NSW State Budget 2024 unveiled

The NSW state budget has just been handed down by Treasurer Daniel Mookie. Let's go straight to our state politics reporter, Liz Daniels. Liz, good afternoon. Just take us through the key points. Well, Davina, we have just walked out after five hours locked up and pouring over the budget papers. This is the state's 200th budget that Daniel Mookie is right now on his feet in Parliament handing down. And while there are some key spending promises, there's plenty of bad news. Let's have a quick look at some of the key figures. The state is in the red, A $3.6 billion deficit forecast for this coming financial year off the back of the major $12 billion GST write down. And there is no path to return to surplus for the next four years. Now the centrepiece of this government's first budget, and again this second budget, is a record spend on housing, specifically $5 billion to mill more than 8000 new public housing homes. Half of those will be prioritised for women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. There's also a billion dollar maintenance blitz to be carried out across public housing. That is the single biggest investment in public housing in the state's history. Now also in the budget, there is a solution to the ongoing standoff with GPS over payroll tax changes. The state government stepping in to stop GPS from passing on the extra cost to their patients. Instead, past unpaid payroll tax will be waived and rebates will be put in place for clinics who do bulk bill the vast majority of their patients. Now, Daniel Mulkey did make some key comments about that housing that housing supply boost. This budget supports 30,000 new homes directly, making sure that particularly those who are looking to buy a home, rent A home, or need a safe place to stay get the help that they deserve and the help that they need. Now. Last but not least, there is some cost of living relief, but it is incredibly targeted. The state is upping its energy rebates for seniors and low income households. Families will get up to $70.00 a year more for those rebates. Now the treasurer Davina is stressing that this is a budget of must haves, not a budget of nice to haves. Certainly a no frill budget for the state. 200th. And Davina. I will have more details this afternoon at 4:00 and then again in the 6:00 news. Liz Daniels, our state politics reporter with that breaking news in the state budget. Thank you. So.