| “At a time of global uncertainty, steady leadership and responsible decisions matter.” |
** “Steady Leadership Matters”: NSW Labor Budget Delivers Cost-of-Living Relief and Rebuilds Public Services
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“At a time of global uncertainty, steady leadership and responsible decisions matter.”
23/06/2026
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The NSW Labor Government has released its fourth State Budget, describing it as a responsible plan to ease cost-of-living pressures while continuing to rebuild essential public services and invest in the future of New South Wales.
The Budget focuses on practical support for families and households facing rising everyday costs, while maintaining investment in schools, hospitals, housing, roads and public assets.
“At a time of global uncertainty, steady leadership and responsible decisions matter,” the statement said.
A central focus of the Budget is immediate cost-of-living relief, including $100 off vehicle registration for the next 12 months, a freeze on public transport fares, a reduction of the toll cap to $50 a week, and the permanent abolition of toll administration fees.
The Government acknowledged that these measures would not solve every cost-of-living challenge, but said they would provide practical assistance to households while longer-term investments continue across the state.
“I know this won’t solve every cost-of-living problem, but it will help ease some costs now, while we continue to build the schools, hospitals and roads people in NSW rely on,” the statement said.
The Budget also includes what Labor described as the biggest increase in frontline domestic and family violence funding in decades, with a 50 per cent boost to support women and children escaping violence.
The Government said the funding increase is designed to ensure victim-survivors can access support when they need it most.
“When someone makes the difficult decision to leave violence, they should be able to get help — not join a waiting list,” the statement said.
Labor said the latest Budget builds on the work of its first three budgets, which focused on rebuilding public services, opposing privatisation, and tackling the housing crisis.
In its first Budget, the Government abolished the former wages cap, which it said had contributed to experienced workers leaving schools, hospitals and police stations. Since then, Labor says it has recruited 6,496 more nurses and midwives, 986 more paramedics, and 2,263 new teachers, contributing to a 71 per cent reduction in the teacher vacancy rate.
The second Budget, according to the Government, delivered the largest new investment in public housing in New South Wales history, with half of the new homes allocated to victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.
The third Budget reversed what Labor described as the previous government’s privatisation agenda, investing in new public hospitals and bringing Northern Beaches Hospital back into public hands.
The Government also pointed to its fiscal record, saying it had reduced the budget deficit from $15 billion in the year before it was elected to $2.3 billion.
Labor said further policies would be announced in the coming weeks and months to cut costs, rebuild public assets and support jobs across the state.
“With less than a year’s time, the people of NSW will judge us on our record,” the statement said.
The statement concluded by saying Labor believes it has the right plan to help people with today’s pressures while building a stronger future for New South Wales.
“Together we can keep delivering for the people of New South Wales,” the statement said. |
