Budget sugar-hits as NSW election looms

With less than a year before the state’s voters head to the polls in March, the Berejiklian government has got itself on the front foot - digging deeply into the state’s purse to give a helping hand to those in need and to push ahead with its infrastructure agenda.

Sweeteners are part of many budgets – you need to have some good to counter any hidden nasties lurking among all those numbers.

There were some nasties like the ‘efficiency dividend’ for the public sector – the amount each public service department is mandated to slash costs each year – that was quietly lifted to three per cent by Treasurer Dominic Perrotet. 

Three per cent of the current headcount public sector workers in our region would equate to hundreds of job losses over the next year. The three per cent cut is scheduled to be repeated each year from here. 

“Each year the Berejiklian Government will be growing the state’s population by 1.6 per cent and cutting public services by three per cent,” said General Secretary of the Public Service Association Stewart Little.

But, there were plenty of sweeteners scattered throughout the budget.

Typically, as has been the case in recent years, little was known in the lead-up to the Tuesday in June when the budget was delivered. Not this year, though, thanks to what seemed like daily announcements of some of the key items.

This year’s budget was like a colander – it had plenty of leaks. It made for few surprises, but it showed the Berejiklian government won’t be leaving anything to chance when it comes to the March state election.

NSW might be in good financial shape, having posted a $3.9 billion surplus in 2017-18 and forecasting surpluses averaging $1.6 billion a year for the next four years, but the need to keep voters on side is crucial.

There was plenty of cost-of-living assistance handed out in this budget – including a new Creative Kids Rebate, which gives families a $100 voucher for each of their school aged children to fund extra-curricular activities such as music, drama, visual and performing arts classes.

There was also the optional baby bundle to help parents of newborns, as well as cuts to parking fines, just to name a few.

Many projects that were announced prior to the 2015 election continued to receive an injection of cash this time around – work has to be well under way by now so voters aren’t left with that broken promises feeling when they put pencil to paper at the ballot box.

Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke said this is a “people's budget” with an emphasis on health and education.

"This Budget demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is a Government which has its focus fixed on the entire state of NSW," she said.

"Of course, a growing business needs skilled staff, which is why it's exciting to see the $285 million package to deliver 100,000 free apprenticeships - we will see $764.8 million for skills development and training programs including through TAFE and other registered training providers.

"I'm thrilled 100,000 apprenticeships will be fee free, and we will see improved links between schools and industry through the investment of $13.9 million over four years into the Regional Industry Education Partnerships program.” 

The Berejiklian government’s investment in infrastructure, including a record spend of $87.2 billion over the next four years should be commended.

However, much of that money is centred around Sydney. Once again, western Sydney was identified as a region in its own right – and plenty of money went there.

Cash was also splashed on major road upgrades and infrastructure projects across the state, but there’s no doubt some communities have been left feeling short-changed. 

While there was plenty of good news in this budget, it’s time definitions of rural, regional and metropolitan NSW were set in stone – there’s been too much uncertainty.

Some councils have missed out on funding, while their neighbours reap the rewards of particular pots of government money.

There’s nothing sweet about this situation. 

An election is looming.