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The Minns Labor Government will invest an additional $184.1 million to increase funding by 50 per cent for six frontline specialist domestic and family violence programs over the next four years to help keep more women and children safe.

This is the largest across-the-board increase in core funding for specialist domestic and family violence programs in decades. It represents a landmark investment in the services women and children rely on when escaping violence.

Domestic and family violence is one of the biggest social challenges facing our state.

Demand for support continues to grow across NSW, with specialist services facing increasing pressure as more victim-survivors seek help.

Safety is the first step in helping victim-survivors rebuild their lives. This investment will help ensure that when someone makes the difficult decision to leave violence, they can get the support they need, when they need it.

The funding will expand access to safety planning, counselling, case management and tailored support, while also growing the frontline workforce and strengthening the long-term sustainability of the sector.

We have listened to the sector about the challenges they face. This investment is designed to stabilise services, expand capacity and fund hundreds of additional specialist workers in communities across NSW.

It builds on the Government’s work to move key domestic and family violence programs to five-year contracts, helping provide greater certainty for service providers and continuity of care for victim-survivors.

It also lays the foundation for longer-term reform and a stronger, more sustainable domestic and family violence support system for the future.

Where the funding goes 

The $184.1 million is delivered across six frontline programs:

• $76.1 million for the Safer Pathway program, providing coordinated support for victim-survivors across NSW.
• $54.0 million for the Staying Home Leaving Violence program and the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services program to help women and children remain safely in their homes after violence, and provide intensive case management for high-risk families.
• $19.3 million for Men’s Behaviour Change programs, to reduce and prevent violent and abusive behaviour.
• $17.5 million for the Domestic Violence Response Enhancement program, providing after-hours assistance to people experiencing domestic and family violence.
• $17.2 million for Specialist Workers for Children and Young People, providing trauma-informed support for children and young people escaping violence.

Community-sector workers who deliver these services also receive a 4.75 per cent pay increase, in line with the Fair Work Commission determination and which the Minns Labor Government is passing on in full.

Reform for the future 

A further $6.3 million will support frontline services and long-term reform through continuing work on the Common Approach to Risk Assessment and Safety (CARAS). These reforms are part of a broader package totalling $190.4 million.

This builds on the $5.1 billion committed in the previous Budget for new social housing, with 
half of new builds prioritised for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. It also follows from our $245.6 million investment to expand support services and improve domestic violence prevention to build a safer NSW.

Building a safer future 

This investment builds on the Government’s broader work to expand support services, deliver more social housing and strengthen prevention efforts across NSW.

Because when women and children make the decision to leave violence, they deserve to know help will be there

Families across the North Coast are under real pressure. Long distances, higher energy needs and the lasting toll of natural disasters mean the cost of mortgages, rent, groceries and fuel is felt acutely across the region.

This Budget acts on a simple principle: relief for today, reform for tomorrow, discipline always – building a state working Australians can afford.

Relief for cost-of-living pressures

Relief in this Budget is practical and immediate, and it reaches North Coast households where costs bite hardest, on the road and in power bills. It delivers:

• $100 off private vehicle registration, worth $435 million across 4.4 million vehicles, with an $80 cut for motorcycles (excluding caravans and trailers). This is relief that matters most where people rely on cars, utes and longer drives.
• $557.1 million through the Home Energy Saver program: interest-free loans and discounts to install energy-efficient appliances and cut power bills over time.
• A $1,000 cost-of-living payment for more than 120,000 NSW Government employees, triggered because Sydney CPI growth exceeded 4 per cent between the March quarters of 2025 and 2026.

These relief measures sit in a wider statewide package, comprising:

• The weekly toll cap cut from $60 to $50 for 2026-27, going further than last year’s 
  $60 cap.
• Scrapping toll administration fees from July, saving at least $10 a notice, and ending 
  a charge that cost motorists $60 million last year, in some cases twice the toll itself.
• Opal fares held at 2025 prices for the year.

Healthier North Coast communities

Health is the largest single commitment in this Budget.

Across NSW, a historic $10.3 billion increase in health funding over four years, delivered with the Australian Government, will recruit 9,000 more health workers and fund around 2,900 more planned surgeries a year.

This sits alongside $11.9 billion for health infrastructure including 32 new and upgraded hospitals and more than 2,500 beds.

Regional NSW shares fully in that program. Of the $11.9 billion statewide, nearly $3.0 billion is invested in regional hospitals and health facilities over the next four years. On the North Coast, this includes:

• $265.0 million for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital redevelopment.
• $263.8 million for the Grafton Hospital redevelopment, including delivering a contemporary maternity unit with dedicated birthing rooms and improved inpatient accommodation.

Nurses and midwives receive the largest pay rise in more than twenty years, and the largest ever for enrolled nurses, backed by an additional $2.9 billion in this Budget.

North Coast nurses, midwives, teachers and police are among those benefiting from the high wage economy this Government is building.

Better schools, closer to home

Every child deserves a world-class education, wherever they live. This Budget invests $9.2 billion statewide over four years for new and upgraded schools, of which $2.3 billion is for regional NSW. On the North Coast, this includes:

• The Lennox Head Public School relocation.
• Upgrades at Casino High School.
• A new community open space for Pottsville High School.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering new and rebuilt schools across regional NSW, close to the communities they serve.

Transport and connectivity

Reliable transport keeps the North Coast connected and moving. This Budget invests:

• $227.3 million for the Coffs Harbour bypass.
• $30 million to plan upgrades to the M1 Pacific Motorway from Tweed Heads to Byron 
  Bay (in Partnership with the Australian Government).
• $22.1 million to continue improvements to Waterfall Way.

Safer North Coast communities

Domestic and family violence is disproportionately higher in rural and regional areas.

This Budget makes a $184.1 million investment in six frontline domestic and family violence programs, helping thousands more women, children and people impacted by violence access specialist support and stay safe. This is a 50 per cent increase phased in over four years.

Community workers also receive a 4.75 per cent pay increase under the Fair Work Commission determination.

The Budget also continues the Regional Police Station program for the Northern Rivers, backed by $28.0 million in 2026-27.

Investments in emergency services protect communities and keep families and businesses safe.

This Budget provides $470.1 million over 10 years to enhance emergency response and better protect communities by transferring the state’s red fleet from councils to the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Responsible decisions make these investments possible

This Budget can provide cost-of-living relief and continue investing in essential services because the Government has spent the past three years making responsible and difficult decisions to strengthen the state’s finances.

That work has been done without privatisation and without bringing back an unfair wages cap, while keeping public assets in public hands and maintaining an independent umpire for wages and conditions.

As global uncertainty and higher fuel prices place additional pressure on families and businesses, this Budget provides support now while continuing the work of returning the state’s finances to surplus in 2027-28.

It’s about supporting families today, while securing NSW’s future.

The Minns Labor Government has slashed almost $225 million from the Office of Sport budget, dealing a major blow to community sporting clubs, athletes and local sporting infrastructure across New South Wales.
 
When it comes to the Australian culture and Australian community, nothing connects us all like Sport. Whether it is the current or future Socceroos, Matildas or Olympic athletes, the Minns Government is happy to stand next to them but will not invest in our future sporting stars.
 
Sport is how communities come together, how young people learn teamwork and resilience, and how we celebrate our national identity on the local field and the world stage.
 
The Liberal and Nationals Government’s record on local community sport investment included:
 
Active Kids vouchers, helping families with the cost of children’s sport and recreation activities.
First Lap vouchers, introducing thousands of young children to learn-to-swim programs and improving water safety outcomes.
Nearly $900 million invested through community infrastructure grant programs to improve the accessibility and quality of sporting infrastructure across New South Wales.
 
Shadow Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the cuts were a betrayal of the thousands of volunteers, families and local clubs who need support to keep sport accessible and affordable.
 
“Sport brings Australians together. It is an essential community activity. Every dollar cut from sport is a dollar taken away from opportunities for young people, local clubs and future champions.” Mrs Ward said.
 
The Minns Government must explain why sport has once again been forced to pay the price for its budget decisions.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals have today slammed the Minns Labor Government’s Budget, saying it confirms that NSW is going backwards and Labor has no plan to grow the economy, support families or back business and jobs.
 
Labor’s fourth Budget reveals:

• NSW is entering a per capita recession, with economic growth forecast at 1% while population increase is forecast to be 1.1%.
• Labor will never deliver a budget surplus; despite promising a surplus by 2024-25 before the last election Labor has not delivered a budget surplus during its term.
• Taxes are up by 31% since Labor came to power, with every NSW family paying $3,500 more in state taxes per year, and stamp duty and payroll tax takes at record highs.
• No new major infrastructure projects and a shrinking pipeline, with funding down every year.
• No measures to address housing supply at a time when Labor is 40 per cent behind its National Housing Accord targets.

Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said after more than three years in office, Labor has failed to provide the vision and leadership needed to help NSW reach its potential.
 
“This Budget confirms what families and businesses already know – Labor has no plan to help people get ahead and no plan to grow our state’s economy,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Families are working harder than ever but too many are going backwards, meanwhile businesses are facing rising costs and a government that is taking more off them in payroll tax.”
 
“New South Wales should be leading the nation, but under Labor we have the weakest economic growth in Australia, declining business confidence and cost of living support that is too little, too late.”
 
“When Labor came to office we were leading the nation on economic growth, now we’re coming last.”
 
“This Budget should have been about restoring confidence and setting a clear direction for our state’s future. Instead, it confirms Labor has run out of ideas for NSW.”
 
Leader of the Nationals Gurmesh Singh said regional communities were also being left behind by Labor’s latest Budget.
 
“Regional New South Wales has always been a key driver of our state’s success, but too often communities are being asked to do more while receiving less,” Mr Singh said.
 
“Whether it is infrastructure delays, housing shortages, energy policy or essential services, regional communities deserve their fair share and deserve to be heard, but under Labor they are simply ignored.”
 
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals believe every part of our state should have the opportunity to grow and prosper, regardless of your postcode.”
 
Shadow Treasurer Scott Farlow said Labor’s Budget showed that Labor is not up to the job of running our state’s economy.
 
“The Budget reveals that under Labor, our state is headed for a per capita recession, as our population growth will outpace our economic growth. This means that despite their hard work families and businesses will fall further behind,” Mr Farlow said.
 
“Despite promising a return to surplus before the election, Labor has not delivered a surplus and its fanciful projections mean it never will.”
 
Shadow Minister for Finance Monica Tudehope said Labor’s answer is always the same, more taxes, more charges and more pressure on household budgets.
 
“Under Labor, taxes have increased by 31%, leaving families and businesses worse off with only more bad news to come as our economy slows.”
 
Ms Sloane said she would outline the NSW Liberals and Nationals ambitious plan for a stronger NSW this Thursday.
 
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals plan will be one that helps families get ahead and stay ahead, and backs small and family businesses to invest, grow and create jobs,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Unlike Labor, our plan is one to grow our state’s economy, build the homes, roads, rail, schools and hospitals our growing communities need, and restores the ambition that once made NSW the leading state in the nation.”
 
“The people of New South Wales deserve a government with a vision for the future and with the NSW Liberals and Nationals that’s what they’ll get.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals have welcomed overdue cost-of-living relief for drivers, with the weekly toll cap reduced from $60 to $50, while noting it falls well short of the toll reform Labor promised three years ago.
 
The change will save eligible drivers up to $520 a year, providing some relief for households who rely on Sydney’s road network every day.
 
The scrapping of toll administration fees is also welcome given the pre-election commitment and the millions raked in since while Labor sat on that election promise.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said families and households are paying more for just about everything under Labor, and relief is overdue.
 
“Labor promised toll reform three years ago, yet drivers will still face toll price increases in a matter of days,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Under Federal and NSW Labor, families and households are paying more for groceries, electricity, insurance, fuel and mortgages, and some cost-of-living relief is long overdue.”
 
Shadow Minister for Roads Mark Coure said for many in Western and South-Western Sydney tolls are unavoidable.
 
“This change will provide welcome relief for families across West and South-Western Sydney as well as Southern Sydney, who rely on their cars every day to get to work, take their children to school, attend appointments and support local businesses,” Mr Coure said.
 
“It is a step in the right direction, but drivers are still waiting for Labor to deliver the meaningful toll reform they promised before the last election.”
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals will continue to focus on practical measures that ease cost-of-living pressure and put money back into people’s pockets.