Labor delivers its 2024-25 State Budget

THE Minns Labor Government has delivered its 2024-25 NSW Budget earlier this week.

NSW Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said his Government has handed down a budget with a foundation for better, more reliable healthcare services, a comprehensive plan to invest in and rebuild public education, and to build better, well connected communities for the Illawarra and the South Coast.

“The Illawarra and the South Coast continue to be regions of priority investment for the Minns Labor Government after many years of underfunding from the previous government,”he said.

“Our emergency departments and hospitals face significant challenges, so we are making the necessary investments across a range of strategically important areas to relieve that pressure and provide more alternatives for the community.”

State MP for for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said the budget reflects a commitment to strengthening local communities and is a testament to how crucial the Illawarra and South Coast is to the State Government.

Budget highlights for northern Illawarra:

Health

• Continuation of the $21.9 million Wollongong Hospital package upgrade.
• $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours, with six ED Short Stay Unit treatment spaces to be added at Wollongong Hospital.
• $171.4 million to establish three additional virtual care services through the Single Front Door.
• $250 million for a Critical Asset Maintenance Program to address hospital and health facility maintenance backlogs across the state.

Transport and infrastructure investments

• $390 million investment to build a new Mount Ousley Interchange in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.
• Continuation of the $20 million feasibility study for Bulli Bypass.
• $10 million for Illawarra Rail Resilience plan to determine options to upgrade and rebuild infrastructure along the South Coast Line.
• $10 million for planning for Mt Ousley Safety and Reliability Improvement works.
• $6.5 million to continue planning and assessments to update Picton Road between Nepean River and M1 Princes Motorway (joint federal funding).

Education

• 826 teachers and 620 school support staff who were temporary now made permanent across the Illawarra and South Coast.
• $83.1 million to retain expert TAFE NSW teachers across the state.
• $190.2 million to undertake urgent repairs at TAFE NSW campuses.
• $16.3 million to continue fully subsidised training for all apprentices and trainees in NSW.
• $1b investment in NSW school maintenance.

Free subscription to The Bulli & Clifton Times

OR DONATE BY CREDIT CARD

Don’t have PayPal? Instead, you can support The Bulli & Clifton Times by leaving a secure $2 debit or credit card donation. Your generous patronage of my work and research, however small it appears to you, will greatly help with my continuing publication costs.