Category: NSW News

The NSW Liberals have spent the last two weeks trying to make up for the last 12 years of waste and mismanagement.
 
This isn’t a budget about NSW’s best interests, this is a budget about the best interests of the NSW Liberal’s and National’s.
 
Twelve years in and we are headed towards $182.2 billion in gross debt, our AAA credit rating shredded, and interest repayments which will grow at 24 per cent a year – every single year.
 
By 2025-26, the NSW Liberals hope to saddle every single person in NSW with over $21,500 each in debt, and interest repayments of over $700 every year, per person.  
 
The one thing on the minds of the people of NSW right now is that the price of everything is going up – we are in a cost of living crisis under the NSW Liberals.
 
But Dominic Perrottet and Matt Kean have:
 

• No plan to help families deal with the cost-of-living crisis that is engulfing this state;
• No plan to help boost high quality local jobs in this state;
• No plan to future proof the NSW education system;
• No plan to reverse the Americanisation of the NSW economy; and
• No plan to bring discipline and responsibility to the management of state finances.

Cost of living is going up and families will be wondering whether Mr Perrottet and Mr Kean will be there for them in a non-election year.

The proposal for land tax is the first step towards “Perrottet’s preferred model” of a land tax. This will be a forever tax on the homes of people who can least afford it.

After 12 years and four Liberal Premiers, their record is clear:

• Cost of living for NSW families is out of control – tolls, fees, fines, taxes and charges are up;
• Debt has blown out to $182.2 billion in gross debt, our AAA credit rating is shredded;
• Privatisation has led to an American-style user-pays-more model. We have already seen it with tolls and electricity prices;
• Education outcomes have gone backwards and we have a chronic teacher shortage;
• Our health system is in crisis – with emergency wait times the worst they have ever been, paramedics overstretched and nurses overworked;
• They have offshored manufacturing jobs – we’ve lost 4,000 jobs overseas; and
• A plan for a forever tax on your home.

After this 12^th Liberal and National Budget, there is a clear choice for the people of NSW – to change the future of NSW, we must change the Government.

A Chris Minns Labor Government will prioritise local content and back New South Wales jobs by setting local content targets, increasing tender weightings and setting up the NSW Jobs First Commission to back manufacturers in the state.
 
Under Labor’s plan to rebuild domestic manufacturing, Labor will set a target of 50 per cent minimum local content for future rolling stock contracts, by the end of our first term – just like Victoria.
 
In addition, Labor will increase tender weightings to 30 per cent capturing local content, job creation, small business, and ethical supply chains – to get us to where Queensland is.
 
NSW Labor will also set up a NSW Jobs First Commission – an independent, expert body, to oversee the implementation and growth of local industries, supporting and advocating for local firms in bidding for government tenders – like they do down south.

Labor will collaborate with industry and local government to make our demand pipeline as easy as possible for local suppliers.

Over the last decade under the Liberals, NSW has lost 42,000 manufacturing jobs, while comparatively Queensland gained 6000. What’s more, we’ve missed out on 4,000 more jobs due to offshoring of major infrastructure and transport projects as a result of decisions by the NSW Liberals.
 
This has to stop. We can’t rebuild an entire sector overnight – but we have to start somewhere.
 
It’s taken Victoria 7 years, but they have now supported 40,000 local jobs since 2014 as a direct result of their local procurement policies. It’s time for a new direction in New South Wales.  
 
With the loss of jobs, New South Wales has also seen the demise of the skills and training centres to support our manufacturing industry.
 
Labor will address the skills gap through TAFE manufacturing centres of excellence – starting with Western Sydney, the Hunter, and Illawarra. We’ll have more to say about this closer to the election.
 
Western Australia has been able to stand up its own domestic manufacturing within the state, and the original Inner West Light Rail under Labor ran a fleet of Variotrams that were built in Victoria. It’s time for NSW to begin this journey.
 
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said:

New South Wales has a proud history of building in NSW. I want to bring that back but it requires the will and the belief that we can do this right here in New South Wales.”
 
“I’m proud to announce that this will be my first Premier’s priority if I have the privilege of forming Government next March.
 
“I want to be clear – this will not happen overnight, but I back NSW made and I am determined to get the ball rolling.”

 Jo Haylen Shadow Minister for Transport said:
 
“When the NSW government decided to build trains, trams, buses and ferries overseas our state lost thousands of manufacturing jobs and we spent billions of dollars on transport infrastructure riddled with defects that just keeps on failing passengers.
 
“We need to build our trains, trams, buses and ferries right here. That way we create good jobs across our community and make sure passengers and taxpayers get trains, trams and ferries that actually work.”
 
Anoulack Chanthivong MP, NSW Shadow Minister for Industry said:
 
“The Liberals have ignored and abandoned domestic manufacturing for too long.
 
“Labor will rebuild our local domestic manufacturing industry. This will create jobs, better wages, grow our economy and back NSW manufacturers.”
 
Tim Crakanthorp MP, NSW Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE said:

“We’ve virtually lost our domestic manufacturing industry under the NSW Liberals and with that we have lost the skills and the training they provide.”
 
“Once they go, it’s very difficult to get back.”
 
“Labor wants NSW to be a manufacturing powerhouse, and we want to train and skill up the next generation of high paid, high skilled workers who will literally build a better NSW for future generations.”

The NSW Government’s Speak Up Save Lives app is transforming the way people report safety incidents with more than 10,000 reports on workplace safety and compliance made through mobile devices since its launch.
 
The app is an innovative tool that allows people to anonymously report unsafe work practices in any workplace and industry, including by sending a photo directly to SafeWork NSW. 
 
Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said the milestone for the app shows employers and workers are becoming more confident in reporting unsafe work situations anonymously.
 
“10,000 reports is a fantastic achievement and means the app is working to stop unsafe work behavior in its tracks, as it ensures targeted intervention to where it’s needed most. I’m pleased to see NSW workers playing their part in protecting themselves and their work mates,” Ms Petinos said.
 
“In April, we received 300 reports and inspectors issued 50 improvement notices, 18 prohibition notices and four penalty notices.
 
“The most common hazards we have seen reported are those concerning physical work environments, working at heights, and biological hazards. Construction sites are the most reported workplaces, and of the 50 improvement notices issued in April, 38 of these were issued to construction sites.
 
“The Speak Up app ensures we are building a brighter future for all NSW workers, and I urge anyone who sees anything risky or unsafe at work to please report it.”
 
Businesses are still required to report all notifiable incidents, including death, serious injury or illness, or a dangerous incident, by calling 13 10 50 immediately.
 
For more information on the Speak Up Save Lives App, please click here

Communities in regional and remote NSW are set to benefit from increased water security through a further $369.6 million investment in the Safe and Secure Water Program in the 2022-23 Budget, including $90 million in new money.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the additional investment will help  to continue work with local water utilities to fund vital water and sewerage infrastructure projects in the regions.
 
“Every project delivered by this program makes a tangible difference to the everyday lives of residents in regional communities,” Mr Toole said.
 
“This funding will ensure we can keep investing in upgrading and building new water infrastructure to safeguard access to quality drinking water, improve water security and provide better wastewater services.”
 
Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said the Safe and Secure Water Program started in 2017 and has delivered 26 completed projects across towns in regional NSW with funding for more than 200 other projects currently in various stages of delivery.
 
“From the Bundarra sewerage scheme, the Bourke water treatment plant, and the Finley water treatment plant, Safe and Secure Water projects have improved water security for communities right across regional NSW,” Mr Anderson said.
 
“Investing in water and wastewater infrastructure unlocks economic potential across rural and regional NSW by providing the services necessary to support population growth and business development.”
 
The Safe and Secure Water Program (SSWP) is a $1 billion regional infrastructure co-funding program established in 2017.
 
For more information on the Safe and Secure Water Program visit dpie.nsw.gov.au/safe-and-secure-water-program 

NSW Labor is calling on Dominic Perrottet to consider immediate and serious cost of living relief after analysis revealed that the Perrottet Government is currently underspending on its “Cost of Living” programs by almost $1.7 billion.
 
Under the NSW Liberals the cost of living has continued to skyrocket with massive increases in energy bills on the way for the people of New South Wales.
 
From 1 July, some NSW residential customers will pay up to 18 per cent or $369 more each year, while small businesses will pay 20 per cent or $1,130 more. The highest price rises will be seen across Western Sydney, whose residents already pay the highest energy bills as well as steep rises in the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.
 
In comparison to every other state and territory across the country, NSW currently offers the least support for energy bills to low-income households.

What is clear is that the current rebate scheme is not working – at least $265 million in eligible energy rebates remained unclaimed last year.
 
The average take-up of government energy rebates is 51 per cent, with some as low as 11 per cent.
 
Additionally, Dine and Discover vouchers, and small business fees and charges rebates, will expire in less than two weeks, with hundreds of millions still to go out the door.
 
Dominic Perrottet must guarantee this money won’t be used by the Government to bolster its budget bottom line – this is money that should be redirected as promised to help people pay their energy bills.

There are two simple solutions the government could implement right now when it is most urgently needed – before the budget, and before these programs expire at the end of June:

• Allow small business and not-for-profits to use the available small business fees and charges rebate for their energy bills – which would be enough to give every small business in NSW $400 off their energy bills.
   
• Open the remaining Dine and Discover funds to energy bill relief for households – which would be enough to give every single household in NSW $110 off their energy bills.

These would be targeted and immediate solutions to a cost of living crunch that Dominic Perrottet has allowed to occur under his government.

Chris Minns, NSW Labor leader said:Cost of living is quickly becoming the number one issue in New South Wales – the cost of everything is through the roof in New South Wales and people simply can’t afford it.
“With key measures due to expire in coming weeks, Dominic Perrottet must urgently look at ways to provide serious and immediate cost of living relief – and make sure the money actually gets out the door.

“The Government needs to look at it’s chronic underspend of programs and redirect the money to cost of living relief – it’s a common sense idea. Daniel Mookhey, Shadow Treasurer said:

“Dominic Perrottet has built his budget on the back of chronically underspending programs. It’s one thing to get a big announcement, but it means nothing if the money never gets out the door.

“At a time when cost of living pressures are at record highs, and energy bills are spiking, these programs should be fully paid out – instead the money sits in government coffers”
“Every dollar Dominic Perrottet holds on to is a dollar not going to help struggling families or small businesses” 
Jihad Dib, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change said:
“People are struggling on so many levels with the surging cost of living pressures and we must ensure that wherever possible, we do whatever we can to ease these pressures. 
“These practical measures will make an enormous difference in lessening the surge of energy costs for families and businesses who will continue to do it tough.
“With the cold weather afoot, we don’t want anyone to have to make a choice between being warm and unable to do so because of unaffordable energy costs 

A Minns Labor Government will put rail safety and budget honesty first, and will abolish Dominic Perrottet’s Transport Asset Holding Entity (TAHE).
 
TAHE has been a financial and ethical disaster for the NSW Government.
 
The Government first ignored multiple warnings from its own advisors about the inherent conflicts of allowing a for-profit company to manage the safety and value of the State’s rail infrastructure, land and trains.
 
Last year, the Auditor-General took the rare step of refusing to sign-off on the accuracy of the state’s accounts, amidst concerns that Mr Perrotett’s government was using TAHE as a device to artificially reduce the size of the state’s budget deficit.
 
Despite its for-profit status, TAHE has never earned a profit. To date, it has cost the taxpayer more than $25 billion in write-downs and government bail-outs, including a rushed $5.2 billion bailout authorised in December last year. Millions in public money has already been spent by TAHE on consultants and PR firms.
 
Last week Labor revealed State Government plans to fix TAHE’s budget hole by turning it into a mega-property developer. TAHE was secretly tasked with selling off over $40 billion worth of public land near train stations for high-density apartments, student accommodation and even a hotel at Sydney’s Central Station.
 
If elected, NSW Labor will take advice from experts including on rail safety, about a suitable time to implement the TAHE abolition.
 
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said:

TAHE has always been about the NSW Liberals pursuing their agenda for transport of privatisation and higher fares as well as perpetuating a huge Budget con.
 
“The Perrottet TAHE Budget con as cost the taxpayer $25 billion in write-downs and bail-outs, all the while putting at risk rail safety.

 
Shadow Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey said the public had had enough spin and accounting cons.
 
“TAHE has to go. The public wants an end to the accounting trickery, lavish consultant spending and now the flogging off of public assets – all because Perrottet continues to mismanage the State’s finances.
 
“Perrottet and Kean will sacrifice budget honesty and rail safety to plug the hole in their ailing budget. Labor will always put the safety of our rail network and honesty in the State’s finances first.”
 

A Minns Labor Government will build 100 public preschools co-located with government primary schools, in its first term of government if elected.
 
This plan to build more preschools represents a more proactive approach in boosting the availability of preschool places for families.
 
It sets out a tangible step towards universal preschool for four year olds before 2030.
 
The Liberals and Nationals have not provided a substantive plan to deliver universal preschool by its nominated timeline of 2030.
 
Under Labor’s plan, every new primary school will be built with co-located preschools.
 
Labor will also build preschools at existing underutilised schools.
 
The funding for this will come from within the NSW Government’s budget allocation of $3.8 billion for early childhood learning initiatives.
 
The Victorian Labor Government has committed to a similar plan to build 50 new state-run early education centres.  
 
Education outcomes have declined over the last 12 years under the Liberal and Nationals – against other states, PISA results show NSW has dropped from 3rd to 5th in maths and science; and 4th to 6th in reading.
 
In addition, more than one in five NSW students are not meeting the national minimum standard for reading and numeracy.
 
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said:

 The Liberals and Nationals don’t have a comprehensive plan to deliver on universal preschool for four year olds or improve student outcomes.
 
“Parents will tell you they can’t wait until 2030 for the Liberals and Nationals to start acting on delivering accessible and affordable preschool.”

 
Deputy NSW Labor Leader and Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Prue Car said the government should act now and build onsite preschools at flood-impacted schools in the Northern Rivers:
 
“NSW could start this today by building public preschools at flood-impacted schools in the Northern Rivers as they are being rebuilt.
 
“But after 12 years of neglect, how can anyone trust the Liberals and Nationals to deliver on accessible early childhood education and reverse the declining education outcomes?
 
“Labor’s plan sets out a tangible way forward to deliver expanded preschool more quickly and improve education outcomes for students.”

Under a Minns Labor Government, roads subject to temporary speed limits due to construction work, will return to normal outside of construction hours, where safe to do so.
 
Currently, construction speed limits remain in effect outside of construction hours.
 
Labor acknowledges some road and lane closures that warrant ongoing speed reductions for the purposes of safety.
 
But it is not uncommon for drivers to have to slow down on an unobstructed road for work that is not taking place.
 
And speed cameras are also adjusted to lower limits, resulting in drivers facing heavy fines, demerit points and license suspension for travelling at the normal speed limit, even when it is safe to do so.
 
Labor will return speed limits to normal when work isn’t taking place and where it is safe to do so.
 
This is consistent with the report from the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Mobile Speed Camera Enforcement Programs in NSW, conducted by the joint committee on road safety which said:
 
“The Committee also heard concerns about the application of lower speed limits in work zones when works are not occurring. The Committee recommends that Transport for NSW consider reviewing the safety benefits and nature of appropriate speed enforcement in roadwork zones.”  [3.33, p 33]
 
These arrangements are also in place in Victoria and South Australia and the NSW Opposition is backing it as a common sense approach in NSW.
 
NSW Labor also notes this is particularly an issue in regional NSW where drastic speed reductions from 100km/h to 40km/h can occur for roadworks.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said:

 “We want to return speed limits to normal when work isn’t taking place and there is no requirement from a safety perspective.
 
“This is a common sense policy that Labor in government will deliver for drivers.
 
“We have seen this work in other jurisdictions, now it’s time for NSW to get up to speed.”

 
NSW Shadow Minister for Roads John Graham said:
 
“Only lowering speed limits when it’s necessary for driver and worker safety will bring the community on side for these important measures.
 
“These changes will make it safer for workers too, it will limit the risk of drivers risking it when a work site looks quiet.
 
“We want to limit the confusing patchwork of speed limits that can occur near roadworks and which only serve to frustrate drivers when not in place for safety reasons.
 
“Road safety measures should be about making roads safer, not slowing down your commute or fines revenue raising.”

Sydney tolls could surge by almost 2.1 per cent in just a single quarter, beginning this Friday.
 
Under the latest quarterly rates, Sydney motorists will be hit with toll increases of between one and 2.1 per cent.
 
The quarterly increase – one of the highest on record – commences this Friday, 1 July 2022.
 
The Westlink M7 and Hills M2 are the roads which will see the largest increases, with the average Sydney car to be slammed with an additional $91.20 in tolls over the next 12 months*.
 
Western Sydney households will be hardest impacted by the increases. The government’s own data shows that 17 of the top 20 most tolled postcodes are in Western Sydney.
 
This will take their annual tolling bill to up to $4,267.20. And that’s just for using the Westlink M7.
 
Roads Minister Natalie Ward has admitted that Western Sydney motorists with multiple vehicles could be paying $6,000 a year in tolls.
 
The Premier has locked in many of the state’s toll roads into annual increases of four per cent or higher.
 
Last week, Labor announced a Minns Government will keep the Sydney Harbour Tunnel toll concession in public hands and return revenue from both the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Sydney Harbour Bridge to drivers in the form of toll relief.
 
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said:  
 

The reality the Perrottet Government has locked Sydney drivers into an arrangement with toll operators of minimum four per cent increases each year, every year, for the next forty years.
 
“And in the middle of a cost of living crisis, Sydney households are getting slammed for it. We’re already the most tolled city in the world.”

John Graham MLC, NSW Shadow Minister for Roads said:
 
“After locking Sydney into massive toll increases for the next forty years, Premier Perrottet’s response is to pay motorists to pay private toll operators.
 
“And on Friday, Premier Perrottet’s toll relief will mean even less.”
 
*Assuming two trips a day, 48 weeks a year

On the same day that both tolls and electricity prices going up, NSW Labor is reiterating its call for Dominic Perrottet and Matt Kean to consider re-diverting some of the chronic underspends in programs to help families with immediate and serious cost of living relief.

Recent analysis revealed that the Perrottet Government is currently underspending on its “Cost of Living” programs – with at least $265 million in eligible energy rebates remaining unclaimed last year.

From today, some NSW residential customers will pay up to 18 per cent or $369 more each year on their electricity bill, while small businesses will pay 20 per cent or $1,130 more.

The highest price rises will be seen across Western Sydney, whose residents already pay the highest energy bills as well as steep rises in the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.

In comparison to every other state and territory across the country, NSW currently offers the least support for energy bills to low-income households.

The average take-up of government energy rebates is 51 per cent, with some as low as 11 per cent.
 
Additionally, Dine and Discover vouchers, and small business fees and charges rebates, have expired as of yesterday.

Chris Minns, NSW Labor leader said:

NSW residents will be hit with a double whammy today – both tolls and electricity prices are going up – and its brought to you by Dominic Perrottet’s privatisation agenda.

“Under Dominic Perrottet and the NSW Liberals, we are in a cost of living crisis”.

“We’re calling on the Government to look at the chronic underspend of programs – there’s $265 million in eligible energy rebates that can be used.

“It’s a common sense idea, that can offer real and immediate cost of living relief to NSW families now.”

Jihad Dib, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change said:

“Matt Kean hasn’t busted energy bills, energy bills have busted families. It’s time for the government to come up with a real plan for cost of living relief that families can access.”

“The government’s approach to cost of living relief is that if you’re not on an existing concession then you’re not feeling the pinch. This is naive and out of touch.”

“The Minister is quick with a quip and big statements like he’s going to ‘bust’ energy bills. But the truth is that under his watch, families have done it tougher than ever before.”

“From today every family’s electricity bill will be going up. The government is out of touch if they don’t think this is hitting families really hard.”

BACKGROUND

For the 10 per cent of customers on standing offers (as determined by the Default Market Offer) power bills will increase by up to 18 per cent or $369 for households and 20% or $1,130 for businesses from today.

• Endeavour Energy (Western Sydney, Blue Mountains, Illawarra and South Coast)
  • Residential – 18.3 per cent increase or $369
  • Small business – 19.7 per cent increase or $1,130
• Ausgrid (Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter)
  • Residential – 11 per cent increase or $210
  • Small business – 10 per cent increase or $690
• Essential (Regional NSW)
  • Residential – 9.6 per cent increase or $219
  • Small business – 14.7 per cent or $1,146

 Energy Retailers have also flagged increases for customers on market offers –

• Origin Energy will increase bills by 14.4 per cent or $270 on average from July 1.
• AGL customers will see an average increase of 17.5 per cent or around $300 from August 1. Some customers, including those in Western Sydney will see an increase of 20 per cent.
  • AGL are also raising gas prices by 8.8 per cent or $73.