BUILDING A BETTER NEW SOUTH WALES
Introduction
Just over a month ago, North West Metro opened to the public for the very first time.
An eight year dream realised – with time and money to spare.
Over a million people have already boarded these new trains.
The nation’s first driverless Metro, right here in New South Wales.
The first step in a game changing network that will forever alter the landscape of our city and our
State.
Saving people time.
Connecting our communities.
Growing our economy.
But North West Metro is more than just a project.
It is a monument to the difference between spin and substance.
First promised by those opposite 34 years ago – and cancelled 4 times.
Promised once by our government – and delivered – on time and under budget.
Our bold decisions have unleashed a mega building program on a scale never before seen in
the history of our nation.
And North West Metro is just one of many dividends the people of New South Wales will now
receive for placing their trust in us.
The Newcastle Light Rail is running.
Western Sydney Stadium has opened.
The new WestConnex M4 Tunnel is about to.
The CBD Light Rail
NorthConnex
And the WestConnex New M5 Tunnel.
This is just the first wave of projects that will breathe new life into our State.
After these open, along will come the second:
A new Football Stadium
Walsh Bay Arts Precinct
The Australian Museum
A redeveloped Barangaroo
The Princes Highway to the south
And the Pacific Highway to the north
Then even more will come online:
Sydney Gateway
The M4-M5 Link Tunnels
Precincts in Ultimo & Redfern
The Rozelle Interchange
A Powerhouse Museum in Western Sydney
Parramatta Light Rail
And after these, still more:
The F6
The Sydney Modern Art Gallery
Sydney Metro City & South West
A renovated Central Station
The Western Harbour Tunnel
The Great Western Highway
The M12 Motorway
Sydney Metro West
North South Metro Rail Link
And the brand new Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Wave after wave of projects, forever transforming New South Wales.
We’re launching the biggest school building program since Federation.
190 projects – in every corner of the State:
Bungendore to Bangalow, Milton to Merrylands, Penshurst to Picton.
And a hospital building blitz that has never been seen before:
Liverpool to Lismore, Coffs Harbour to Campbelltown, Gosford to Goulburn
Bankstown to Blacktown, St George to Shoalhaven, Randwick to Ryde.
We have taken windfall revenues and lazy assets and are transforming them into bricks, mortar,
concrete and steel.
Roads, rail, metros and motorways.
Schools, hospitals, museums and stadiums.
Every project we build standing in silent testimony to which party is on the right side of history.
And we are not even halfway through our ambitious agenda for New South Wales.
Our infrastructure investment is now approaching $100 billion.
A new golden century for New South Wales.
The compound effect of vision, passion and determination.
The Liberals and Nationals are not content to simply sit here as passive custodians of the status
quo.
We are relentlessly ambitious for the people of our State.
We share their big dreams and their drive to achieve them.
And together we forge ahead, pioneers in prosperity, so our people are free to achieve.
Even as we sit here today, our machines are grinding away, carving another crossing under the
most famous harbour in the world.
A crossing that will one day be used by our children and grandchildren.
Just as we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us – we are building a better
future for those who will come after us.
Most good governments have their legacies written long after they are gone.
But our legacy is appearing before our very eyes.
In March, the people of New South Wales made a choice.
A choice that also echoed around the nation just a few weeks ago.
To put their faith in a Premier and a party that will always put them first.
The party that knows you don’t need to pull someone else down to lift yourself up.
The party of Menzies’ forgotten Australians.
This last election was a referendum on values and ambition.
And the people always get it right.
We thank them for the trust they have placed in us.
And now we are getting straight to work, getting the job done for New South Wales.
Economic Context
In 2011, we faced significant challenges.
A slower economy, higher unemployment and ageing infrastructure.
Our response was to dare to do things differently.
Our record construction program isn’t just the foundation of our future.
It’s been a pillar of our economy too.
In recent years, New South Wales has been leading the pack, powering the nation.
Almost half a million jobs have been added in just 4 years.
This year unemployment fell to its lowest rate since records began.
And regional New South Wales added more jobs than every other region combined.
Workforce participation is at record highs.
Youth unemployment fell to record lows.
And it’s working women driving our State forward.
Our exceptional strength has seen us outperform.
Growing above trend.
Recording the fastest per capita growth of any state.
Contributing the lion’s share of national prosperity.
Adding record numbers of jobs.
And attracting increased levels of business investment.
But today we face a new set of challenges.
The global economic outlook is weaker than it was 12 months ago.
Our farmers are battling what some are calling the worst drought in living memory.
Our housing market has undergone the biggest downturn in four decades.
And with wage growth still slow, homeowners are cautious with their spending.
But just as we overcame the challenges of the past – so too will we overcome these new
challenges.
While our growth is forecast to be slower,
It is strong for this point in the economic cycle – a testament to the resilience and flexibility of our
economy and the working men and women of our State.
We enter the future equipped with the tools that will see us return to trend growth:
Strong labour market conditions
Recent policy stimulus
A solid export sector
And our record construction program, the cornerstone of our economy.
Budget Result
While we are optimistic, the current economic headwinds have fiscal consequences too.
The soft housing market has wiped $10.6 billion in forecast stamp duty from the Budget since
2017.
The federal budget in April cut a further $2.3 billion in GST receipts as consumers tighten their
belts.
These drastic fluctuations are a fact of life in our federal system.
And a weak and fragile budget would buckle under the strain.
But I am pleased to inform the House – despite the largest revenue write downs in our history –
Fortress New South Wales is standing strong.
Today I can announce a projected operating surplus for 2018-19 of $802 million, and average
surpluses of $1.7 billion each year to 2023.
Net debt is again negative – for the fourth year in a row.
Our net debt to GSP – the lowest of any mainland state.
And our Triple-A rating is once again secured.
Our wealth is also growing – a shared prosperity in which we all have a stake.
Our net worth will surpass $310 billion by 2023, fast approaching a third of a trillion dollars.
That’s because we’ve swapped old assets for new ones – and are building like never before.
Our collective wealth is now invested in outstanding schools, world class hospitals, exceptional
sporting facilities and state-of-the-art transport.
Savings
One of the hallmarks of our government has been running a public service that is focused on the
needs of our citizens.
That means a bigger, better frontline.
And a leaner, more agile back-office.
This Budget continues that journey, reflecting changes to the public service announced in April.
This means 10 departments will be reduced to 8.
While our frontline is again boosted, we will drive more efficiencies in our back-office and
contingent labour expenses across government.
We will also reduce spending on consultants and contractors, abolish bonuses for the highest
paid department executives and bring long-service leave benefits into line with community
standards.
Strong Financial Management
While we have tightened our own belts, other states have gone down a different path – cutting
wages for their workers and increasing taxes on their people.
These short-term measures may help plug holes in their budgets – but they cause long-term
harm to their economies.
As Liberals and Nationals, we believe as Menzies did, that people should be free to flourish.
That means less government, not more.
And lower taxes, not higher ones.
Over the last four budgets the Coalition has cut nearly $5 billion in taxes to grow our economy.
So businesses can invest.
Families can get into their first homes.
And small business can hire more people.
Like Steven Benham from Wilkins Windows.
Because of our payroll tax cuts, he’s now able to take on an extra apprentice.
16 year old Chloe Wykes, who’s studying joinery using one of our new fee free apprenticeships
at TAFE.
A win for business.
A win for the economy.
And a win for a young woman with the chance to now pursue her dream career.
On this side of the House, we believe that you cannot tax your way to prosperity.
Reducing wages and raising taxes should be levers of last resort – not default options of first
opportunity.
That’s why I’m proud to say our Budget today will not introduce a single new tax.
Instead it continues to fund:
Stamp duty cuts to help first home buyers
Indexing stamp duty to make housing more affordable for the next generation
And further payroll tax cuts to drive investment and boost small business as the threshold lifts to
$900,000.
We’re also using our Budget to deliver for families and lower the cost of living:
• A second Active Kids voucher
• Creative Kids vouchers
• Baby Bundles
• Free Dental checks for Kids
• Reductions in early childhood education costs
• Fee Free Apprenticeships
• TAFE and VET places
• Motor Registration relief for toll users
• Weekly $50 Opal caps
• Energy rebates for self-funded retirees
• Regional Travel Cards for Seniors
• Caravan registration discounts for grey nomads
• And expanding the Energy Switch Program to help lower gas bills.
That takes the total amount we have returned to the people of New South Wales in cost of living
support in the last two budgets alone to over $2 billion.
Drought
With drought now affecting close to 100% of our State – our farming, rural and remote
communities are being put to the ultimate test.
Water is scarce.
Times are tough.
And people are hurting.
The late Les Murray once claimed – farmers have few friends in Australia’s towns and cities.
But to each and every farmer across our State, I say: all of New South Wales stands with you.
We can’t control the rain – but we can control what we do about it.
This is a Budget for the bush with farmers at its heart.
It delivers critical relief to the most drought-affected communities of New South Wales, taking
our total support package to over $1.8 billion.
More transport subsidies for stock, fodder and water.
Further funds for emergency water supplies.
And waiving charges for water licenses, interest on drought loans and local land service rates.
We know when people on the land aren’t doing well, it doesn’t just affect them.
It also hurts towns and local economies.
So we’re fast tracking local infrastructure projects with another $170 million investment, to keep
people employed and families in towns.
Our regional, rural and remote communities are resilient.
And they will get through this time.
But we can’t just wait for a crisis in order to act.
As one farmer I met in Bourke said, “Every day, we’re one day closer to when the rain comes.
But we’re also one day closer to when the next drought hits.”
This Budget doesn’t just provide short-term relief for the current crisis – but also long-term
solutions for the future.
We’re using the proceeds from the greatest water project in our history – Snowy Hydro – to
deliver water security for the regional communities of the future.
We’ll look at raising the Wyangala Dam wall
And delivering the pipeline from Lostock Dam to Glennies Creek.
Fast-tracking new regional water strategies
And investing more for bores and drains in the Great Artesian Basin.
The total funding for water security projects in this Budget comes to $1.4 billion.
These decisions we make today will help protect and future proof our regions tomorrow.
Election Commitments
This is a Budget that gets it done.
It funds our election commitments – just as we promised.
And it makes record investments in the things that matter.
World class services
It boosts our frontline workers yet again.
4,600 teachers.
5,000 nurses and midwives.
3,300 more health professionals.
And 1,500 more police.
The education measures we are launching today represent the biggest ever New South Wales
education budget.
Fully meeting our Gonski commitments
Putting mental health counsellors in high schools
Offering before and after school care for every primary school student in New South Wales
Rolling out free mobile dental checks for primary school kids from July 1
Record funding for non-government schools
Wiping the maintenance backlog to zero
Air-conditioning over 900 schools
And investing a record $6.7 billion to build and upgrade 190 schools.
Our health system will be boosted to fast-track an additional 8,000 paediatric operations and
10,000 cataract surgeries.
That means more staff and less pressure on wait times, and quality care when you need it.
And I can announce today, for the first time ever, our health infrastructure budget hits the
$10 billion mark, with new facilities planned for every corner of the State.
We’ll combat crime with new police stations in Bega, Goulburn and Jindabyne
Major upgrades at Bathurst and Bourke
And a new state-of-the-art training facility in Dubbo.
We’ll build 10 Service NSW centres
And put four Service NSW buses on the roads in the regions.
World class infrastructure
Our transport system continues to grow, with another 17 new air-conditioned Waratah trains
More express services to Western Sydney
And congestion easing measures like smart traffic lights, pinch point upgrades and smart
motorways.
We’ll duplicate Nelson Bay Road
And duplicate the Great Western Highway from Katoomba to Lithgow.
We’re fast-tracking Sydney Metro West to start construction next year
And we’ll build the North-South Metro Rail Link – getting ready for our new airport.
Regional Investment
In our regions we’ll deliver $500 million to repair local roads
And another $500 million to fix country bridges.
We’ll eliminate blackspots – and build new data centres.
Across our regions, we’re delivering thousands of small investments making a big difference to
regional communities.
The Environment
Our environment wins with a new national park in south-west Sydney – to protect precious koala
habitats.
We will invest $150 million for new and improved public parklands
Upgrade fire trails and National Park walking tracks
And give more households the choice of cheap, clean energy – with no-interest loans for solar
panels and batteries.
Digital New South Wales
We’ll continue to make people’s lives easier with a focus on digital government.
Victoria has copied our Service NSW approach – and now the Commonwealth too is jumping on
board – with the originally named “Service Australia”.
But we’re going to take things to the next level.
This Budget provides seed funding of $100 million to establish the Digital Restart Fund
To drive digital transformation across the whole of government.
And after successful trials in key locations – New South Wales drivers will be the first in the
country to have the choice of a digital driver’s licence from August this year.
Jobs for the future
At the heart of this Budget are policies that grow jobs.
We believe, as Reagan did, that work and family are at the centre of our lives, the foundation of
our dignity as a free people.
That’s why it’s important to us that there is work for those who want it – and a fair reward for those
who work.
A few weeks ago I was out in Cobar, the red heart of New South Wales.
One in three people there work the mines.
Plenty more earn their living from the people mining brings in.
People like Neal Valk who’s here in the gallery today – and who has worked mines up and down
the country.
He knows, as we do, just how much we depend on our miners for their contribution to our
economy.
And just how much they depend on us, to do the right thing by them, with policies that help,
rather than hurt.
Unlike others, who seek to play politics with their lives and livelihoods
On this side of the House, we are proud to stand in solidarity with the blue collar workers of our
State.
And our commitment to them is to always put them first.
We are also helping create the jobs of tomorrow.
In 2015 we promised an additional 150,000 jobs by this year.
Instead, we have delivered more than triple that number.
This year, we committed to an even more ambitious target of 250,000 jobs by 2023.
And we intend on achieving that too.
To help skill our workforce, this Budget funds 100,000 fee free TAFE and VET courses.
Including 30,000 for mature-aged workers.
We’ll build a new state-of-the-art Western Sydney Construction Hub.
Eight new TAFE Connected Learning Centres for our regions.
And invest in training and mentoring for women who want to get into the workforce.
We’ll also develop four new major employment precincts to add to the six already underway.
Our policies are working – and so too are hundreds of thousands more men and women across
the State.
Helping the most vulnerable
One of the benefits of running strong budgets is our ability to help people who need it most.
We are using our financial might to help those who have slipped through the cracks.
Our previous two budgets have:
Rolled out palliative care programs
Helped injured workers recover faster
Increased funding for children at risk
Delivered initiatives to increase adoption rates
Helped indigenous boys complete their education
Supported drug addicts with a second chance
Increased funding for domestic violence initiatives
And allocated money to reduce homelessness.
Today this Budget continues our targeted investments, giving the most vulnerable among us
support and care:
A new Ageing and Disability Commissioner – to stand up for those most at risk
Increased assistance to Lifeline and Kids Helpline, meaning they can answer thousands more
calls per year
And a new investment in cutting edge spinal research – to one day help people who were told
they would never walk, take their first steps.
As conservatives, we are champions of hope and opportunity.
We know part of building a better future is helping people build better lives.
And we do this by finding new ways to solve old problems.
Our social impact investments are bearing fruits, delivering $220 million in outcomes contracts
so far, supporting programs which enable at-risk children to have a safe and stable home.
This Budget continues to tackle indigenous disadvantage with $55 million in funding to upgrade
local infrastructure and establish new opportunities to get ahead – through the Roads to Home
program.
We’re also proud to partner with Foodbank, with $8 million in funding over the next four years,
to provide breakfast at an additional 500 schools across this State.
I want to thank parents like Sam Hyratt and Amanda Mataele, here today, who volunteer at the
Breakfast Club to make sure students at Campbellfield Public School start the day will a full
meal, ready to learn.
They rise early, day in day out, to make sure no child is left behind.
Their reward is not financial, but it is invaluable – witnessing the bonds of their community grow
ever stronger, and knowing that so many kids will feel better and achieve more – because
they’ve been fed and nurtured all before the school bell rings to start the day.
I also want to acknowledge the former Labor leader – Mr John Robertson – for his advocacy – in
making this possible.
Setting up for success
Good governments don’t plan according to electoral cycles.
They plan for the future they know is coming.
Our economic landscape is rapidly shifting.
Productivity growth has slowed.
Our population is ageing.
Automation and artificial intelligence will soon touch the working lives of millions of our people.
And a booming middle class in Asia will open massive new markets and new opportunities.
We must act now to overcome these challenges – and make the most of what lies ahead.
This Budget puts in place four pillars of prosperity – to set our State up for future success.
Economic Blueprint
The first pillar is a vision and a plan – to take our economy to the next level.
We take pride in our place as Australia’s leading economy.
But the race that matters is a race against time – to secure our strength today and tomorrow.
By the end of this year the Chief Economist will formally release the New South Wales
Economic Blueprint.
It will identify the industries and markets where our future prosperity lies.
And help us to be ready for new opportunities yet to emerge.
Generations Fund
The second pillar is sustainable debt – and a commitment to intergenerational equity.
The $3 billion Generations Fund – launched last year – has already grown to $10.8 billion,
thanks to new contributions and strong returns.
By 2030, it’s expected to reach $28 billion – a balance sheet buffer to keep our debt sustainable
and support our Triple-A rating.
Federal Financial Relations
The third pillar is making the case for a better Federation.
In our three-tier federal system – financial relations are a mess.
The people of New South Wales contribute the most in GST and income tax – yet have to sit and
watch as it’s doled out to other states with no benefit for themselves.
We rely on the Commonwealth for a substantial part of our funding – but have little control over
where it is spent.
When GST receipts fall – we find out at the last minute.
And the complicated tangle of financial arrangements makes it harder for states to plan.
Under the current system, states that perform well are penalised.
Reforming states end up subsidising those that don’t.
States that do nothing to strengthen their economies – reap windfall gains from other states that
do.
This is not a system that’s fit for purpose.
And New South Wales can no longer wait for others to act.
Just like we took the lead in establishing the national Board of Treasurers.
Today I announce we will again take the lead – launching a comprehensive review of
Federal-Financial Relations from a New South Wales perspective.
The review will be conducted by a panel of eminent experts.
They will be charged with finding ways to give states that embrace reform – more autonomy and
more flexibility – making dynamic federalism a reality.
They will develop practical options for state reform on how to best encourage investment and
growth in the State’s economy.
Above all the panel will be guided by core Liberal principles – lower, simpler, fairer and more
sustainable taxes for the people of New South Wales.
Outcomes
The final pillar is more efficient government spending – as we move to the next phase of outcome
budgeting.
No state has been more committed to implementing the Gonski principles than
New South Wales.
This has seen record real increases in our education budget.
But we need to ensure this is matched by a corresponding increase in education outcomes.
We want our kids not just to be the best funded, but the best educated.
Education will be the first department shifting to a focus on outcomes.
Over the coming 12 months each cluster will produce an Outcome and Business Plan – showing
how the taxpayer money it spends will achieve concrete outcomes – and if something’s not
working – how they will fix it.
Conclusion
Over our last two terms we have developed sources of enduring wealth for our State.
A strong economy with quality jobs.
Record investments in the services that matter.
The largest construction program in our State’s history.
Tax cuts and cost of living support.
Negative net debt and growing net worth.
And a sovereign wealth fund that will deliver dividends for future generations.
We now promise to maintain the momentum that has made New South Wales number one.
And with this Budget we are getting it done.
The best education for your children – in state-of-the-art schools
World-class healthcare in world-class hospitals.
Metro lines and better roads to get you home faster to the ones you love.
And more help for those doing it tough.
This is a Budget that revs up our regions and supercharges our cities.
That supports people-powered businesses creating millions of jobs.
A Budget of delivery kicking off a term of delivery.
I commend it to the House.