NSW Budget 2024/25

This month the NSW Treasurer handed down the State budget, albeit a rather "slim pickings" budget, but there are some substantial funding commitments to tackle the biggest issues facing the State.

We have been promised by the Treasurer that this budget aims to provide essential funding for NSW, without hitting the back pocket of the people already struggling with cost-of-living pressures. 

The 24-25 State budget takes a no-frills approach, with the biggest issues being tackled head on. The aim of the budget seems to deliver on vital social housing, infrastructure, community services and health. 

Here's how it looks for NSW

• $5.1bn social housing package over the next four years to build 6,200 new social housing properties and 2,200 knock-down and rebuilds of existing stock, with homeless families and those fleeing domestic violence being the first priority for homes. 
• $3.546m allocated to social housing properties in Lake Macquarie, from a $1bn statewide package to repair and upgrade the 33,500 social homes in dire need of maintenance.
• $450m in housing for essential workers, frontline health staff and emergency service personnel.
• $527.6m in emergency housing and homeless support services.
• $189m bulk-billing support initiative to bring relief to medical expenses by encouraging more GP's to bulk-bill.
• $520m for infrastructure to support private housing around train stations, $555m to speed up the planning system and $200m for councils which meet their housing targets, helping everyday people access the housing market.
• $59.4m to "continue planning" for the 1 km Mandalong Road upgrade at Morisset, but allocates only $1.8m of that money in 2024-25, I will continue to press the Government on this project, considering the private investment in the area now demands the infrastructure improvement. 
• $7.8m in funding next financial year for upgrading the Speers Point roundabout intersection, a project with planning already underway.
• $395m in 2024-25 toward the $2.2bn joint State and Federal M1 Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.
• $22.9bn toward new and upgraded schools, public preschools and hospitals across the next four years.
• The budget also includes a commitment to buy land to protect the Butterfly Cave Aboriginal place in the Hunter, a sacred cultural site to the Awabakal people, and a massive win for this unique site under threat from development.
• $245.6m in funding for domestic, family and sexual violence support services.

While I requested funding to address key issues in Lake Macquarie, many will miss out in this budget. I feel this budget has hit the big issues facing NSW, it is looking toward the future to ensure housing and infrastructure maintain the right trajectory to support our growing communities. 

I look forward to seeing how this budget shapes the bottom line for families struggling with cost-of-living and will continue meeting with relevant Ministers to advocate for Lake Macquarie to get projects off the ground.