The NSW Budget was handed down today by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey. 

Winners

Teachers: Labor has funded an agreement with the NSW Teachers Federation to substantially increase wages, with the entry-level pay set to increase to $85,000 compared to $75,791 previously. There are plans to convert 10,000 teachers and 6000 administrative staff to permanent positions and a $20 million boost to the Innovative Teacher Training Fund has been announced with the goal of attracting high quality teachers. 

Healthcare Workers and other public servants:  $3.6 billion has been set aside to fund pay rises for nurses, paramedics, teachers, prison officers, police and childcare workers including spending $572 million offering permanent jobs to 1200 nurses and midwives hired during the COVID-19 pandemic. There's also funding for 500 new rural and regional paramedics. If you're looking to become a healthcare worker, the budget will subsidise 12,000 students over five years to study to join the profession. New students will receive scholarships of $4000 per year while existing students will receive one-off payments of $8000.

Drivers: $390 million dedicated towards helping regional councils repair damaged roads and $334 million for new road upgrades. In addition, the $60 toll cap will start from January 1, 2024 assisting more than 700,000 motorists.

Parents of toddlers: Parents with three-year-olds in long daycare will get $500 per child every year in fee relief. The government also plans to establish 100 new pre-schools on the grounds of public schools at a cost of $769 million.

Farmers: The government says it will invest an additional $298.5 million towards biosecurity and agricultural programs, including $80 million to stop the march of red imported fire ants, $77 million to fight varroa mite outbreaks and a $13 million feral pig control program.

Women and girls in grassroots sport: $30 million put towards "supercharging" sports facilities for women and girls in grassroots sport.

Losers

Middle Income Families: The government has cut back the state's Active Kids and Creative Kids voucher schemes. Eligibility for both programs will be restricted to only Family Tax Benefit Part A recipients and the value of the vouchers will also reduce from $100 to $50 per voucher. This means low-income families will continue to benefit from the vouchers but middle-income families are no longer eligible.

Electric vehicle buyers: The budget scraps a $3000 state government subsidy and stamp duty exemptions for anyone buying a new electric car but allocates $260 million for new charging infrastructure.

The arts: Approximately 12 cultural and innovation programs unfunded beyond this year, will not be reinstated leaving arts programs poorer by about $190 million.

Senior travellers: The government has scrapped the $250 pre-paid regional seniors travel card.