Yesterday the NSW Minns Labor Government handed down its first budget, detailing its plans to begin the task of repairing the budget, rebuilding essential services and supporting families with the cost-of-living crisis.

Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle said, “This was always going to be a tricky budget to deliver but I believe the Government has put forward sustainable, responsible support for families facing cost of living pressures and our essential services sectors including teachers and healthcare workers.”

“There have also been some real wins for our Blue Mountains community, most notably $25 million in much-needed funding for our hospital” Ms Doyle said.

Budget wins for the Blue Mountains:

• $25m for Blue Mountains Hospital repairs, extra services such as chemotherapy and infusion facilities and planning for a new Hospital
• $4m to build a multi-purpose facility at Katoomba High School
• $1.6m to install a pedestrian safety barrier on the GWH in Blaxland
• Over $400,000 to support local community organisations, like Gateway Family Services and Mountain of Youth
• Energy bill relief for near 10,000 vulnerable Blue Mountains families and small businesses

Some of the Budget wins across the State:

• rebuilding our health system by providing $572 million to make 1,112 nurses permanent and $438.6 million to hire an additional 500 paramedics
• addressing the housing crisis with more than $1.5 billion set aside to unlock new housing supply, after twelve years of neglect
• $9.8 billion on schools and education facilities over 4 years. Also, the largest pay rise in three decades for Teachers