NSW Budget: A quick guide to what’s in it for you
NSW treasurer Gladys Berejiklian yesterday handed down a budget with a $3.7 billion surplus, but where is all the money being spent and what’s in it for you?
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NEW SOUTH WALES treasurer Gladys Berejiklian yesterday handed down a budget with a $3.7 billion surplus, but where is all the money being spent and what’s in it for you?
From massive outlays to improve public transport and roads to funding for nearly a dozen new schools and over one thousand new classrooms, the government is making it clear it’s trying to get the state moving again.
Here is a quick guide to spending in some key areas:
TRANSPORT
CHRONIC overcrowding on Sydney’s suburban network is being targeted, with $1 billion set aside to buy a fleet of new trains.
The trains, dubbed ‘growth trains’, will mean more frequent services and more seats to cope with the eight per cent annual rise in passenger numbers.
Another $407 million is being spent to improve rail infrastructure, especially on the busy Western Line.
It’s good news for regular commuters like Suzanna Azevedo (pictured below) who says: “More frequent trains would help.”
- $12 billion for Sydney Metro Lines
- $1 billion set aside for new fleet of trains to combat eight per cent rise in passenger numbers
- $407m to improve rail infrastructure
- Almost $500m upgrading roads in the city’s west and southwest to slash travel times, support future population growth and improve access to Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek
- WestConnex will receive a $2.9 billion cash injection
- More than $140m on Newcastle Light Rail
- $64m on planning and work on Parramatta Light Rail
- Close to $110m on 3800 extra weekly bus services and 218 new buses
- Almost $250m over three years to compensate taxi licence holders hit by legalisation of Uber
HEALTH
THE state’s record $22 billion health budget will include 900 additional doctors, nurse and support staff at public hospitals.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner said it also includes a record $1.6 billion building spend, including $900 million to turn Westmead Hospital’s busy tertiary campus into a “health city”.
New measures also include an extra $5 million to improve security in the wake of violent incidents at public hospitals.
- Budget up 5% - or $1 billion - on last year
- 900 additional doctors, nurses and support staff for public hospitals
- Record $1.1 billion building spend
- Included in that is $900m to turn Westmead Hospital’s tertiary campus into a ‘health city’
- $5 million to improve security in the wake of violent incidents at public hospitals
HOUSING
TAXING foreign buyers, rather than any new handouts to first home buyers, is the focus of the NSW government.
All foreign investors in NSW will now be hit with a 4 per cent stamp duty surcharge to buy houses and apartments.
An extra $835 million in stamp duty from buyers will come over the next four years.
- Foreign investors be hit with a 4 per cent stamp duty surcharge
- $166 million from land tax on foreign investors
EDUCATION
ALREADY stretched government schools are facing an influx of 45,000 extra students.
Ten new schools and 1100 extra classrooms will be needed over the next four years under a $2.6 billion capital works plan.
The government will also be forced to spend $330 million on fixing leaky and dilapidated classrooms over the next two years.
- $2.6 billion over four years to build 10 new schools and 1100 new classrooms
- New primary schools to be built in Ryde, North Kellyville and Parramatta
- New high schools to be build at Crows Nest, Surry Hills, Richmond, Ballina and Parramatta
- $330 million on fixing leaky, dilapidated classrooms over two years
BUSINESS
EMPLOYERS with 50 employees or less will have access to a more generous payroll tax rebate and those which don’t pay payroll tax get a $2000 grant for hiring.
The meaures, worth $344 million, are in addition to previously revealed $1.8 million i tax savings for business over four years by scrapping three business transfer taxes.
- Employers with less than 50 employers will have access to more generous payroll tax rebate of $6,000
- Three taxes dropped - mortgage duty, share transfer duty and non-real transfer duty
FAMILIES
FEWER children will need to be taken into government care as a result of a “massive expansion” of family intervention programs.
The changes follow successful overseas programsand include intense interventions into an estimated 1000 families by caseworkers working more “holistically” across government agencies.
- Record $6.3 billion budget spend
- $190 million to implement ‘massive expansion’ of family intervention programs
- $1.1 billion to prevent homelessness
- $1.9 billion to protect children from abuse and neglect
SHARKS
ALMOST $4 million will be spent protecting NSW beachgoers from more deadly shark attacks.
This includes listening stations to track sharks and experiments with drones equipped with shark-spotting cameras.
- $3.9 million will be spent combating sharks
- Includes listening stations and experimenting with drones carrying shark-spotting cameras
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