Strong communities are about more than bricks and mortar. They need homes people can afford, access to parks and open spaces, and communities connected to transport, jobs and essential services.
This Budget continues to invest in all of these.
It acts on a simple principle: relief for today and reform for tomorrow – building a state working Australians can afford.
Building better communities through housing and planning
The Minns Government is turning around the housing pipeline after years of decline under the former government, delivering the biggest planning reforms in more than 50 years to build more homes, faster.
These reforms are focused on creating well-connected communities close to transport, schools, hospitals, parks and the infrastructure families rely on.
The Budget supports this work through:
- Supporting new ways of building homes faster through investment in modern
methods of construction, helping deliver more high-quality homes in well-planned
communities close to transport, schools, hospitals, parks and essential infrastructure.
- An initial $31.1 million investment to support delivery of up to 8,500 new homes in
Bays West.
- $52.1 million to establish the Development Coordination Authority to help speed up
housing delivery and coordinate approvals across government.
- $24.9 million to improve the planning system and support faster housing delivery.
- An expansion of the $1 billion Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee, with an additional $80
million in guarantees to accelerate community housing projects.
These reforms are helping deliver more homes in the right places and building stronger communities for the future.
Connecting vibrant and creative communities
A state like ours is made up of many cultures, many stories, and many communities. Vibrant and creative communities help turn new houses into neighbourhoods full of homes, and support innovative jobs.
This Budget invests $1.21 billion for arts, music and the night-time economy including:
- $29.3 million to implement actions in Sound NSW’s Contemporary Music Strategy.
- $29.1 million for the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner to develop more vibrant, safe and diverse night-time precincts including in regional areas.
- $26.8 million for the Creative Communities Package, delivering new programs in line with the Creative Communities Policy including in Western Sydney and Regional NSW.
- $17 million for Creative NSW to grow audiences and supporting a more vibrant, sustainable creative ecosystem across the state.
- $2 million to investigate construction of a sound shell for a permanent, purpose-built open-air performance stage in Western Sydney.
Public spaces and the outdoors
Strong communities also depend on a healthy natural environment. Families deserve places to gather, play and explore that are safe and affordable.
This Budget invests:
- $130.0 million to keep national parks open, safe and accessible, giving families more affordable ways to get outdoors and enjoy a day out close to home.
- $86.6 million for safer beaches, including shark nets, SMART drumlines, listening stations, drones, education and research.
Protecting nature
This Budget protects the environment and nature its families love. It invests:
- $195.2 million for threatened species protection.
- $53.0 million for biodiversity land acquisitions and conservation, supporting both environmental protection and housing delivery in greenfield areas.
- $26.0 million for ecosystem restoration under the NSW Nature Strategy, and $6.0 million to support businesses in the Great Koala National Park region.
Support for those who need it
This Budget invests in the people most at risk of being left behind. It delivers:
- $631.9 million over five years for the Thriving Kids program, providing early intervention for children aged eight and under with developmental delay or autism, as part of a larger $1.1 billion package co-funded with the Australian Government.
- $4.0 million for the Ageing and Disability Commission to protect older people and adults with disability from abuse and neglect.
Responsible decisions make these investments possible
This Budget can provide cost-of-living relief and continue investing in essential services because the Government has spent the last three years making responsible and difficult decisions to strengthen the state’s finances.
That work has been done without privatisation and without bringing back an unfair wages cap, while keeping public assets in public hands and maintaining an independent umpire for wages and conditions.
As global uncertainty and higher fuel prices place additional pressure on families and businesses, this Budget provides support now while continuing the work of returning the state’s finances to surplus in 2027-28.
It’s about supporting families today, while securing NSW’s future.
