The Minns Labour Government has handed down its first budget since taking power, focusing its attention on easing the cost of living and bolstering health services.

These cost of living measures obviously impact the entire state, not just the Kiama LGA, so The Bugle has carved out some specific measures and how they will impact the region.

• Energy bill relief - the Labor Government is introducing a $100 million funding package that will assist an estimated 11,700 households in Kiama with their bills. The Low Income Household Rebate and Medical Energy Rebate will be raised from $285 to $350; the full rate Family Energy Rebate will increase from $180 to $250; and the Seniors Energy Rebate will increase from $200 to $250

• Funding for 61.4 full-time nursing jobs in local hospitals

• Parents of three-year-olds in long daycare preschool will receive $500 per child per year in fee relief

• 202 teachers and support staff have been made permanent staff since April

The Minns Government also pledged $5.3 million through the Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund to fix local roads in the Kiama and Shoalhaven LGA, but didn’t specify which roads will be upgraded under the scheme.

There were also a few items specifically for Kiama. The NSW Government confirmed it will provide $1 million to fund the second stage of upgrades to Hindmarsh Park to upgrade the Orry Kelly stage, as well as $250,000 for the upcoming Changing Tides in December 2023.

NSW Member for Kiama Gareth Ward was quick to decry the budget, calling into question whether promised funding will lead to completed projects.

“Whilst the government has allocated planning money to promised infrastructure projects, the funding is so infinitesimal that none of these projects will have a chance of starting for years. We need commitments on start dates, not chickenfeed planning money,” Ward said. “Many of these projects have been in the pipeline for years, and we should be building, not planning.”

He took particular umbridge with the removal of the Regional Seniors Travel Card, which Ward has previously supported, as well as scaling back the Active Kids Rebate, the Creative Kids Rebate and the First Lap Voucher.

“This budget is great for Sydney, but it’s terrible for our community – it’s terrible for regional NSW. It’s full of ‘planning money’ but has little ‘doing’ money. This budget proves that Labor MPs were more interested in winning the election than delivering for our community.”

$1 million for upgrading Hindmarsh Park Redevelopment Stage 2

$250,000 for the Changing Tides festival

$49,903 for the Illawarra Young Women’s Program

The first budget since the Minns Labor Government came into power

Focus is on health and education sectors, easing the cost of living pressures and building essential services

Made cost of living the centrepiece of the budget

• Energy bill relief - an estimated 11,700 eligible households in the electorate will receive help with their energy bills as part of a $100 million funding package of five energy rebates, lifting the Low Income Household Rebate and Medical Energy Rebate from $285 to $350, and the full rate Family Energy Rebate from $180 to $250. The Seniors Energy Rebate will increase from $200 to $250
• Will fund 61.4 full time nursing jobs in local hospitals
• Parents of three-year-olds in long daycare preschool programs will receive $500 per child, per year, in fee relief, costing $64 million over two years
• 202 teachers and support staff made permanent in local schools since April
• We will deliver $5.3 million through the Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund to Kiama and Shoalhaven LGA

Health:

• $721.9 million for the new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services and car park
• $438 million for Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment
• $21.9 million for Wollongong Hospital upgrades
• $7.5 million for Milton Ulladulla Hospital upgrades

Transport - none for Kiama

$4.9 million to deliver new and upgraded quality homes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through Aboriginal Housing Office

Regional NSW

$1 million for upgrading Hindmarsh Park Redevelopment Stage 2

$250,000 for the Changing Tides festival

$49,903 for the Illawarra Young Women’s Program

NSW Member for Kiama Gareth Ward was quick to decry the budget, calling into question whether promised funding will lead to completed projects.

“Whilst the government has allocated planning money to promised infrastructure projects, the funding is so infinitesimal that none of these projects will have a chance of starting for years. We need commitments on start dates, not chickenfeed planning money,” Ward said. “Many of these projects have been in the pipeline for years, and we should be building, not planning.”

He took particular umbridge with the removal of the Regional Seniors Travel Card, which Ward has previously supported, as well as scaling back the Active Kids Rebate, the Creative Kids Rebate and the First Lap Voucher.

“This budget is great for Sydney, but it’s terrible for our community – it’s terrible for regional NSW. It’s full of ‘planning money’ but has little ‘doing’ money. This budget proves that Labor MPs were more interested in winning the election than delivering for our community.”