Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said: “This is a responsible and fair budget with relief for today, reform for tomorrow, and discipline as always.”
Cost-of-living remains the Government’s major focus. People are struggling across Blacktown and Western Sydney and rely heavily on public transport and cars. These costs form a substantial part of the household budget.
The Minns State Labor Government implemented a weekly toll cap of $60 on being elected in 2023. The 2026 NSW Budget has lowered this by $10 to $50 per week for the upcoming year providing those who use the toll roads up to an additional $520 refund.
The $10 administration fee is also being abolished saving motorway users up to $60M.
Vehicle registration costs for 2026 will be cut by $100 for every private car and $80 for every private motorcycle.
There will be no annual increase for public transport with 2026 fares frozen at 2025 rates and maintain the weekly cap of $50.
This will help the 4.2 million people utilising public transport every month and shield commuters from cost increases to use trains and buses.
Many people on lower incomes have previously missed out on accessing improvements to implement energy efficient devices into their homes.
Discounts of up to $4,000 for 13 different types of energy-saving upgrades, including the installation of solar, batteries, double glazed windows, and draft-proofing, as part of the NSW Energy Saver Program will be made available to households where total income are less than $80,000.
For household incomes between $80,000 to $210,000, who maybe currently eligible for interest-free loans under the same program of up to $15,000 for the energy efficient upgrades. Both are stackable with existing state and federal rebates.
Other environmental initiatives that help reduce household costs include the Washing Machine Exchange program, which provides access to a $250 front-loading washing machine; the Cheaper Home Batteries program, offering 30 per cent off the upfront cost of a small-scale home battery; and incentives of up to $500 on average to connect a home battery to a virtual power plant.
A further 30,000 first home buyers are expected to benefit from the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme that has averaged at $20,400 for recipients.
This budget also includes record investments in areas which were neglected by the 12 long years of conservative government.
The Minns State Labor Government is increasing core funding for frontline domestic and family violence programs by 50%, the biggest increase ever.
We know what is needed to stop the scourge of domestic, family, and sexual violence and to support victims and we are doing it.
The Government is also delivering the largest health commitment in our state’s history through a landmark $11.9B to build and upgrade our hospitals and $10.3B to increase services and pay the staff who provide them fairly.
We understand that architectural awards do not improve health outcomes at Blacktown or Mt Druitt Hospitals. We have invested into our wonderful staff – more of them with higher pay; improved health programs like hospital in the home and virtual healthcare; plus infrastructure improvements including 60 new beds at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals plus a new Breast Screen NSW clinic all making a difference to improve health outcomes.
Construction has commenced for the Rouse Hill Hospital and it will be operational by 2029.
This is on top of the 59 EFT medical staff and 95 EFT nurses we have hired at Blacktown Hospital; 37 new paramedics recruited for our ambulance zone; the new geriatric care emergency ward at Blacktown Hospital, and new Medicare Mental Health Centre opened in the Blacktown CBD.
NSW Government has also invested into schools with new opportunity classes; more full-time teachers and staff; more police; funded $453M for Blacktown Council projects; and commenced construction on Richmond Road upgrades and many other road improvements.
In 2023, the former Liberal Government handed over the largest ever annual budget deficit of $15.3B and anticipated gross debt to be $188 billion.
The Minns State Labor Government is on track to deliver a surplus of $1.1B in 2027-28 and have reduced the anticipated debt by $10B.
The real success of this budget is that we are delivering cost-of-living relief packages with record investments into infrastructure while improving the budget bottom line.
The Minns State Labor Government is making a difference. There is much more to do, and I look forward to working with Premier Chris Minns to continue to fight for Blacktown.
Stephen Bali is NSW Member for Blacktown.
