Who wins and who loses in the NSW budget

From health to education and cost-of-living, here are the state budget's winners and losers. (ABC News: Jo-Yi Hsu) Link copiedShareShare articleThe NSW government has unveiled its spending and saving decisions for the coming financial year. Cost-of-living relief will be offered through a cheaper toll cap, frozen public transport costs and cuts to vehicle registration fees for one year. Here are the winners and losers, and some of the biggest state budget announcements. One of the biggest new budget measures is the $561 million transport affordability package to help ease travel costs. For the next 12 months, the government will shave $100 off private vehicle registration, with an $80 cut for motorcycles — which will cost $435 million. The weekly toll cap will be lowered from $60 to $50, and Opal fares will be frozen at 2025 prices for the year. The budget includes $2.6 million to upgrade FuelCheck and enforce accurate fuel price reporting. A new interest-free loan scheme for people to install solar panels and household batteries has been allocated $480 million. Under the program, home owners with a combined household income of $210,000 or less can apply for a 10-year loan of up to $15,000 at zero interest. Another $77 million has been budgeted for cash subsidies of up to $4,000 for energy-saving upgrades for concession card holders and households earning less than $80,000 a year. The budget posts a $2.3 billion deficit, more than double what was predicted at the half-yearly update. The long run of surpluses ended in 2019-20 following the Black Summer bushfires and the beginning of the pandemic. But the government predicts a return to surplus of $1.1 billion in 2027/28. The budget includes a special appropriation of $1.1 billion to cover future risks, as well as funding decisions not yet announced. This would include money for a package to rescue the struggling Tomago Aluminium smelter near Newcastle, which is still being negotiated with the Commonwealth, shark mitigation strategies and upgrades to the Great Western Highway. Almost $632 million will be spent over five years on Thriving Kids, a new system for children aged eight and under with autism who have low-to-moderate support needs. It is part of the federal government's plan to remove at least 160,000 people from the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and shift those with lower care needs onto state-run supports. Accessibility in the state's national parks will be improved with the government allocating $130 million for upgrades. The Ageing and Disability Commission is receiving $4 million, to protect older people and adults from abuse and neglect. The state's health budget has been allocated a "record" amount of $10.3 billion over four years to recruit an extra 9,000 health workers and lift hospital capacity. It includes $2.9 billion for a pay rise for nurses and midwives, ordered by the Industrial Relations Commission in April. The budget also includes $11.9 billion for health infrastructure, including new major hospitals at John Hunter, Shoalhaven, Shellharbour, Nepean and Eurobodalla. The government has budgeted $400 million for a hospital maintenance blitz, after a snap review found serious problems including mould, leaking roofs, pigeon infestations and faulty lifts. Opal fares will be frozen at 2025 levels for the year, as part of a broader transport affordability package. The government will spend $6.5 billion over 10 years for thousands of new electric buses and electric-supported bus depots. Another $2.1 billion has been allocated for rail maintenance and incident management. The boost in spending comes after an independent review into last year's overhead wire failure at Sydney's Homebush which caused days of disruption. The funding includes $150 million for improvements at the Rail Operations Centre, and there will be a new passenger care and support team for commuters affected by train disruptions. Regional people will not benefit from some of the key cost-of-living measures in the budget, such as the lowering of the weekly toll cap. But there are other specific measures for regional communities, including $16 million to target feral pigs and other pests. The budget also contains some funding for specific projects in the state's west, with $10 million to upgrade the White Cliffs airstrip and Bourke Airport, and $10 million for upgrades to the Dubbo PCYC. The government has allocated $184 million over the next four years for six frontline domestic and family violence programs. This is a 50 per cent increase in core funding, which peak body Domestic Violence NSW had been calling for. Of this funding, $76 million will go to the Safer Pathways program, which provides coordinated support for victim-survivors. The Staying Home Leaving Violence program, which helps women and children remain safely in their homes after violence, will receive $54 million. There is also $17 million for Specialist Workers for C

Who wins and who loses in the NSW budget

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