First-home help for teachers, cops nurses and singles as part of the NSW State budget

Dominic Perrottet has welcomed a new era of state-federal co-operation, announcing a $780m first-home buyer scheme. Find out if you’re eligible.

Teachers, nurses, police, single parents and older singles will be able to buy their first home, with the state ­government to trial a $780m shared equity scheme.

The scheme – one of the most significant elements of a $2.8bn housing package to be unveiled in the state budget on Tuesday – will enable ­buyers to enter the market with a deposit of as little as 2 per cent.

At the same time, the ­government will contribute an equity share of up to 40 per cent of the property price for a new home, or 30 per cent for an existing one.

Households eligible for the shared equity scheme – which will also include older singles aged 50 years and over – must have a maximum gross income of $90,000 for singles and $120,000 for couples.

The maximum value of the property that will be able to be purchased will be $950,000 in Sydney and regional centres – including the Central Coast, Illawarra, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and the North Coast.

ICU nurse Melissa Suarez had given up hope of buying a house but that could change under the new scheme. Picture: Richard Dobson

In other parts of NSW, the property price will be capped at $600,000.

On Sunday morning, Premier Dominic Perrottet said NSW’s scheme — which is similar to federal Labor’s shared equity scheme — would help federal Liberals finally “see the light” on the idea.

“We should be aware it’s very easy … when governments or opposition float reform ideas for people to come out and know it back point blank, well, let’s just give it a go. Let’s have a look at it is it to the scheme that we’re trialling yet,” he said.

“We’re going through a new age of collaboration and that’s so important. We shouldn’t be fighting each other. We should be working together. And that’s I think what this announcement does today, it looks at it looks at what the Commonwealth Government is doing.”

Mr Perrottet said the first National cabinet meeting with new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “was the most collaborative” meeting he had attended in his time as premier.

“What I can say is the national Cabinet meeting we had last week was the most collaborative that I’ve been to, and that’s good. It’s a good start,” he said.

Dominic Perrottet says he wants to make home ownership a reality. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Treasurer Matt Kean said the homebuyers scheme – which will be trialled over two years – was designed to give essential workers and older singles the chance to realise the great Australian dream of owning their own home.

“Housing security is the bedrock of financial security,” he said. “A safe and secure home is fundamental to allow people to earn an income, care for their loved ones and pursue their own interests and aspirations.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the scheme, which will start in January next year, was part of broader reform undertaken in the budget.

“One of the government’s priorities is to make home ownership a reality for more people across our state and allow people to live closer to where they want to work, live and raise a family,” he said.

“We are continuing to invest in our people to transform our state as we embark on delivering what matters to make daily life better for people across our state.”

Shared equity schemes are already operating in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also pledged to establish a similar national scheme.

However, NSW residents will not be able to “double dip”, and only be able to opt into either the state or federal scheme. Other rules include that participants must use the property as their principal place of residence.

There will be no repayments on the equity portion while a buyer remains eligible for the scheme.

Single parents will be eligible so long as they have a child aged under 18 years, with the government expecting a big take-up from mums.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said the scheme formed a key plank of the soon-to-be-released housing strategy.

“It marks another step in the government’s plan to ­ensure that every person in NSW has a place to call home,” he said.

Essential workers such as nurses and teachers have long raised concerns about being unable to find housing near their places of work.

Nurse Melissa Suarez, 26, gave up her dream of buying a home in Liverpool near her work and her parents.

“I’d walk past a real estate agent office after finishing my shift at Liverpool Hospital and just keep seeing the prices going up,” she said.

$28M TO HELP FARMERS HARVEST TIMBER

FARMERS will get $28m to help them harvest trees on their land to ease the timber shortage causing a construction slowdown.

Builders have been scrambling to find timber for house frames and renovations such as decks, after fire and floods have devastated supplies.

Under the recently introduced farm forestry codes of practice, the government will assist farmers to harvest timber from native forests on their land to bolster supplies for flooring, construction, power poles, furniture and firewood.

While the red tape may have been eased, the government stressed the code comes with robust environmental protections, with areas of environmental significance and heritage value such as old growth forest, rainforest and Aboriginal heritage excluded. Koala habitat must also be preserved.

Jai Thomas, 25, is a carpenter and licensed builder who has witnessed the impact of the timber shortage on construction, with builders scrambling for supplies. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The government stressed the program was not about encouraging land clearing, rather helping farmers tap into an unutilised farm ­forestry income stream, which would address the critical timber shortage in NSW.

Any harvested land must also be maintained for regenerated forestry.

Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders blamed the timber shortage on the recent fires and floods.

The investment would provide farmers with practical advice and support services to ensure forestry became a central part of on-farm planning, he said.

“This investment will put farmers in NSW in better stead to produce timber to be sold domestically, which will not only directly address timber shortages, but also increases and diversifies income streams for farmers after a tough few years.”

Sydney carpenter and licensed builder Jai Thomas, 25, said: “You definitely have to order ahead. The price has also gone up massively.”

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE IN THE BUSH

By Emily Burley

REGIONAL and remote NSW will get close to $38m to expand before and after school care ­services.

The $37.9m package includes more than $20m to expand ­before and after school services and another $16m to improve transport connections to the ­services.

Deputy Premier and Regional NSW Minister Paul Toole said after-hours care was critical in allowing parents to juggle work and family commitments.

“Gone are the days of the nine to five,” Mr Toole said. “This funding will be crucial to ensure parents in regional communities have access to more flexible childcare services.”

The state government last month revealed more than 860 before and after school care services were operating across the state, an increase of 153 on 2019.

Before and after school care at Raglan Public School in the Bathurst area has been a game changer for the Wray family. Pictured (L-R) are Kenzie Wray, mum Robyn Wray, year one student Lachlan Wray and year five student Alex Wray. Picture: Supplied.

It said at least 38 tenders were open to provide new services at other schools.

Raglan Public School in the Bathurst region received $600,000 funding in 2021 to launch its before and after school care service this year.

Robyn Wray, whose sons Lachlan and Alex attend years one and five at the school, said it had been a game-changer.

“I opened my own business at the end of last year and one of the obstacles to that had been finding after school care for the kids,” Ms Wray said.

“To know they’re being looked after, being fed and being entertained with incredible activities, has had a huge impact on us as a family.”

School principal Joanna Cafe said the service stopped parents having to bus their children to other schools across the region.

“As a small school with only about 230 students, not having this service was a big disadvantage for us,” Ms Cafe said.

“A lot of parents work in Bathurst because there’s minimal employment in Raglan, so it was very difficult for them to get back in time or access that care.”

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the government was committed to giving all NSW families access to before and after school care.

COST OF ABORIGINAL FLAG ON HARBOUR BRIDGE

On Sunday morning, Mr Perrottet also claimed that he may have to “buy a pole” from Bunnings and plant the Aboriginal flag on the Habour Bridge himself after he was advised that it could take two years to put the flag on the iconic bridge.

Mr Perrottet said he did not know why putting the flag on the bridge would cost $25m but “it does apparently”.

“I’ll go to Bunnings myself and I’ll climb up there and put the pole myself,” he said.

“Apparently that’s the costing. I think it’s an important decision we made. I think it brings unity to our country and I think it’s a small price to pay for that unification. It is what it is.”

Originally published as First-home help for teachers, cops nurses and singles as part of the NSW State budget