Category: NSW News

Labor believes everyone should have access to affordable, reliable and sustainable transport – whether that be road, rail, bus, light rail, bike or emerging platforms. 

Our Fresh Start Plan will invest in better public transport – including an end to the privatisation of these essential services.

We will improve the quality of public transport by building our trains, buses, ferries and light rail right here in NSW.

And we will stop selling our motorways to private, for-profit companies, and instead deliver practical toll relief to motorists by introducing a $60 weekly toll cap.

Only Labor will deliver the transport system that NSW deserves.

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A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will immediately deliver on a range of key priorities in the first 100 days of government to support families through uncertain economic times and keep NSW moving forward.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government would not waste a minute putting its plan for NSW into action.

“My number one priority will be to continue to provide families the support they need, including slashing $250 off every household power bill and cutting the weekly Opal cap by 20 per cent,” Mr Perrottet said.

“I will also charge my team with getting straight to work delivering expanded health services at pharmacies, expanding our First Home Buyer Choice policy, and with setting up the Kids Future Fund accounts.

“We will continue to drive the major infrastructure projects that are transforming our state, including kicking off the first stage of work on the new Western Sydney Metro lines which will connect our city like never before.

“With uncertain economic times ahead, only the Liberal and Nationals long-term economic plan will keep NSW moving and provide certainty and security to families across the state.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Liberal and Nationals plan would tackle cost of living pressures now and lay the foundations for a brighter future for families and businesses long-term.

“Our plan puts people first, prioritising help with household bills now and rolling out landmark reforms that create opportunities for the future – from help studying for your first career to buying your first home.”

Key Priorities for the first 100 days:

· Open expressions of interest for our NSW Kids Future Fund on Service NSW, and work with TCorp to finalise the design of the account.

· Make the $250 energy bill rebate available for all households that undertake a comparison of their current energy deal.

· Direct Transport for NSW to reduce the Opal cap by 20 per cent, effective 1 May.

· Introduce and pass legislation in Parliament to:

o  Expand the First Home Buyer Choice program, giving eligible homeowners the opportunity to continue paying an annual fee instead of stamp duty for future home purchases.

o  Allow domestic and family violence victim-survivors to have their first home owner status reinstated.

o  Increase community involvement in planning decisions.

o  Legislate the right to one-year of free preschool for all children.

o  Ban offshore mining and exploration in NSW waters.

· Appoint a new Supply Chain Commissioner and hold the first industry roundtable, with a focus on regulatory barriers.

· Roll out a trial in pharmacies across the state for the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs and the renewal of contraceptive pill scripts.

· Make the $1,000 Small Business Fees and Charges rebate available through Service NSW.

· Continue planning works for the construction of new preschools on school sites across NSW.

· Establish the cashless gaming transition taskforce – including industry and harm minimisation experts – to lead the implementation of our plan for cashless gaming.

· Commence the procurement process for the business cases for the four new Sydney Metro lines to ensure Western Sydney has the infrastructure needed for a growing population.

· Commence industry and stakeholder consultation on our ‘reasonable grounds eviction’ policy, standard three and five year lease agreements and design of the rental bond rollover scheme.

· Open applications for the expanded Farm Innovation Fund from July 1 to help farmers invest in innovation and infrastructure to futureproof their operations.

· Go-live of our website reporting on the delivery of election commitments.

Women and girls across Western Sydney will have access to more inclusive football facilities, with the Liberal and Nationals Government committing $10 million to the Western Sydney Wanderers to build a state-of-the-art Community Indoor Centre.

Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, said this funding by the Perrottet Liberals will not only provide more opportunities for people to play football, but will generate a local sports facility infrastructure boom, creating hundreds of jobs and delivering an economic boost for local community.

Candidate for Badgerys Creek, Tanya Davies, said this is a great win for the local community and another example of the Perrottet Liberal Government investing in and enhancing our sporting facilities.

Liberal candidate for Londonderry, Samantha Talakola, welcomed the announcement saying investments like this in community sport infrastructure are only possible because of the Perrottet Liberal Government’s long-term economic plan to keep our state moving forward, and this project will create an incredible football facility here in Western Sydney.

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the Wanderers new multipurpose facility for women, powerchair and futsal players, as well as other indoor sports, at Wanderers Football Park in Rooty Hill would open its doors to nearly 100,000 visitors a year.

“The Western Sydney Wanderers have always shown strong ties with their local community and this commitment will help create a modern and diverse sporting facility that will be used for generations to come,” Mr Henskens said.

The Wanderers Community Indoor Centre would support the development of women’s football and provide a new home for the Wanderers Futsal leagues and Wanderers Powerchair, as well as first-class sporting and community hub.

Western Sydney Wanderers Chief Executive Officer Scott Hudson said the football club has a proud history of representing the people of the region and a new indoor centre would be a welcome addition to their Rooty Hill headquarters.

“Western Sydney Wanderers are driven by our local community, and this investment from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will help us to provide a facility that our women and girls, powerchair and futsal programs can call home. It will also allow us to open up our world-class facility to more people in Western Sydney than ever before,” Mr Hudson said.

Since 2017, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has invested more than $2 billion in grassroots sport infrastructure and programs.

Women and girls playing Aussie Rules across the Inner West will have access to more inclusive facilities at St Luke’s Oval in Concord with a re-elected Perrottet Liberal Team committing $500,000 to upgrade amenities at the popular sportsground.

Liberal candidate for Drummoyne Stephanie Di Pasqua welcomed the announcement saying this important funding would ensure St Luke’s Oval meets the needs of locals, sports clubs and visitors.

“Drummoyne has a rich sporting history so it’s vital that we continue to work together on ways to achieve greater access for young girls and women playing sport in the local community,” Ms Di Pasqua said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said if re-elected the NSW Liberal Team would make St Luke’s Oval a premier destination for Aussie Rules in the Inner West.

“This is about creating a modern and fit-for-purpose facility that removes barriers, and encourages even more women and girls to play the sports they love,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This investment is another example of the work we’re doing to boost grassroots community sport and it’s only possible because of the Liberal and Nationals Government’s long-term economic plan to keep our state moving forward.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said since 2017, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has invested more than $2 billion in grassroots sport infrastructure and programs.

“Under Labor, grassroots sport will be starved of investment, and it will be our booming women’s sport sector that will be the hardest hit,” Mr Henskens said.

“Labor have already signaled they’ll cut funding out of community sport, which should be a major concern for all local sporting clubs and organisations.”

Canada Bay Cannons and Drummoyne Power Junior AFL President Milan Serovich said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s funding commitment would make a big difference to footy players across the Inner West.

“Improved facilities for our footy clubs and players at St Luke’s Oval will go a long way in the local community and we look forward to working with all the partners to bring this project to life,” Mr Serovich said.

The sportsground is currently undertaking a surface redevelopment, following a $939,000 investment from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government in 2019.

St Luke’s Oval is home to three local Aussie Rules teams, the Concord Giants, Drummoyne Power and Canada Bay Cannons, as well as Concord Briars Cricket Club and Little Athletics.

No matter where we visit, you have told us that when someone you love is injured or sick, you want them to have the very best healthcare as soon as possible and close to home. 

But right now, our healthcare system is in crisis.

We need more than band-aid solutions. We need a Fresh Start Plan for better healthcare.

Labor will rebuild and retain our health workforce by introducing enforceable minimum Safe Staffing Levels in our public hospitals and hiring an additional 500 paramedics in rural and regional NSW.

We’ll expand hospital capacity and deliver over 600 new hospital beds in Western Sydney, delivering a brand new 300 bed hospital for Rouse Hill, upgrade Canterbury, Fairfield, Mount Druitt and Blacktown Hospitals, and open the new Eurobodalla Hospital at Level 4 capacity – with more announcements to come.

We’ll invest $100 million over five years to boost the funding to Women’s Health Centres and make NSW the first state in Australia where every person experiencing breast cancer can access a free breastcancer nurse.

And that’s just the start. Labor will ensure that everyone in NSW gets world-class healthcare when and where they need it.

A Minns Labor Government will make it easier for renters to have a pet in New South Wales, by introducing a new fairer and more streamlined application process.
 
Currently, a property owner is able to decline a renter’s request for a pet for no specific reason and is under no timeframe to consider a request.
 
Almost two thirds of Australian households have a pet today. At the same time, around one third of New South Wales residents live in rented properties – that is more than 2 million people.
 
Under Labor, rules for renters with pets will be fairer. Renters will be able to complete a simple pet request form, with owners required to make a decision within 21 days. If property owners choose to refuse a request, they will have to provide a reason to the renter.
 
This does not guarantee renters will be able to have a pet, but it will make it easier to apply to have one. If the owner fails to respond, the pet request will automatically be approved.  
 
NSW Labor will also establish a list of prescribed reasons for refusal, similar to those operating in Queensland, to be determined by NSW Labor’s recently announced Rental Commissioner.
 
Refusing to allow pets as a blanket rule restricts a renters’ ability to find appropriate and affordable housing. Renters compete for a limited number of pet friendly properties, making many of them unaffordable or difficult to acquire.
 
A lack of pet-friendly rentals can also be a major barrier for people experiencing and trying to leave domestic violence situations.
 
This can lead to pets being given up to shelters or abandoned – the RSPCA had more than 27,000 animals in its care over Christmas, citing rental restrictions as a key reason behind the influx.
 
This policy will work in tandem with NSW Labor’s already announced rental commitments which will deliver fairer rental rules for renters and owners by providing more certainty as well as flexibility in leasing arrangements.

A NSW Labor Government would legislate an end to the practice of rent bidding, to curb the spiralling cost of tenancy.

Secret rent bidding encourages renters to continually out-bid each other on price to secure a home, driving up the costs of rent. It has to stop.

The Government has had 12 years to act on this dodgy practice that is already outlawed in other states, but they have sidelined and ignored renters. 
 
Labor’s plan will mean that all rental transactions will be open and transparent. If renters want to offer more than the listed price, this is disclosed to all applicants who then have the chance to match the offer.

A Minns Labor Government will make renting in New South Wales fairer and more affordable by establishing a RentalCommissioner.
  
A NSW Rental Commissioner will be an advocate and voice for renters by working closely with government, consumer affairs, stakeholders and renters to:

• Lead consultation and drafting of legislation to introduce reasons for eviction;
• Implement Labor’s portable bonds scheme;
• Oversee a ban on secret rent bidding;
• Identify barriers to increasing housing supply for renting;
• Identify practices and gaps that erode the rights of renters;
• Identify options for longer term agreements, giving security and certainty to both renters and owners;
• Initiatives including educational resources for renters and owners to increase knowledge of their rights’
• Gather data on renting and survey renters to help inform future policy making; and
• Identify ways for renters to more easily access energy efficiency initiatives.

A re-elected Perrottet Liberal Government will invest $300,000 over the next four years into the running of the much loved Ferragosto Italian street festival.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said in its next term of government, the NSW Liberals and Nationals will support the running of the annual event, which is a major draw card for everyone.

“We believe in helping our state’s diverse communities be proud of who they are, and one of the ways we do that is by helping them celebrate their culture with everyone,” Mr Coure said.

“We are committing to support to this major street festival by providing $75,000 a year for four years to do just that.”

This commitment continues the NSW Liberal’s commitment to celebrating Ferragosto, which saw $75,000 invested a year over the last four years.

Liberal candidate for Drummoyne Stephanie Di Pasqua said the Italian community is an vibrant part of the state’s multicultural society.

“The Italian community has been a cherished and important part of our state for generations,” Ms Di Pasqua said.

“Ferragosto is a vibrant street festival that gives the Italian community a chance to showcase the very best of their culture, and invite everyone in to experience it.

“This commitment will be a great investment into the festival and help it achieve new heights.”

More than 2300 first home buyers have opted in to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s First Home Buyer Choice in the first two months of the initiative, saving a collective $89 million.

Under the Liberals and Nationals:

· Eligible first home buyers can ditch stamp duty in exchange for a small annual fee on properties up to $1.5 million;

· Home owners who choose to pay a small annual fee on their first home, will also be able to opt in to the annual fee on future property purchases, until they choose to pay stamp duty;

· Victim-survivors of domestic and family violence can also access first home buyer support and interest-free rental bond loans.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said First Home Buyer Choice was already helping thousands of families get the keys to their first home sooner.

“Under the Liberals and Nationals, young people now have choice and they have embraced it, with 2,330 first home buyers opting to ditch stamp duty in favour of the small annual fee,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This game-changing policy is making it easier for first home buyers, many of whom are families, to reach the dream of home ownership sooner.

“Backing first home buyers is only possible because of the Liberal and Nationals long-term economic plan to keep our state moving forward.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said that a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government would expand the First Home Buyer Choice to give home buyers that choice for life.

“We want to ensure that first home buyers who opted into the small annual fee on their first home, or received a stamp duty exemption or concession, are able to have the choice on their future homes as well,” Mr Kean said.

“This will mean those families who move can pay tens of thousands of dollars less tax over their lifetime, unlike Labor’s policy which will bill them for a large upfront stamp duty every time they move.”

Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said that as part of the Liberal and Nationals expansion of its home buyer support, victim-survivors of domestic and family violence would be eligible for stamp duty relief currently reserved for first home buyers.

“We know that housing security is one of the most important concerns victim-survivors have as they move on from unsafe relationships and manage their personal financial security,” Mrs Ward said.

“We will ensure support is there for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence so they can look to enter the property market, secure a home and safeguard their long-term financial security.”

Labor has pledged to scrap all support for buyers of properties above $1 million and will only offer concessional stamp duty rates to buyers of properties from $800,000 to $1 million.