NSW Gov
A reference guide for media. Every cost-of-living measure in the Budget, in one place.
Cost-of-living pressure remains the central challenge for households. Global conflict, supply-chain disruption and an energy shock have added fresh pressure since the start of the year, with higher fuel costs feeding through to transport, groceries and the cost of running a business.
The centrepiece of the Budget’s response is a 12-month Transport Affordability Package worth $561.4 million, targeted where the pressure is greatest. Alongside it sits a broad set of ongoing concessions, rebates and fee-relief programs that reduce everyday costs for renters, families, pensioners, students, apprentices and concession-card holders.
The headline relief
Transport Affordability Package
- $100 off private vehicle registration – for the owners of around 4.4 million vehicles (excluding caravans and trailers), worth about $435 million; an $80 cut applies to motorcycles. For 2026-27.
- Weekly toll cap cut to $50 – down from $60 for 2026-27. Eligible private motorists claim rebates on toll spending above the cap, up to the fair-use limit.
- Opal fares held at 2025 prices for a year – for hundreds of thousands of daily users.
Other Measures
- Toll notice administration fees – scrapping toll administration fees from July, saving at least $10 a notice, and ending a charge that cost motorists $60 million last year, in some cases twice the toll itself.
- Home Energy Saver – $557.1 million in total: $480.0 million in interest-free loans of up to $15,000, plus $77.1 million in discounts, to install energy-saving technology.
- $1,000 cost-of-living payment – for more than 120,000 NSW Government employees, triggered because Sydney CPI growth exceeded 4 per cent between the March quarters of 2025 and 2026.
- Support for first home buyers – more than 94,000 supported since 1 July 2023 through transfer duty exemptions and concessions, averaging around $20,400, with around a further 30,000 expected in 2026-27. A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant applies to eligible buyers of newly built homes.
- 3-Year-Old Fee Relief in long day care – extended to the end of 2027.
- FuelCheck – $2.6 million to upgrade FuelCheck and enforce accurate fuel price reporting.
Housing
- Stronger protections for more than 2.3 million renters: a ban on no-grounds evictions, fee-free ways to pay rent, rent increases limited to once a year, and easier pet approvals.
- Rent Check website, so renters can test whether the rent they are being asked to pay is fair.
- Smart Rental Bonds, from mid-2026, allowing tenants to digitally transfer a bond from one rental to another.
- First home buyers supported through an average saving of $20,400 in transfer duty exemptions for purchases up to $800,000 and a concessional rate on purchases up to $1 million.
- A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant for eligible buyers of newly built homes.
- Rent Choice, Advance Rent, Bond Loan and related programs to help eligible people take up a private lease, including people escaping domestic violence.
- Up to $250 off council rates and waste charges for eligible pensioners, through pensioner council rates and water rebates.
Energy and water bills
- Home Energy Saver: $557.1 million in interest-free loans and discounts to install energy technologies.
- $7.2 million for energy-efficiency upgrade schemes, particularly in regional NSW.
- Continued energy social programs for households, including:
o Energy Accounts Payment Assistance for people in short-term hardship, crisis or emergency.
o Energy rebates for eligible concession card holders, Family Tax Benefit recipients, seniors, and people who rely on medical or life-support equipment.
- Water rebates for eligible pensioners, Department of Veterans’ Affairs card holders and community organisations.
- A $250 front-loader washing machine through the Washing Machine Exchange program for eligible households.
- Around 30 per cent off the upfront cost of small-scale battery systems through the Cheaper Home Batteries program (administered by the Australian Government).
- An average discount of up to $500 through the Virtual Power Plant incentive.
Health costs
- More bulk-billing appointments through the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative, which provided GP clinics with an estimated $9 million in payroll-tax savings in 2025-26.
- Up to six fully bulk-billed GP clinics across regional NSW, expected to open by mid-2027 (administered by the Australian Government).
- Assistive technology for short-term or ongoing health needs through the Aids and Equipment program.
- Free ambulance services for eligible concession card holders, and for victim-survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse.
- Baby bundles for new parents, with essential items to support early health and development.
- Free dental care for children at participating schools through the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Clinics program.
- Travel and accommodation assistance for patients who must travel long distances for treatment not available locally.
- Free glasses and vision aids for financially disadvantaged residents through the NSW Spectacles program.
- Free parking at rural and regional public hospitals.
- A pre-IVF fertility testing rebate of $250, and up to $2,000 through the fertility treatment rebate for eligible treatments.
Transport
Beyond the headline package above, ongoing transport-related support for drivers, toll-road users, commuters, students and people with disability:
- Toll relief through the weekly toll cap – eligible private motorists claim rebates on toll spending above the cap, up to the fair-use limit.
- The M5 South-West Cashback Scheme for eligible private, pensioner and charitable vehicle use.
- Daily, weekend and weekly Opal travel caps for adults, children, young people and concession holders.
- School Student Transport Scheme support for eligible students travelling by bus, rail, ferry, coach or private vehicle where no public transport is available.
- Concessional driver licence renewal fees for eligible concession holders.
- Motor vehicle registration exemptions for eligible concession card holders, including pensioners.
- Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme – 50 per cent of a taxi fare up to $60 for eligible residents who cannot use public transport because of severe and permanent disability.
- A $100 vehicle registration rebate for registered first- and second-year apprentices.
- Lower toll costs for privately registered caravans, boats and horse floats through the Large Towed Recreational Vehicle Toll Rebate.
Education and training
- Up to $4,456 in fee relief for parents and carers of children aged 3 to 5 in community
and mobile preschools in 2026.
- Up to $2,563 in preschool fee relief for children aged 3 to 5 attending eligible long
day care preschool programs in 2026.
- Subsidised vocational education and training for in-demand skills through the Smart
and Skilled program.
- Fee concessions for Australian Government welfare beneficiaries and people with
disability.
- Travel and accommodation support for apprentices and new-entrant trainees who
travel more than 120 km round trip for training.
- Bert Evans Scholarships for apprentices facing hardship.
Pay and conditions for essential workers
- A $1,000 cost-of-living payment for more than 120,000 NSW Government employees,
triggered because Sydney CPI growth exceeded 4 per cent between the March
quarters of 2025 and 2026.
- Workforce stability and record pay increases for essential workers, including those in
health, education and transport through the NSW Government’s Fair Pay and
Bargaining Policy.
- The largest pay increase in decades for nurses and midwives, with increases of
between 16 per cent and 28 per cent over three years.
Sport, recreation and culture
- Two $50 Active and Creative Kids vouchers for eligible families, available twice a year.
- Discounted entry to national parks for eligible concession holders, including pensioners and veterans.
- Fishing licence exemptions for First Nations people, young people and eligible concession card holders.
- Free general admission to the Australian Museum, Museums of History NSW, Art Gallery of NSW and Powerhouse Museum, plus discounted entry to paid exhibitions for concession holders
- Free entry for support people at participating venues and events through the NSW Companion Card.
Other concessions and fee relief
- Free Working with Children Checks for volunteers, including students on professional placement, potential adoptive parents and authorised carers.
- Free National Disability Insurance Scheme worker checks for volunteers.
- Reduced or waived court fees where a person’s capacity to pay may limit access to justice.
- Free Will and Power of Attorney preparation through the NSW Trustee and Guardian for eligible pensioners.
- A 0.5 per cent land tax early-payment discount where the full amount is paid before the notice of assessment due date.
/Public Release. View in full here.
