NSW Election 2023 guide: what Labor, Liberal parties are promising
Polling booths have now opened for the NSW Election. Here are the key issues facing voters and the major election pledges from the Liberal and Labor parties to help you decide.
State Election
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Dominic Perrottet has declared he will fulfil the Coalition’s key election commitments “within the first six months”should he be re-elected this weekend.
Declaring the Coalition was still very much in the race to claim victory, the Premier outlined the five key priorities that a Perrottet government would be working on “immediately”.
“We have to move fast to support our families and households and protect them from the global economic headwinds that are coming our way … and that means immediately implementing our economic plan to give $250 off every family and household energy bill across NSW,” he said.
“We will also be holding the federal Labor government to account on their promise of energy bill relief.”
Starting the “future fund” by setting up accounts for nearly one million children would come next, followed by legislation to give first-home buyers the choice not to pay stamp duty.
Other priorities will be identifying the sites for every child to get access to free preschool and establishing a cashless gaming task force.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Chris Minns has said should he deliver Labor a victory on March 25, his “absolute immediate priority” would be energy security and cost of living.
“We’ll have to get straight into it, hit the ground running, because with the cost of living crisis, and with the immediate concerns of energy, we won’t have a second to lose.”
Mr Minns said a Labor government will differ from the Coalition in that it will shift from the focus from “physical capital” — infrastructure projects — to “human capital”.
“We’re gonna focus on people — you can’t run public services without people,” he said.
“There’s no replacing a teacher at the front of a classroom, or a nurse who’s got the skills to understand what’s in his or her emergency department, and that’s been absolutely neglected by the government. “
As for private development, a future Minns government would make the approvals process easier, with a quicker yes or no.
POLLING BOOTH LOCATIONS - WHERE TO VOTE
A future Minns government would also differ from the existing Coalition government in its internal discipline, especially among the leadership group.
“It doesn’t always agree on everything, but that’s kind of the point because you want you want to have major decisions stress-tested by the senior leadership,” he said.
“So perhaps an under-reported part of how the opposition’s worked has been (how) harmonious (it has been) … very disciplined, a tight little unit at the top that hasn’t leaked, and has been able to have very frank discussions right the way through the last two years.”
COST OF LIVING
COALITION:
Every child to be given $400 when they are born with the State government to match parent contributions by up to $400 a year until a child reaches 18 as part of a superannuation-style funding scheme to pay for housing and education.
Energy bills to be slashed by $250 for anyone that compares their current energy deal. The
NSW Energy Bill Saver will be available from 1 July through to 31 December 2023.
First home buyers to be given the opportunity to ditch stamp duty for the rest of their lives as part of an expansion of the First Home Buyer Choice program. The $1.5 million price threshold on eligible properties will increase by $50,000 each year starting from 2023-24.
Weekly adult Opal cap will be cut from $50 to $40 and concession from $25 to $20.
LABOR:
NSW drivers will be have their weekly toll usage capped at $60 as part of a policy estimated to benefit about 51,000 drivers every week. The proposed cap is an extension of the 40 per cent toll rebate introduced by the NSW government, for motorists who spend more than $375 on tolls during the 2022-23 financial year.
Families will have $250 slashed off their electricity bills — and small business will save $315 — under a $485 million Labor bill relief plan. The rebate will apply to households receiving income support, pensioners and Seniors Health Card holders, and Family Tax Benefit recipients – and take effect in four instalments over a year.
Stamp duty to be abolished outright for first homebuyers buying a home worth up to $800,000, while offering a concessional rate to first-home buyers purchasing a property up to $1,000,000.
HEALTH
COALITION:
Patients will be able to visit their pharmacist for free contraceptive pill prescriptions and UTI treatments for a 12-month trial period.
$1.2 billion for new and upgraded hospitals, including $260 million for expanded critical care services at Concord Hospital and $102 million for the Scott Memorial Hospital in the Upper Hunter.
$52.6 million women's package, including $16.3 million for endometriosis hubs to help women with the treatment, $2 million for women and families who suffer the trauma of miscarriage, pregnancy loss and stillbirth will have more support, $7 million for gynaecological cancer researchers
Eligibility criteria of the $2000 Fertility Treatment Rebate to cover egg freezing procedures to be expanded to boost the number of places to 14,000.
LABOR
Expanded hospital capacity by adding 600 additional beds across Western Sydney – including a $700 million investment for a 300-bed hospital at Rouse Hill.
Introduction of “minimum and enforceable safe staffing levels” to public hospitals – starting with emergency departments – with an additional 1,200 nurses and midwives recruited into the system.
Upgrade Canterbury, Fairfield, Mount Druitt and Blacktown Hospital with the new Eurobodalla Hospital to be opened at Level 4 capacity.
Funding to Women’s Health Centres boosted by $100 million with every person in NSW experiencing breast cancer to access a free breast cancer nurse.
$17 million to the Kids Helpline over four years to increase their capacity to respond to a rising number of calls.
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT/PARKS
COALITION:
Legislation to ban offshore gas and petroleum exploration and production in NSW waters, plus a call for the federal government to oppose the extension of PEP-11.
Establishing a $1.5 billion clean energy supper power fund to help support deliver renewable energy storage
Parramatta Park to undergo a $57 million makeover
Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers to be fast-tracked with 30,000 across the State by 2026 with strata laws to be reformed to make it easier for people in living in apartments to charge their vehicles. Planning laws to be amended to accelerate the construction of chargers in public places such as power poles and parking meters
LABOR:
Creation of a NSW Energy Security Corporation to accelerate investment in renewable energy assets through industry partnerships on projects such as pumped hydro and community batteries
Legislated NSW carbon emission reduction targets, including net zero by 2050 and a 50 per cent reduction on 2005 carbon emission levels by 2030
Establish a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast with $80 million dollars to be committed to the project. Convene a consultation process to change the state’s koala strategy with wildlife corridors to be created in Woronora Heights and Heathcote.
Completion of one of Sydney’s largest parks – Wolli Creek Regional Park
SMALL BUSINESS/JOBS/WAGES
COALITION:
Red tape to be slashed to cut the cost of doing business with a NSW Red Tape Commissioner to be appointed to delivering $1 billion of reductions of red tape.
Pledge to create 100,000 new jobs in Western Sydney over the next five years across sectors such as construction, manufacturing, health, transport, professional services and science.
Small business rebate on government charges and fees with $500 for each business every year for two years
No new taxes pledge
LABOR
Abolition of public sector wages cap
Tangara train replacements to be built locally in a move that will create “at least” 1,000 jobs. Part of a broader plan to bring back manufacturing to NSW.
Set up a NSW Jobs First Commission to oversee the implementation and growth of local industries and advocate for local firms in bidding for government tenders. Charter for Small Business.
No privatisation with legislation to be introduced to stop privatisation in the future.
THE BUSH:
COALITION
$1 billion for regional roads and rail projects
$120 million regional excellence fund, investing in new school facilities regionals schools such as science labs or workshops.
$180 million regional renewal fund, to help schools in the bush fund small projects where the P & C can’t fully fund.
Stronger Country Communities Fund to receive $90 million for projects such as
skate parks, new community halls and main street upgrades.
Free parking at regional hospitals
LABOR
Recruitment of 500 additional paramedics in rural and regional NSW
$30 million for a “build to rent” pilot on the south coast.
$70 million for three helicopter ambulance bases in regional and rural NSW, taking the total in NSW from six to nine.
Undertake a “Regional Music Census”, mapping venues, performances and “music infrastructure”.
SOCIAL:
COALITION:
Every poker machine to become cashless by December 31, 2028 in one of the biggest gambling reforms to have ever been undertaken in Australia. Mandatory self-imposed limits and cooling-off periods, breaks in play, prohibiting the transfer of funds from credit-cards and prohibiting automatic top-ups also included as part of the package.
Greater protection and support for renters, including a ‘reasonable grounds’ model for evictions during periodic leases, with the final list of reasonable grounds to be subject to consultation with key stakeholders, including landlords.
Faith organisations will be supported through a $10 million grants program to strengthen safety and security at religious institutions where there is a demonstrated risk, including places of worship, schools, community centres, and buildings with religious symbols.
LABOR:
Gaming machine numbers to be cut, a mandatory cashless gaming trial involving at least 500 pokies to be introduced and political donations from clubs that house poker machines to be outlawed. Cash feed-in limits in new machines to be reduced from $5000 to $500
Appointment of a NSW Rental Commissioner to consult and draft of legislation on the reasonable grounds for eviction; portable bonds scheme
Establishment a NSW Faith Affairs Council to provide a formal channel of feedback from faith organisations to the NSW Government.
BOTH: LGBTQ+ conversion practices to be banned.
EDUCATION
COALITION:
Building more public schools, including one at Jordan Springs and a third Western Sydney selective school in Box Hill as part of a $1.2 billion investment
Legislating the right to a year of free pre-kindergarten and fast tracking $1 billion to build 500 preschools in the next term.
$100 million to pay teachers more with salaries up to $152 000
Those with an undergraduate degree in teaching would be able to complete a one-year full time postgraduate degree in order to become a secondary school teacher from 2024.
A Religious Communities Advisory Panel and Department of Education partnership to stamp out faith based bullying in schools and ensure every school has an anti-racism officer.
LABOR:
Wages cap lifted to bolster teacher pay and attract more recruits
Mobile phones will be banned in public high schools with technology like phone jams to stop kids using their devices to be explored
100 public preschools will be built and 50 preschools upgraded or built at non-government schools.
Increased public school funding through an “Education Future Fund”
A growth area schools plan with new schools for growing suburbs, including Gregory Hills and Gledswood Hills, Leppington, Sydney Olympic Park, Melrose Park, Schofields and Tallawong, Jordan Springs, Medowie, Googong and upgrades to schools in Penrith, The Ponds, Northmead, Randwick, Vincentia, Northbridge and Cammeray.
An extra 250 school counsellors will be hired in a $75 million recruitment drive.
LAW AND ORDER
COALITION:
Doubling the safer cities program with an extra $30 million to ensure public spaces, parklands and transport hubs will be overhauled to improve women’s safety and reduce street harassment.
Domestic violence package including $20 million to monitor domestic violence offenders and more magistrates to clear DV backlog. A review will be held into all DV sentences.
$36 million youth crime package to set violence reduction units in Western Sydney and to more funding for PCYC programs.
LABOR:
Within Labor’s first term a drug summit will be held between government, police, drug users and medical experts to improve NSW’s approach to drug misuse.
50 new police officers for south west Sydney and 50 for north west Sydney.
Increased penalties for knife crime
TRANSPORT AND ROADS
COALITION:
A four point plan to address bus driver shortages by establishing a driver recruitment task force for overseas workers and waiving fees and subsidising training.
$50 million to commence planning and land acquisitions to progress construction of the Picton bypass
Western Sydney will benefit from four new metro routes including connections from Westmead and Macarthur to the Western Sydney Airport.
$12 million to upgrade airstrips and airports across western NSW and support air services to remote communities.
Well behaved drivers to dodge low-range fines if they have a three year clean slate.
WestConnex speed limit increased from 80 km/h to 90 km/h.
LABOR:
Labor has pledged $1.1 billion to improve and build new roads in Sydney and the bush.
Parramatta Light Rail stage 2 construction will begin within Labor’s first term in government.
Construction speed limits will only be enforced while work is actively occurring.
The Transport Asset Holding Entity and the Northern Beaches Link will both be scrapped.
A trial will introduce demerit point incentives with drivers winning back a point on their licence after a year.
ARTS AND HERITAGE
COALITION:
The Sydney Jewish Museum will be expanded with a $10 million boost to create a holocaust museum and a centre for contemporary Jewish life.
$5.5 million for multicultural festivals, including $900,000 to Sydney’s Indian communities to hold cultural celebrations and festivals.
LABOR:
A $103 million boost to NSW’s live music scene will create Sound NSW, supporting contemporary music.
Live musicians will have fair pay conditions with a minimum of $250 fee for commercial event performances with public funding.
Making NYE free for everyone – by removing fees for tickets to access public vantage points.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
COALITION:
$43 million to establish two new SES Zone of operations, the North Western Zone with headquarters in Tamworth and North Eastern Zone with headquarters in Lismore.
Additional rescue vehicles, jet skis, Emergency Response Beacons and communications upgrades will be delivered to Surf Life Saving NSW in a $23 million funding injection.
LABOR:
$225 million in funding will deliver a Western Sydney Floods Resilience plan to improve evacuation roads, levees and communications infrastructure.
Over eight years 600 new permanent firefighters will be recruited.
500 new paramedics will be hired in Labor’s first term.
$3.3 million for a new, world-leading natural disaster detection system
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