Paul Keating famously characterised his 1988-89 Federal Budget as “bringing home the bacon”. 

That Budget - which followed years of tough reforms and belt-tightening – spent big on welfare, education, housing and health. 

In other words, it delivered in spades for Labor’s true believers. 

In his first Budget as New South Wales Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey has done his best, but there’s just as many cuts as there are big-ticket spending items. 

In this sense, Mookhey isn’t bringing home the bacon – he’s bringing home a couple of avocados. 

The big-ticket items have been well publicised: pay rises for teachers and health workers, a new $3.6 billion Essential Services Fund to bolster public sector pay, $1.4 billion for new schools in the regions and $2.2 billion housing and infrastructure plan.

The spending cuts, too, have been prominently covered: pay freezes for bureaucratic fat cats, the drastic scaling back of the Active and Creative Kids vouchers, and the junking of the Powerhouse Museum redevelopment in Sydney. 

With the Budget in the red and net debt rocketing towards $180 billion in 2026, it’s easy to see why the Treasurer is moving to rein in spending. 

Indeed, a poll published this week in the Sydney Morning Herald found 49 per cent of voters support reducing spending to achieve a surplus and pay off debt. Surprisingly, the Government is predicting a modest surplus of $844 million next financial year, though a lot of things will have to go right in order for that to happen. 

Of course, The Bugle is most interested in what this Budget delivers for our readers and our region. 

That’s why it’s good to see multiple investments in NSW regional infrastructure and services, like $438 million to hire 500 extra paramedics and $700 million to upgrade and maintain roads.

However, closer to home, the situation is a little more disappointing.

Thankfully the Government has re-committed to significant pre-existing infrastructure projects like the Shoalhaven and Shellharbour Hospitals and several significant road upgrades like the Mount Ousley and Jervis Bay Road intersections on the Princes Highway.

But as for new projects, it is slim pickings. The Government has directed Transport for NSW to “commence planning” on a number of projects – a process which will take years. It’s possible that the community won’t see projects like the Dapto M1 entry and exit ramps and the East Nowra Sub Arterial in this decade.   

The Bugle is also interested in what this Budget does to address two issues which we’ve given countless column inches to in recent months: the cost of living and the housing crisis. 

On the former, it’s good to see some more money go to families to help with soaring power bills via increases to the Family Energy Rebate and the Seniors Energy Rebate. 

On the latter, it looks as if there’s less to cheer about. There’s $224 million for a new Essential Housing Package which, true to its name, will help support social housing and homelessness. The South Coast will also share in $60 million to trial 100 “build-to-rent” dwellings, developed by the Government’s development company – Landcom.

As welcome as all this is, it’s The Bugle’s view that there’s still not enough being done to bring the Great Australian Dream back into reach for young people in our area. 

The Bugle is watching the Greater Cities Commission and Kiama Council with keen interest and in particular how their forthcoming housing targets are going to address housing and rental stress in the region.

As Business Illawarra states, the lack of affordable housing in the region is now quickly turning a social crisis into an economic crisis. 

Following the success of our call out to readers on plans for a new offshore wind farm, The Bugle is doing the same in response to this Budget. 

What did the Government get right? What did they get wrong? Have they done enough for our area? 

Let us know your views, and we’ll keep the conversation going.