NSW election: Labor, Liberal policies compared

From energy to gaming, wage caps, education and housing, see how the policies of the major parties compare before casting your vote.

NSW election: premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor challenger Chris Minns. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Undecided about how to vote in the NSW election on Saturday? From energy to gaming, wage caps, education and housing, compare the policies of Labor and the Liberals.

Gaming

Both parties have recognised problem gambling and money laundering to be a serious issue in NSW. Poker machines are so prevalent in NSW that the count is beaten only by Nevada, US.

Both sides have pledged to ban political donations from clubs, but Labor has been criticised for its less ambitious plan.

The Coalition has promised:

• The Coalition has put forward an ambitious $344m pledge to stamp out problem gambling and money laundering.
• All poker machines to be cashless by the end of 2028
• Interest-free loans and grants to aid transition for small to medium venues
• One-off $50,000 diversification grant for small to medium venues to be invested in non-gambling entertainment.

Labor has promised:

• Year-long cashless gaming trial in at least 500 machines across the state
• $500 cash feed-in limit on all new poker machines – down from $5000.

Public sector wage cap

NSW public servants haven’t had a wage rise in two years, triggering union strikes by teachers, nurses and other health workers lobbying for higher pay than the three per cent cap put in place by the government.

Labor has moved first on the issue:

• Remove the wage cap

Labor has faced criticism from both sides of the argument, being unable to explain how it would fund wage rises and failing to promise this would translate into materially greater pay for public servants.

The Coalition has remained steadfast that the wage cap remain in place.

Nursing and healthcare

Demands by nurses and midwives included more favourable-staff-to-patient ratios amid reported burnout.

Labor has promised:

• Minimum safe staffing levels in public hospitals
• Additional 1200 nurses and midwives recruited in four years
• Additional 500 paramedics in regional areas
• Two new hospitals (Rouse Hill and Aerotropolis precinct), upgrades to two hospitals (Canterbury, Fairfield), and increased capacity in two (Blacktown and Mt Druitt)
• Three new helicopter ambulance bases

The Coalitionhas promised:

• Ten thousand additional healthcare workers in four years
• Over 2000 extra paramedics and 30 new ambulance stations
• New and upgraded hospitals across the state

Energy

In mid-2022, the east coast of the country was on tenterhooks as suppliers warned of uneven energy supply. It presaged rolling energy crises that saw the market operator suspend trading and the federal government step in with extraordinary price controls.

Labor, following the Victorian government’s lead, has promised:

• Establish a $1bn state-owned company to boost energy supply through community batteries and invest in medium to long term renewable storage solutions

The Coalition has promised:

• Build five renewable energy zones which it says will attract at least $32bn in private investment.
• Premier Dominic Perrottet said he is “open” to extending the life of coal-fired power station Eraring, the largest in the country.

Children and education

Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced an ambitious $850m plan to equip each child in NSW with a superannuation-style savings account for adulthood.

The Coalition has also promised:

• Parents can opt in to the account which the state government will open with $400
• The government will match up to $400 of parent contributions every year until the child turns 18
• Parents can invest up to $1000 per year
• The Coalition has also promised to build more schools and offer 47,000 more cheaper childcare slots.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns has said:“I’d much rather make sure that the gift to future generations is a world class education.”

• A $400m education fund that pledges:
  • More funding to public schools
  • Numeracy and literacy tutoring programs
  • More permanent teachers
  • Ban mobile phones in schools

Housing

The fastest interest rate rises in decades, a housing boom during the pandemic, and sluggish housing development have resulted in record-low rental vacancy rates, record-high rents and mortgage repayments, with little abatement in demand.

• Labor has promised a raft of measures to address the ongoing issue:
• Abolish stamp duty on first home buyers on properties up to $800,000 and concessional rates for homes up to $1m
• Introduce regulation to permit evictions only on reasonable grounds
• Ban secret rent bidding
• Establish a Rental Commissioner
• $30m pilot on south coast, with thirty per cent of dwellings to be affordable, social, and universal housing.

The Coalition has promised a range of measures as well:

• Expand land tax option for subsequent purchases of first home buyers
• Government subsidies to help essential workers, single parents, and older singles to purchase homes
• Rezoning to create sites for 70,000 homes by mid 2024
• Remove planning barriers to deliver 127,000 homes in regional NSW in next ten years.

Infrastructure and privatisation

This has been one of the most fiercely contested areas in the election race, with Labor running a scare campaign that the Coalition would privatise public assets despite repeated promises not to. Both parties have flagged continuing development of the Western Sydney Airport and expanded Metro lines.

The Coalition has promised:

• New infrastructure projects including continued construction of more light rail, roads, and dams among others.
• It has promised not to raise new taxes or privatise any assets, raising questions about how it would fund this spend, which Labor has called a “$50bn black hole”

Laborhas promised:

• Has continued to claim the Coalition will privatise Sydney Water despite repeated assertions from Mr Perrottet he has “no plans” to do so.
• A road toll cap starting in 2024 and a review of the system