Schools, buses headline early budget promises
TRANSPORT:
* $452 million to increase bus services, including $56 million to purchase 50 new 'bendy' buses
* $150 million of above funds to be used for more regular school bus services in outer Sydney and regional areas
* Road upgrades and new signage around Western Sydney Airport precinct totalling $80 million
EDUCATION:
* $9 billion over four years for public school infrastructure, largely focused in growing suburban communities
* Three new public primary schools in west and southwest Sydney with attached public preschools along with one new high school
HEALTH:
* $700 million towards construction of the new Bankstown Hospital and necessary relocation of Bankstown TAFE
* A statewide pathology hub to be established at Westmead, the $492 million investment includes an upgrade to a high-security lab researching dangerous pathogens like Ebola and measles
* $23 million to cover an extra 3500 surgeries in the next year
LAW AND ORDER:
* $125.8 million for cybersecurity upgrades to NSW Police, $50 million of which will go to upgrade outdated hardware
* Victims' Support Service funding boosted by $227 million over five years to help victims of violent crime access counselling
* Upgrade of Downing Centre to create 15 new physical and virtual courtrooms and $48.3 million to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for additional solicitors
HOUSING
* $30.4 million crisis intervention package for homelessness services
* Extension of build-to-rent tax concessions beyond slated 2039 end date
* New guidelines to speed up construction of roads, schools and parks around developments
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SPACES:
* $110 million to maintain public spaces including the repair of Pyrmont Bridge and maintenance of fire trails
* Construction of the Newcastle Logistics Precinct for $115.5 million which will house wind turbines and electrical transformers used in renewable energy projects
* Commonwealth Veteran Card holders will receive free vehicle entry to all NSW National Parks
CULTURE:
* The establishment of a $100 million fund to find a suitable location for a second major film studio in Sydney
* $280 million to support the screen and digital games sector including rebates for NSW-based visual effects and digital games productions
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Hundreds rally as lift technicians locked out in pay standoff
Hundreds of lift technicians have gathered outside Schindler Lifts' NSW head office, after calls for a 6% pay rise were rejected and the company locked staff out of the office. Schindler Group said there would still be 'limited field staff' available for relasing anyone trapped in lifts and would carry out critical repairs of escalators in the state where needed. The multinational company initiated the lockout last Friday after its NSW workforce began protected industrial action over pay and conditions. Schindler Group is the largest suppliers of elevators, escalators, and related services in Australia, servicing public facilities such as train stations, hospitals, and commercial buildings. This union said the action has caused growing disruption to lifts and escalators across the state, with maintenance and servicing increasingly delayed. Electrical Trades Union NSW/ACT Secretary Allen Hicks described Schindler's move as 'a complete overreaction' to workers exercising their legal rights. 'Locking out almost 300 workers without pay is unfair and unreasonable. It's a blatant attempt from the multinational to crush the workforce rather than listen to their needs,' Mr Hicks said. He said Schindler was denying its NSW workforce fair wages and conditions, and that employees were 'simply doing what they're legally entitled' to do to push negotiations forward. 'They closed up' A union spokeswoman outlined the lead-up to the lockout, explaining workers had been in negotiations with the company for several months but had seen little progress. 'This isn't a militant workforce by any stretch. The last time they took any sort of action was over 20 years ago, and that was very low level too,' she said. 'They started taking some protected industrial actions, things like bans on certain tools and some small, short work stoppages,' she told NewsWire. 'Then on Friday, Schindler turned around and said, 'We're just going to lock you all out if you keep taking action.' So that's what they did, they closed up and won't let the workers back until they agree to stop the protected industrial action.' However, Schindler Lifts responded to the dispute on Wednesday with a statement acknowledging the industrial action and explaining the reasons behind the lockout. 'The ban on using power tools and multimeters is one which hamstrings the organisation and due to safety concerns leaves no choice but to stop work, hence the decision was taken to go to a lockout,' the company said. 'While we respect the right of our employees to engage in lawful industrial activity, we are disappointed by the decision to take this step during ongoing negotiations.' Schindler also detailed the scale of workers' claims, stating their log of claims contained 45 items, including a 6 per cent annual pay rise, a figure unchanged since talks began in May 2025. 'The cost of the claims represents a 40 per cent increase to our labour cost across three years,' the company said. According to Schindler, management has met with the bargaining committee 11 times and presented three offers. Their latest proposal included a 4.5 per cent annual pay increase and higher allowances, which was rejected. 'All requests Schindler Management have requested to improve efficiency and offset some of the increases have been rejected,' the statement added. The company also assured customers that 'contingency plans' were in place to minimise disruption.
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Mark Latham defends conduct towards MP Alex Greenwich at final day of tribunal hearing
Independent MP Mark Latham has told a tribunal that members of parliament "have disagreements all the time", as he defended his recent use of social media during a vilification and sexual harassment case brought by Sydney MP Alex Greenwich. Mr Greenwich is suing the former federal Labor leader in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), alleging four public statements by Mr Latham breach the state's Anti-Discrimination Act. One of the statements — a tweet posted by Mr Latham in March 2023 which referenced sexual activity in explicit terms — has already been found by the Federal Court to be defamatory. Mr Greenwich was awarded $140,000 in that case. Mr Latham's tweet came after Mr Greenwich gave a comment to a journalist describing Mr Latham as "a disgusting human being", when was asked about violence towards LGBT protesters who had gathered outside a church where Mr Latham was expected to speak. On the final hearing day, Mr Latham was cross-examined by barrister Prue Bindon, for Mr Greenwich, about his employment status around the time of the tweet. Mr Latham agreed he resigned in early March 2023 and was a candidate for the One Nation party. Ms Bindon took Mr Latham through One Nation documents which recorded payment including $2,500 to Mr Latham, which Mr Latham believed was a refund of earlier expenses. Mr Greenwich's legal team raised recent posts from Mr Latham on Twitter, now X, and expressed concern that if there are future references to the primary tweet or evocations of similar language, the harm to their client may be exacerbated. Mr Latham's lawyer Zali Burrows complained about the "endless affidavits" being filed in the case. Senior member Mandy Tibbey said "it's desirable there be a cessation of hostilities between the parties", suggesting they could reach some kind of undertaking before the tribunal makes its final decision. In one recent post, Mr Latham suggested that the NCAT case involved an "absurd proposition" that Mr Greenwich should "never be publicly criticised". Today he told the tribunal: "Clearly members of parliament have disagreements all the time." He said his recent online activity was responding to issues raised in parliament, claiming there had been "two-and-a-half years of misrepresentations" about him and there came a point where he was entitled to respond. Earlier, Mr Greenwich's husband Victor Hoeld, told the tribunal he was "very concerned" about the impact of public statements on Mr Greenwich. But he said he tried to not watch "every single media clipping" or item in the media. "It's very distressing to watch Alex struggle or be talked about … it's been going on for two years," Mr Hoeld said. "It's had a big impact on my life. "I try and avoid triggering events and interviews like that and watching them because of the effect it's had on me and Alex … it's basically changed everything." Outside court, Mr Greenwich told the media he was "really relieved the hearing process is now over". Each side will now give written submissions to the tribunal in late October.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Never-ending story': Tribunal's move in Mark Latham's fight against homosexual vilification case
A tribunal has moved to prevent Mark Latham's homosexual vilification case from snowballing into a 'never-ending story', rejecting an application which would allow Alex Greenwich to continue filing fresh evidence of harm by the former Labor leader. A homophobic post and further comments made by Mr Latham on X and in media interviews are at the centre of a vilification and sexual harassment case launched by openly gay independent MP Alex Greenwich against Mr Latham in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Mr Latham was previously ordered to pay Mr Greenwich $140,000 after the Federal Court ruled that the primary post could convey the meaning that Mr Greenwich 'engages in disgusting sexual activities'. Mark Latham's lawyer Zali Burrows on Wednesday warned a push to enable Mr Greenwich to file further evidence of alleged harm by her client would risk the case turning into a 'never-ending story'. Mr Greenwich's lawyer, Prue Bindon, had sought permission for her client to continue filing affidavits detailing alleged ongoing harm by Mr Latham as the case begins to draw to a close. 'Regrettably it seems that the harm continues with each day of hearing, and if there is further harm created by messages posted on X or other forums referencing or producing comments from the public referencing the primary tweet, we do say exacerbates the harm experienced by Mr Greenwich and it is relevant for the tribunal to consider,' Ms Bindon said. 'Endless affidavits, this is becoming a never-ending story,' Mr Latham's lawyer, Zali Burrows, replied. 'If Mr Greenwich keeps filing further affidavits we'll be seeking to file something in reply … as I said, this is going to become never-ending.' Ms Bindon accepted there had to be an 'end point', but firmly maintained evidence of further harm was crucial for the tribunal to consider. Ms Bindon at one stage said Mr Latham was able to reply if he wished, prompting him to raise his hand and tell the tribunal 'Yeah I'll say something to you about it' from the gallery. Senior member Mandy Tibbey decided the matter needed be brought to a close for the sake of both parties, rejecting Ms Bindon's application. 'It's desirable for the hostility of the parties to come to an end … but in terms of bringing this matter to a conclusion as both parties seem to want, the next step is to have written submissions,' Ms Tibbey said. However portions of one final affidavit were allowed to be tendered, detailing a post to X Mr Latham made during the NCAT proceedings on Tuesday. Mr Latham in reply claimed Mr Greenwich thought 'anyone disagreeing with him is hurtful'. '(Mr Greenwich) has a very unusual understanding of democracy, he thinks that anyone disagreeing with him is hurtful,' Mr Latham fired from the witness box. He claimed he'd been subjected to 'misrepresentations' and 'wilful, malicious lies' about him for two and a half years, arguing there came a point when MPs were entitled to respond. A tense exchange erupted between the parties over whether the cost of obtaining a transcript should be split, with Mr Latham instructing Ms Burrows that Mr Greenwich's team should foot the cost. 'If he chooses not to buy one for himself that's his issue … we won't be sharing,' Ms Bindon replied, which Ms Burrows branded a 'mean-spirited' move. The hearing came to a close shortly after, with the parties due to put forth written submissions in October. Mr Latham's evidence comes just a day after Mr Greenwich claimed the former NSW One Nation leader had an 'abusive obsession' with him. Ms Bindon earlier argued Mr Latham's comments had incited hatred, contempt or severe ridicule, and that sexual harassment allegations related to unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature where a reasonable person would have anticipated it to cause humiliation or intimidation. It was not to do with unwanted sexual advances.
