NSW budget 2024: What we know about no-frills budget

The groundwork has been laid for a state budget devoid of sweeteners, with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey telling The Daily Telegraph in the lead up the only cash splash would be on “essentials” and not “nice-to-haves”.

The groundwork has been laid for a state budget devoid of sweeteners, with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey telling The Daily Telegraph in the lead up the only cash splash would be on “essentials” and not “nice-to-haves”.

Major cost of living relief for struggling families will be absent, with a smattering in funding instead for a range of Labor priorities like education and key worker housing.

Watch our livestream as the Treasurer unveils his 2024 Budget.

Transport

Transport’s headline spend is $2 billion for stage two of the Parramatta Light Rail, spread out over a decade, as well as $1b being splashed on upgrading roads around the new western Sydney airport.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey after reviewing the NSW Budget 2024-25 budget papers at Parliament House in Sydney. Picture: Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Another $447 million will be pumped into keeping the Tangara fleet operational for another 12 years.

$91m will go towards revamping NSW’s bus fleet, with on-board screens, audio announcements and better location tracking.

The budget contains funding for the second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail, as the first stage runs through testing.

Education

Western Sydney will get a $3.6b boost for schools infrastructure, which will include a new primary and high school at Box Hill, with another $1.08 billion going towards minor works on public schools across the state.

Regional schools will get $1.4b in upgrades over four years, while casual TAFE teachers will be converted to full time roles, costing $83.1m.

Health

Upgrades to hospitals will get $3.4b across 2024-25, while 250 new health workers will be hired at a cost of $274m.

Charity Little Wings, which flies sick and injured children from the bush to the city for treatment, will get $600,000.

A major $230m emergency domestic and family violence package will also be in the budget.

Premier Chris Minns at a budget announcement earlier this month. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Housing

$450 million will go towards building 400 build-to-rent apartments for essential workers in Sydney, with another $200m for 120 dwellings in regional NSW.

A bid to speed up planning systems will cost $253m, with another $200m for infrastructure to build 24,000 new homes in the bush.

A NSW Rental Taskforce will get $8.4m to set up and be tasked with policing the rental market on the side of renters.

Energy and environment

The government will sideline $450m to underwrite Eraring power station for two years.

A $947.5m biosecurity package will include $13.1m to continue feral pig culling, which has resulted in 100,000 pigs being destroyed in eight months.

Police

$22.9 million will go to major upgrades of Waverley and Rose Bay Police Stations, while the NSW Police High-Tech Crime Branch will get $14.2m over four years.

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