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Billions of dollars will be injected into the NSW economy and productivity boosted under a re-elected Liberal plan to raise the speed limit on WestConnex to 90km.

Commuters from Western Sydney will also be able to get to where they need to faster under the plan, which will boost productivity by supporting jobs and keeping freight moving, placing downward pressure on supply chain costs.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said under this plan the Liberal and Nationals would cut travel times for people in Sydney’s west and inject billions of dollars into the economy.

“WestConnex has been a game-changer when it comes to moving around our city, connecting Sydney’s western suburbs like never before,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Western Sydney is the engine room of the state’s economy and WestConnex is already providing a major boost to the region by supporting jobs and keeping people and freight moving.

“Increasing the speed limit in WestConnex would mean drivers spend less time on the road and more time doing the things most important to them.

“The productivity savings from this are huge. By slashing travel times on WestConnex alone, we could inject more than $80 million back into the NSW economy every year through productivity gains.

“This will make a real difference to the everyday lives of people across our city, but particularly in the west, and is only possible under the Liberal and Nationals which have the long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward.”

The change to the speed limit on WestConnex will occur subject to a final safety review by Transport for NSW.

If re-elected, the Liberal and Nationals Government will also direct Transport for NSW to commence a broader review into speed limits on Sydney motorways where it is currently limited to 80 km/hour, with an intention to increase these to 90 km/hour where it is deemed safe to do so.

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the broader review would be carried out by Transport for NSW, and would look at all motorways including NorthConnex, M5 South-West and the M4.

“The first step is a review because safety is our number one priority and that will always be factored into the effort to reduce travel times around the Sydney road network,” Mrs Ward said.

“We will also look at changing speed limits on motorways so tradies, tourists, families and everyone trying to get from A to B has a more consistent journey.

“Keeping people moving on our motorways is critical, with congestion costing the economy billions of dollars through lost productivity every year.”

Recommendations from the review will be delivered to Government by the end of 2023.

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will provide commuters with a yearly saving of up to $480 by cutting the weekly Opal cap by 20 per cent, putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking families.

Under the plan, the weekly adult cap will be cut from $50 to $40, while the cap for concession holders will be cut from $25 to $20.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this would make a big difference to family budgets, putting more money back in their pockets for other weekly essentials.

“We recognise there are significant household budget pressures right now and that is why we will deliver significant cost relief for commuters,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We will slash the weekly caps on public transport fares by 20 per cent, putting more money back in the pockets of hard working families.

“For the average commuter who hits the cap every week and works 11 months of the year, this could provide up to $480 in transport cost relief.

“Commuters will be able to travel across the entire transport network – on our ferries, trains, metro, buses and light rail services – as many times as they like without paying more than $40 a week, while students and concession holders will only pay $20 a week.

“This will deliver more than a thousand dollars’ worth of savings to some families who rely on public transport for their daily commute.

“Families in Sydney west stand to save the most, with commuters travelling from Penrith to the city by train for example to hit the cap on Wednesday morning instead of Thursday, saving them a whole day of fares.

“Only a Liberal and Nationals Government will cut the cost of travel thanks to our long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward.”

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said if re-elected a Liberal and Nationals Government would introduce the discount from May this year.

“The weekly savings on public transport fares will put cash back in the pockets of everyone who uses public transport regularly – for a family of two adults and 2 kids, this could mean an annual saving of nearly $1,400 a year in the household budget,” Mr Elliott said.

“The reduced cap means Adult Opal card commuters will save $10 a week or $480 a year (based on 48 weeks of travel).

“The Child/Youth and Concession weekly Opal cap will also be reduced from the current $25 cap to $20 – a saving of $5 a week or $200 a year (based on 40 weeks travel for school/tertiary education).”

The weekly travel caps would be in place on all trains, metros, buses, light rail and ferries from 1 May 2023 to 30 June 2024 and would apply when you travel with an Opal card or credit card, debit card or linked device on public transport in the Opal network.

This weekly travel discount is yet another commitment a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will deliver to help ease cost of living pressures for families.

It is in addition to $7 billion already delivered in cost of living measures including more than 70 rebates, like our $250 energy rebate, toll relief program, small business rebate, our active kids and creative kids vouchers, regional seniors travel card, first lap swim vouchers, solar for low income households program and more.

The state’s Chinese communities will once again be supported to hold cultural celebrations and festivals by a re-elected Perrottet Liberal Government.  

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said a re-elected Liberal Government will invest $900,000 over four years to help Chinese communities celebrate major events and festivals across the state.

“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 once again committing to support to Chinese communities by providing $225,000 a year for four years to do just that.”

Over the past four years, the Perrottet Liberals invested more than $800,000 into Chinese community groups and organisations to host events and festivals throughout the state.

NSW Liberal candidate for Ryde Jordan Lane said the Chinese community has long been an integral part of the state’s multicultural society.

“For generations, the Chinese community has been helping build our state, especially in my local area of Ryde, to be the great place it is today and has a lot to be proud of,” Mr Lane said.

“Holding major cultural festivals and events is one way to showcase that pride, but also to bring people together and see while we are different, we are also very much the same.”

Liberal candidates for Davidson, Wakehurst and Pittwater welcome the announcement that a re-elected Perrottet Liberal Government will provide commuters with a yearly saving of up to $480 by cutting the weekly Opal cap by 20 per cent, putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking families.

Under the plan, the weekly adult cap will be cut from $50 to $40, while the cap for concession holders will be cut from $25 to $20.

Liberal candidate for Wakehurst, Toby Williams, said this will deliver more direct savings to some families who rely on public transport for their daily commute.

“Only a Perrottet Liberal Government will cut the cost of travel for the people of Wakehurst and across NSW thanks to our long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward.” Mr Williams said.

Liberal candidate for Pittwater, Rory Amon, said this weekly travel discount is yet another commitment a re-elected Perrottet Liberal Government will deliver to help ease cost of living pressures for families.

“Commuters in Pittwater will see real savings that will help with the pressure on their household budgets.” Mr Amon said.

Liberal candidate for Davidson, Matt Cross said this is a direct saving for all commuters – putting money back into the pockets of the people of Davidson.

“Locals of the Davidson electorate are among those that stand to save the most and its all thanks to the Perrottet Liberal Government’s long term economic plan that will keep NSW moving forward.” Mr Cross said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this would make a big difference to family budgets, putting more money back in their pockets for other weekly essentials.

“We recognise there are significant household budget pressures right now and that is why we will deliver significant cost relief for commuters,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We will slash the weekly caps on public transport fares by 20 per cent, putting more money back in the pockets of hard working families.

“For the average commuter who hits the cap every week and works 11 months of the year, this could provide up to $480 in transport cost relief.

“Commuters will be able to travel across the entire transport network – on our ferries, trains, metro, buses and light rail services – as many times as they like without paying more than $40 a week, while students and concession holders will only pay $20 a week.

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said if re-elected Liberal Government would introduce the discount from May this year.

“The weekly savings on public transport fares will put cash back in the pockets of everyone who uses public transport regularly – for a family of two adults and 2 kids, this could mean an annual saving of nearly $1,400 a year in the household budget,” Mr Elliott said.

“The reduced cap means Adult Opal card commuters will save $10 a week or $480 a year (based on 48 weeks of travel).

“The Child/Youth and Concession weekly Opal cap will also be reduced from the current $25 cap to $20 – a saving of $5 a week or $200 a year (based on 40 weeks travel for school/tertiary education).”

The weekly travel caps would be in place on all trains, metros, buses, light rail and ferries from 1 May 2023 to 30 June 2024 and would apply when you travel with an Opal card or credit card, debit card or linked device on public transport in the Opal network.

This weekly travel discount is in addition to $7 billion already delivered in cost of living measures including more than 70 rebates, like our $250 energy rebate, toll relief program, small business rebate, our active kids and creative kids vouchers, regional seniors travel card, first lap swim vouchers, solar for low income households program and more.

NSW Labor will deliver fairer rental rules for renters and owners by providing more certainty as well as reducing the upfront moving costs for renters. 

A NSW Labor Government will allow renters to directly transfer bonds from one property to another. 

These changes will also provide greater clarity on the circumstances in which a lease can end.

Portable bonds

A NSW Labor Government will streamline the rental bond process to allow renters to directly transfer bonds from one property to another, while ensuring owners still have access to funds they may need.

Currently, many renters must find thousands of dollars for a bond for a new property before their existing bond has been refunded.

This leaves renters out of pocket up to several thousand dollars, for up to several weeks. It places many renters in financial stress and forces some to take out personal loans.

The NSW Tenants Union estimates the basic costs of moving home is around $4,000, without taking into account renters being out of pocket for weeks while they wait for their bond to be refunded.

Yet recent data shows that one in three people would need to go into debt to cover an unexpected $600 payment, and one in 10 simply wouldn’t be able to cover it.

The NSW Rental Bond Board will still hold bonds on trust. But it will allow those bonds to be held on trust for the new property, while also ensuring the board can collect against it on behalf of owners for outstanding debt accrued by renters for property damage.

As a result, no owners will be left out of pocket from these changes.

The government has previously tried and failed to implement similar provisions. Despite legislation introduced in 2018, many renters still don’t have access to portable bonds, at a time of record rent increases and severe cost of living pressures.

Reasonable grounds for ending a lease

Labor will clearly outline the grounds on which a lease may be terminated and in effect bring an end to no-ground evictions.

A NSW Labor Government will work closely with stakeholder and advocacy groups to develop a list of reasonable grounds for an owner to end a tenancy, including minimum notice to vacate a property.

Owners will of course retain common sense rights to evict those who are breaking the law, damaging property or not paying rent.  

Reasonable grounds for eviction are already in place in Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT – and these changes would modernise New South Wales’ rental laws.

Renting in New South Wales

Around one third of New South Wales residents live in rented properties – or 944,585 households.

Median rent in the state has increase almost ten per cent between 2016 and 2021 – from $386 to $420.

Over 35 per cent of tenanted households in New South Wales were in rental stress. (They had rent payments greater than 30 per cent of household income).

Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader, said:

Anyone who rents in Sydney knows just how anxious and challenging a process it can be to find suitable accommodation, never mind the significant costs associated with moving.

“This is a sensible cost of living measure to help ease the pressure on the over 30 per cent of people in New South Wales currently renting.

 “These changes will create a fairer rental regime in this state by providing greater certainty as well as flexibility for both renters and owners.”

Courtney Houssos, NSW Shadow Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, said:

“Moving house is considered one of life’s most stressful events. These changes will give renters and owners more certainty, allowing renters to build a home while also protecting owners.”

“Introducing reasons for eviction will update and modernise New South Wales’ rental laws and bring us in line with most other states.”

Rose Jackson, NSW Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, said:

“There is a direct relationship between our unfair rental laws and increases in housing stress and homelessness. Ending unfair no grounds evictions will provide certainty to the overwhelming  majority of tenants who do the right thing that they have a place to call home.

“More and more people are renting – and renting for life. As our housing market changes, we need to update and modernize our laws to ensure we are getting the balance right.”