, by upgrading pressure mains and building a new pump station to prevent sewage filled stormwater polluting the area.
$21.5 million to repair Stockton Beach near Newcastle.
$115.5 million to build a Newcastle Logistics Precinct which will support the Port of Newcastle move parts for wind turbines, solar panels and transformers across the state to the Renewable Energy Zones.
The Aerotropolis and Western Sydney
$9.2 million to bring back the Penrith Beach (Pondi) for two more seasons as well as upgrading the Sydney International Regatta Centre and Penrith Whitewater Stadium
$150 million for road upgrades in the Aerotropolis and directional signage to the new Western Sydney Airport.
$42.2 million to recruit 52 firefighters to staff the new Badgerys Creek Fire Station
$644 million for stormwater and recycled water upgrades in the Aerotropolis, funded primarily by developer infrastructure contributions.
Closing the Gap
$202.4 million over the next four years will go towards Closing the Gap initiatives such as programs to support adults and children leaving custody and prevent reoffending
Originally published as NSW Budget 2025: What we know so far
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