The winners and losers from the 2025 NSW budget
Winners
Bus commuters
Long-suffering Sydney bus commuters will hopefully get some relief from the long queues and cancelled services.
The government will splash $452 million to increase the number of bus services, including the rollout of 50 new bendy buses, and more regular school bus services in the outer suburbs.
A render of proposed Central Coast Studios next to the Glenworth Valley. Credit: Central Coast Pty Ltd
Movie-makers
A $100 million fund will be used to search for a home for Sydney’s second film studio, with sites at Redfern and the Central Coast already being considered. The government also promises to reform the regulations around film and gaming production in NSW, which promises to triple the time productions can film on private land.
The sector will also benefit from $280 million through the existing Made in NSW fund, which supports film and TV production.
Tech companies and start-ups
Maybe the biggest winners from the budget are the technology companies the treasurer is hoping to attract to NSW with the new Investment Delivery Authority, which will fast-track private investment projects valued at over $1 billion. Think data centres and renewable energy projects. TechCentral will get a $38.5 million injection, and there is funding to encourage women in tech and housing industry innovation through an $80 million “Innovation Blueprint”.
Housing developers
The state government will become guarantor for up to $1 billion of housing projects to encourage new low and mid-rise projects where developers might struggle with securing finance. It means developers that the government deems credible and capable of delivering the homes won’t have to rely as much on off-the-plan sales to get projects moving. If the homes remain unsold, the developer can call on the guarantee and the government will purchase them for either build-to-rent, affordable, or social housing.
Developers will also benefit from a 50 per cent land tax discount for build-to-rent housing.
New parents
People planning on having children in NSW will benefit from $83.8 million in maternity care and “First 2000 Days” package, which promises to upskill the maternity workforce and increase support for parents in the regions.
Vulnerable children
The government will spend $1.2 billion to support children in out-of-home care. The money will go to recruiting 200 new caseworkers and building or upgrading residential care homes for children over 12. The allowance paid to foster carers will also rise by 20 per cent, their first rise in 20 years.
Families in Sydney’s outer suburbs
Some of Sydney’s newest suburbs are getting new schools to support their growing populations. New primary schools will be built at Grantham Farm and Emerald Hills, and Wilton will get a new high school.
Central Darling Council residents
The Central Darling Shire Council in far west NSW has been in administration for over a decade.
The government has committed $6 million to help the council out of administration and give the community the chance to elect its councillors.
Losers
Struggling families
The trend in the budget is fiscal responsibility, meaning no major handouts to help people with their hip-pocket pain. The $60 toll cap is set to expire in January 2026, and the government won’t expand this.
Instead, they’re committing their cash to pursuing broader toll reform, but that could take time.
Mental health workers
There’s a $15.4 million boost in the next year for the community mental health workforce (psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists). However, there was no specific funding for specialist psychiatrists, including public hospital positions.
Plans are afoot to take some golf out of Moore Park Golf Course. Credit: Louise Kennerley
Golfers
The government has committed $50 million to turning the southern parts of Moore Park Golf Course into 20 hectares of public green space, with community sports facilities. That means fewer holes for golfers to enjoy.
Drivers
Electric vehicle drivers will start paying a road user charge from July 1, 2027, which is forecast to bring in $73m in the first year. That’s a great new revenue source for the government, but it means a hip pocket hit for EV owners who aren’t paying the fuel excise. However, the NSW government is funding the rollout of public EV charging infrastructure.
The Central Coast
Other than some smaller-scale health announcements, there’s no big announcement for Coasties in this budget. There will be some road upgrades as part of a broader package, but there’s no announcement for coastal management at Wamberal and North Entrance, where homes are in danger from coastal erosion. Further north, Stockton Beach is getting a $21 million sand nourishment upgrade.
On the health side, there is funding to expand the Cancer Day Unit and pathology services at Wyong.
Public forests
The government is meant to be undertaking a strategic review of NSW Forestry Corporation and the long-term future of the timber industry. However, this budget doesn’t set aside any transition package to move away from public forest logging.
Preventative health
There was no new major funding announcement for preventative healthcare programs, despite the government’s special commission on health funding recommending this become a whole-of-government priority to divert the increasing numbers of ageing and chronically ill patients overwhelming the state’s hospitals.
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