Month: June 2024

NSW continues to lead the nation as the only state or territory to regularly report on First Nations expenditure, with the release of the 2023 to 2024 NSW Indigenous Expenditure Report (IER) today.

The report comes as the NSW Government makes progress on developing a First Nations budget model, designed to provide a holistic, First Nations-led approach to the process, assessment, evidence and reporting for funding and investment decisions impacting First Nations communities.

The Indigenous Expenditure Report fulfills the NSW Government’s commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap to review and classify government expenditure on First Nations people.

It recognises that providing First Nations communities with access to expenditure data is a critical step in building genuine partnership between government and First Nations communities and supporting First Nations self-determination.

The report identifies opportunities to improve outcomes for First Nations people through more effective investment and reviewing the current profile of government expenditure for First Nations people and programs.

NSW is home to 34.5% of Australian First Nations people, more than any other state or territory. At around 340,000 people, this is approximately 4.2% of the NSW population.

In 2023 to 2024, the NSW Government budgeted $1.2 billion for First Nations specific programs and services, making up around 1% of total NSW Government expenditure.

The service areas that are budgeted to receive the largest share of First Nations specific expenditure in 2023 to 2024 include:

• $301.8 million for housing and community amenities
• $237.8 million for education
• $226.3 million for social protection.

The report also quantifies the First Nations share of general (or non-targeted) expenditure. It is estimated in 2021 to 2022 (the latest data available) that the NSW Government spent $5.8 billion on First Nations people across the 18 non-targeted service areas analysed. This represents around 4.9% of total NSW Government expenditure.

The IER transparently shares data and information on government spending to help build genuine partnerships between government and First Nations communities to support better decision making on funding allocations, to improve outcomes for First Nations people and communities.

Findings from the 2023 to 2024 NSW IER will be used by First Nations communities and organisations in partnership with government to consider and design appropriate policy responses and priorities through future budget processes. This will contribute towards NSW progressing action towards Closing the Gap Priority Reform areas and socio-economic outcomes.

With the First Nations budget model design underway, Treasury, Aboriginal Affairs NSW and the NSW Coalition of Peak Organisations are now working in partnership to develop its next steps.

As a starting point, First Nations Impact Assessments were piloted as part of the 2024 t0 2025 budget process. Findings from the pilot will be used to inform the final design of the model.

Get more information on the 2023 to 24 NSW Indigenous Expenditure Report.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“We committed to providing regular information about where the NSW government is spending money to help ‘close the gap’ when we signed up to the Closing the Gap targets.

“We fulfil that commitment by publishing this report. First Nations citizens – and all citizens – should have more of the information they need to make better decisions.

“We are the only state or territory to provide a report like this. We hope it helps the rest of the federation partner with First Nation communities to build similar reporting frameworks.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“While the journey to closing the gap still has a significant way to go, I am deeply committed to transforming the way that we work to support self-determined outcomes for First Nations communities to drive better outcomes.”

Transforming the retail strip in St Marys, an Inner West “ale trail” of craft breweries, street-level improvements for Little India in Harris Park and a night-time makeover for the 24-hour medical precinct in Randwick are among 10 business and community-led projects set to improve vibrancy in local districts.

The successful recipients will receive up to $400,000 each including 2 in Western Sydney, 1 in Randwick and 3 in regional centres including Yamba, Muswellbrook and Murwillumbah.

In Western Sydney, businesses on Queen Street, St Marys, are working with Penrith City Council to transform the area into an urban hub, with new lighting in laneways, public art installations and new infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

The amenity will be further improved with street events and other pop-ups to breathe new life into the city centre.

In Chinatown, local businesses will relaunch “Neon Playground”, a street festival of lights, music, art and food.

Randwick’s health precinct is set for a transformation to cater for the area’s unique 24-hour workforce, turning underutilised health land into vibrant and connected public spaces, including night markets and community events around High Street and Avoca Street in the area of the light rail terminus.

Administered by Transport for NSW, the Community Improvement District Pilot Program grants are part of the NSW Government’s vibrancy agenda that is backing businesses to make the most of their public spaces and local character to draw more visitors and more life to their district – day or night.

The 10 district pilots awarded up to $400,000 are:

• Clarence Valley Council for Clarence Valley CID Pilot Program
• Haymarket Alliance Incorporated for Neon Playground 2.0
• Inner West Brewery Association Incorporated for Inner West Ale Trail
• Little India Harris Park Business Association for ‘Udaan’ – A Little India Harris Park Business Association Lift-Off
• Murwillumbah District Business Chamber Limited for Connect Murwillumbah: A CID Transformation
• Muswellbrook Shire Council for Activating the Hunter Innovation Precinct
• Penrith City Council for St Marys – Transforming into a Thriving Urban Hub
• Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct for Heart of Randwick Collaboration
• Walsh Bay Precinct Association Incorporated for Hickson Road bridges activation and Walsh Bay CID trial
• YCK Laneways Association Incorporated for Safer YCK Laneways.

Insights from the funded pilots will inform a state-wide Community Improvement District policy, helping to ensure our communities have inviting, vibrant and welcoming places in the long-term.

Improvement district grants are running in parallel with the NSW Government’s Open Streets program. This program empowers councils to host markets, live music and outdoor dining on local streets to boost community life and economic activity.

Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Londonderry Prue Car said:

“It is exciting to see our local neighbourhood in St Marys set for a transformation, particularly as work progresses on the rail connection to Western Sydney Airport.

“Our local area already has so much on offer, and I look forward to enjoying the new lighting, installations and fun events with my community.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“Nothing beats local knowledge. That is why we are backing local knowledge from local businesses and local councils – they know their area, know their community and know what is needed to improve their public spaces and build upon their unique, local identity.

“The Community Improvement District model recognises businesses benefit from, and have a stake in, making their local areas as vibrant and welcoming as possible and better places to live, work and play. This is supporting communities to use their streets and public spaces – they own them.

“COVID showed us that entertainment starts close to home. St Marys is a great example of a local neighbourhood wanting to make itself a destination and give people more reason to stay local, day or night.”

Construction of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will begin under the Minns Labor Government, with a $2 billion investment to build better, connected communities in Sydney’s growing west.

The 2024-25 Budget paves the way for the NSW Labor Government to meet its election commitment; to start construction on this essential project in this term of government.

The investment follows recent NSW Planning Approval for the project, as well as Federal Environmental Approval.

The game-changing transport project will unlock development potential and deliver frequent and reliable public transport options for residents that moved into fast-growing suburbs like Wentworth Point.

The 12km alignment will link the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point with 14 new stops, three new river crossings and 8.5km of new walking and cycling paths.

Passengers will be able to travel from Sydney Olympic Park to Camellia in around 30 minutes, and on to the Parramatta CBD in another 7 minutes.

Construction will be phased, with initial work to begin later this year on a new 320-metre public and active transport bridge over Parramatta River, between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail project is currently in testing and is on track to service tens of thousands of commuters in the coming months.

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 was promised by the previous government, but never received the funding required to begin construction on this essential transport link.

The people of NSW need a coordinated and sustainable roadmap. A plan that understands how people want to live, and works to provide better services like healthcare, policing, education and good public transport.

The Minns Labor Government’s plan has infrastructure built alongside housing to build better, stronger, well-serviced communities in NSW.

Find out more about the Parramatta Light Rail project

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“We’re getting on with the job and building this essential project that people who live in the fast growing suburbs of Western Sydney were promised.

“People moved into the area with the promise of infrastructure that never arrived. The NSW Labor Government is now delivering.

“Stage 2 will directly link Parramatta to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct residents in Parramatta to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct.

“The light rail’s forecast to carry 28,000 passengers every day by 2026.  That’s a game-changer for communities around Parramatta – connecting venues, schools, shops and people for decades to come.”

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“With testing powering ahead, Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 is on track to open in the coming months.”

“But we know there are more communities that need access to this vital infrastructure investment.

“This investment will get shovels in the ground and construction started before the end of this parliamentary term. Just as we promised.

“In 2041, 280,000 people are expected to live along the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 alignment.

They need frequent and reliable public transport services, and we’ll deliver it.”

Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said:

“Our community has been promised this vital transport link for years, and now Labor is delivering.

“As Lord Mayor, and now Member for Parramatta, I’ve advocated tirelessly for many years about this project and I’m so pleased the Premier and Minister have listened.”

The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to deliver a payroll tax amnesty for NSW GPs in this year’s Budget to ensure access to affordable healthcare. 

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman called on Premier Chris Minns to urgently provide GPs with a payroll tax amnesty, so that clinics across NSW are not forced to close or raise their fees. 

“From 4 September, many clinics will be facing a retrospective tax bill of hundreds of thousands of dollars that could force closures or fee increases. This will mean more patients presenting to our state’s overwhelmed emergency departments, which are buckling under the pressure of Labor’s cuts to health funding,” Mr Speakman said. 

“The Minns Government should urgently guarantee a payroll tax amnesty from July 2018 to June 2025, to be followed by ongoing suitable exemptions – such as for bulk billing practices.” 

“But instead this Labor Government is again missing in action – at the same time as they’re cutting the health budget, they’re adding to the hospital waiting lists,” Mr Speakman said. 

“The NSW health system has been seriously impacted by Labor’s cuts to health funding – Bureau of Health Information figures showed that our hospital system is under immense strain as a result of Labor’s budget mismanagement. With people already waiting longer and longer in Emergency Departments, if Labor adds thousands more to that queue they’ll be putting everyone’s health at risk.” 

Shadow Finance Minister Eleni Petinos said that other states have managed to provide exemptions or amnesties, while the Minns Labor Government has been dithering for many months. 

“As some NSW clinics will face demands of retrospective payroll tax bills for more than half a million dollars, the Minns Government needs to commit to an amnesty while a permanent solution is found,” Ms Petinos said. 

“If Labor Governments in Queensland and Victoria can deal with this problem, people can rightly ask why Chris Minns can’t do the same for NSW.” 

Primary care patients and general practice in NSW will be worse off than the rest of Australia if a proposed payroll tax on GPs in enforced, the Primary Care Business Council (PCBC) has warned.
PCBC spokesperson Dr Hamish Meldrum called on the NSW Government to provide a retrospective amnesty to payroll tax to ensure GPs aren’t forced to pay years in back taxes which would bankrupt some operators.
“GP practices are paying payroll tax like any other business, and they pay this on administration staff, nurses and training doctors. However, the possible extension of payroll tax to distributions to contract GP’s will be significant and this tax will need to be passed onto patients,” Dr Meldrum said.
“The NSW Government needs to act now to ensure general practices are not unfairly burdened by a payroll tax which could threaten their very existence and result in more pressure on the public health system.”
If the GP payroll tax if applied to all distributions to contact doctors, it could result in fee increases of between $10 – $20 per appointment. “The Federal Government has supported primary care with an increased bulk billing incentive to assist GPs to bulk bill vulnerable patients. But payroll tax has the potential to reverse any gains,” Dr Meldrum said.
“It would also have the added cost of pushing more patients towards hospital emergency departments which are already over stretched.”
PCBC modelling indicates that NSW could see more than 1,000,000 more patients present to NSW emergency departments instead of visiting a GP because of increased fees. This would result in an additional annual cost of more than $680 million, which would far outweigh the revenue from payroll tax of around $130 million.
“General Practice has been poorly funded for some decades, and it makes no sense to impose a fiscally destructive tax on a primary care system that is already under strain. Doctors won’t be able to cope and ultimately it will be patients who suffer the most,” Dr Meldrum said.
“If you get sick once a year and see your GP you pay the tax once and if you are sick ten times a year and have ten GP visits then you pay the tax ten times. This is a very regressive tax.
“It is disappointing that the NSW Government has not engaged with GP operators particularly when practice viability is at risk – in the last 12 months 184 practices in 17 Public
Health Network sites closed their doors – many more will close if this tax is imposed. “I urge the NSW Government to step back from the edge and engage with the sector to ensure we have a viable General Practice sector going forward.”