The NSW Coalition government’s 2019 budget, handed down by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on June 18, proposes to slash almost 3000 public service jobs over the next four years to fund its modest election promises.
The government has also vowed to continue its effective wage freeze by maintaining its 2.5% cap on public service wage rises.
Despite all the Coalition rhetoric about “balancing the budget”, the budget predicts government debt will rise to almost $39 billion over the next four years.
The state government is also set to implement so-called “outcome budgeting”, which would force departments to justify expenditure, starting with education.
At the same time, the government is handing a record $6.1 billion to private schools over the next four years.
Services supporting women suffering domestic violence will also face cutbacks. The Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service NSW was refused a request for $14 million to continue its work supporting women and children who have been victims of domestic and family violence.
WDVCAS NSW director Hayley Foster noted in a June 18 statement that the government instead “regarded [it] as more important to invest $33.4 million in upgrading a single Motorsport Park or $3 million in a Rifle Club”.
The budget allocates $295 million to assist communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change, but makes no identifiable spending towards limiting greenhouse gas emissions, even to reach the government’s underwhelming stated target of net zero by 2050.