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The NSW Government will hire an additional 4600 teachers to join the ranks of the public school system – delivering the highest number of teachers in the State’s history, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes announced today.

“We are investing record amounts into NSW schools and teachers, and this $2 billion investment has only been made possible due to the strong economic position created by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“It is so important to invest in our children to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the jobs of the future.”
This commitment will bring the total number of full-time positions funded by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government to nearly 11,000 new teachers since we came to Government.
By comparison, Labor hired just over 1000 new teachers in their last five years in office. They closed more than 90 schools, with a secret plan to close 100 more and axe 7500 teachers.
This record-breaking teacher recruitment drive over four years will help staff the 170-plus new and upgraded schools being delivered as part of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s record $6 billion investment in school infrastructure.
Mr Stokes said he was thrilled to be growing NSW’s world-class teacher workforce.
“We have some of the best teachers in the world who have the incredibly rewarding career of shaping the lives of the next generation,” Mr Stokes said.
“It is my priority to ensure NSW continues to have the best schools and best teachers in the country.”
Last year, the NSW Government committed an additional $6.4 billion for public schools to 2027 as part of the Gonski deal with the Commonwealth, bringing the State’s total investment to $148 billion for government and non-government schools.
NSW was also the only State to provide extra money to public schools to complement the Commonwealth’s $1.2 billion Choice and Affordability Fund.

CommSec’s State of the States report has highlighted the rock solid fundamentals of the NSW economy which is continuing to power Australia’s growth and job creation.
The overall economic performance of NSW across all indicators saw the state ranked first, with our near-record unemployment level of 4.3 per cent a key highlight.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the report highlighted the state’s strong economic performance across all key economic indicators.
“We are a first class state with a very strong economy,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Some states are strong in a handful of areas, we rate highly right across the board.
“Our solid surpluses and record low net debt have allowed us to embark on an unprecedented $89.7 billion infrastructure investment.
“Our record investment is not just building better schools, roads, hospitals and public transport, it is helping power the economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.”
The CommSec report states: “NSW is consistently strong across the eight economic indicators.”
“Spending in NSW was 17.5 per cent above decade-average levels, once again supported by home building, infrastructure building and firm employment.
“In NSW the trend unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent hasn’t been bettered in monthly records going back to 1978.”
NSW placed equal first in the latest edition of the quarterly report, which ranks each state and territory’s economy by using decade averages across a range of key economic indicators including: retail spending, equipment investing, construction work and unemployment.
“Our fantastic growth would be in jeopardy under Labor,” Mr Perrottet said.
“They want to cancel a swathe of projects such as the F6 and South West Metro and this would kill growth and destroy jobs.
“Cancelling things is Labor’s default position. Doing nothing is their failed former Finance Minister’s happy place. Only the Liberals & Nationals have a plan for NSW and will continue to get the job done for NSW.”

Major construction work has started to deliver the biggest upgrade to Central Station in decades, including new Sydney Metro platforms deep underground and the landmark Central Walk.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $955 million investment in the iconic station will improve public transport services and is only possible because of the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“This work underway at Central Station will form a key part of Australia’s first turn-up-and-go Metro network which will move an extra 100,000 customers an hour across the CBD,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Once complete in 2024 Metro trains will be pulling up at Central Station at least every four minutes in the peak. Ultimately the Metro will allow us to boost the number of rail services travelling through the CBD from 120 an hour to 200.
“By fixing the Bankstown Line bottleneck, the new Metro also allows us to add extra trains for Illawarra Line and South Coast customers, Western Line customers, Airport and South Line customers, and Inner West and Leppington Line customers.”
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said over the holiday period major construction work took place at both Central and Martin Place stations.
“We are seeing state-of-the-art construction techniques being used to keep customers moving around two of Sydney’s busiest railway stations,” Mr Constance said.
“At Central a military style-operation took place to build a temporary railway station platform in just three weeks.
“The temporary platform means Sydney Metro can be built 27 metres underground without disrupting normal train operations above.”
Crews were also busy in the heart of the city at the Martin Place Metro site.
A block of Martin Place was excavated 10 metres below street level and a two-level pre-fabricated steel pedestrian bridge was lifted into place, reassembled and re-opened to pedestrians.
Work was completed in time to reopen for the New Year and didn’t affect pre-existing sub surface infrastructure including old brick tunnels, pedestrian underpasses and utilities.
At the same time train testing is continuing on the Sydney Metro Northwest rail line from Rouse Hill to Chatswood which is due to open in the coming months. Metro rail services between Bankstown and Chatswood will open in 2024.

Boaters on NSW waterways will be even safer under the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government thanks to an extra $37.6 million pledged for Marine Rescue NSW over the next four years.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant said this major funding boost would help save lives on the water by delivering new purpose-built rescue vessels, upgraded operational centres and improvements to the marine radio network.
The funding will more than double Marine Rescue NSW’s annual budget and make a major difference to the support it can provide to boaters across the state.
“Community safety is our top priority and this major investment will deliver an extra layer of security and reassurance for anglers, divers and everybody who gets out on our amazing waterways,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Whether it is our schools, hospitals or emergency services, we are delivering record investments to make a real difference for communities across NSW, and today’s announcement continues our commitment to world-class frontline services.
“This funding is only possible thanks to the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.”
Mr Grant said, “The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will establish a new rescue unit on Lord Howe Island, as well as new or upgraded bases and boat buildings at Tweed Heads, Ballina, Narooma, Lake Macquarie, Middle Harbour, Newcastle and the Central Coast.”
Mr Grant said the extra funding would also deliver 38 brand new vessels to 28 rescue units, providing volunteers with better boats much sooner.
The vessels will go to the Alpine Lakes, Batemans Bay, Botany Port Hacking (Botany Bay and Port Hacking), Broken Bay, Central Coast, Cronulla, Crowdy Harrington, Eden, Evans Head, Hawkesbury, Jervis Bay, Kioloa, Lemon Tree Passage, Lord Howe Island, Merimbula, Moama, Nambucca, Narooma, Newcastle, Point Danger, Port Jackson, Port Kembla, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens, Sussex Inlet, Tuross, Woolgoolga and Tuggerah Lakes (The Entrance and Toukley).
“This new investment will also allow Marine Rescue NSW to upgrade the marine radio network, which Marine Rescue NSW maintains and operates,” Mr Grant said.
“This includes eliminating black spots along the south coast and on the Hawkesbury, making it much safer for boaters and the dedicated volunteers dispatched to support them in times of trouble.”
This new investment of $37.6 million over the next four years will boost the annual Marine Rescue NSW budget to more than $17 million.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos welcomed the announcement and said it will improve safety for boaters right across the State, and better equip the volunteers sent to support them in emergencies.
“For the first time we’ll be able to invest in a major capital works program to provide our units with efficient, safe and modern operating facilities,” Commissioner Tannos said.
Marine Rescue NSW operates a network of 44 rescue units along the NSW coastline, and at two priority inland waterways on the Alpine Lakes and Murray River.
In 2017-18, crews performed 2,802 rescue missions, including 840 missions in response to life-threatening emergencies, saving more than 6,800 lives.

Families have given the NSW Government’s new $100 Creative Kids vouchers a strong endorsement, with more than 70,000 vouchers downloaded since the program went live three weeks ago, with Western Sydney well represented. More than 830 providers have also registered with Service NSW.
Parents can use one voucher for every school-age child per year to help meet the cost of structured creative and cultural activities, such as music lessons, languages, coding, drama and theatre, photography and graphic design.
Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello joined Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith today at Randwick to release the figures.
The figures speak for themselves – parents simply love the new voucher and have given it the thumbs up, Mr Dominello said.
“The voucher is helping to unlock the creative abilities of young people, with parents in Kellyville, Castle Hill, Liverpool and Camden among those who have claimed the most vouchers so far. Among registered providers, performing arts and visual arts groups are the most represented.
“This program has been made possible due to our strong economic management – we’ve slashed the debt, balanced the books and put the State back in pole position.”
Mr Notley-Smith said: “Creative Kids complements the hugely popular Active Kids voucher, and that Creative and Active Kids vouchers combined will save a family with two children $400 a year.”
“The new school year starts next week and this voucher will help parents plan for creative and cultural activities, which can really add to a household budget.
“It is critical that providers register with Service NSW, so that parents can claim their vouchers with them.”
The following suburbs are among those that have downloaded the most vouchers:

Creative Kids is one of a raft of NSW Government initiatives helping to ease cost of living pressure for households. Others include cheaper Green Slips and refunds, free car registration for regular toll users and the FuelCheck app. Further information on how to register as a provider and the program is at www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/creative-kids