Rafy
Retired
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2004
- Messages
- 10,719
- Gender
- Female
- HSC
- 2005
- Uni Grad
- 2008
So what you all think?
A bit of a backflip on Land tax...
Anyway key points:
Health
The health budget has been increased by nearly $1 billion in recurrent spending to $10.9 billion, representing a 9 per cent increase on last year.
That includes an extra $472 million for so-called frontline services, such as more beds, more surgery and more emergency services.
The state's struggling mental health system is receiving a $71 million boost over the next year, which includes $22 million to expand psychiatric emergency care and community mental health initiatives.
Transport
The key points are:
- $60.1 million for new buses, including 79 bendy buses and 45 standard diesel buses in Sydney and Newcastle.
- a $100 rebate on car registration for first and second-year apprentices.
- $15 million implementing the Waterfall train disaster inquiry recommendations, including $8 million on expanded safety mechanisms in train and on-board radio communications.
Already announced:
- $10.3 billion over four years to be spent on roads.
- $38 million to build Camden/Narellan Road.
- $130 million for the $524 million North West Transitway.
- $221 million for the Pacific Highway.
- $32 million for the Princes Highway.
Social Services
- $1.5 billion for people with disabilities and the frail and aged - a 9 per cent boost in disabilities spending.
- An extra $82 million over four years will be spent on building or buying group homes for people with disabilities, many of whom are already in state care, either in jail, juvenile detention centres or with the Department of Community Services. It is unknown how many spaces in the homes will be provided for young disabled adults who live with their families.
Education
The education budget, up 4.5 per cent, will exceed $10 billion for the first time but there are few new initiatives for schools or TAFE institutes.
The big winners are Aboriginal students, who will share $53 million over four years to improve their academic results.
Thirty schools with large numbers of indigenous students will be reclassified as community schools.
Next year, more than 2500 students in these schools will have individualised learning plans, along with 2200 students in the Riverina, North Coast and Western Sydney regions.
The community schools will hire all teachers based on merit, a major change in teachers' industrial practice. Until now, seniority and teaching in difficult schools to earn transfer points have been the backbone of teacher appointments.
This new model will also lay the groundwork for teachers to be paid based on their performance.
Despite last week's revelation by Professor Tony Vinson that $180 million was needed over two years to bring shoddy public schools up to scratch, the maintenance budget has been lifted only marginally and only with the help of federal funding.
The $10 million increase - to $194 million - will do nothing to help wipe out the $115 million maintenance backlog identified by the NSW Auditor-General, Bob Sendt, last year.
SMH poll
Rate the Budget
Excellent - 9%
Good - 12%
Average - 17%
Poor - 21%
Woeful - 38%
Total Votes: 1712
A bit of a backflip on Land tax...
Anyway key points:
Health
The health budget has been increased by nearly $1 billion in recurrent spending to $10.9 billion, representing a 9 per cent increase on last year.
That includes an extra $472 million for so-called frontline services, such as more beds, more surgery and more emergency services.
The state's struggling mental health system is receiving a $71 million boost over the next year, which includes $22 million to expand psychiatric emergency care and community mental health initiatives.
Transport
The key points are:
- $60.1 million for new buses, including 79 bendy buses and 45 standard diesel buses in Sydney and Newcastle.
- a $100 rebate on car registration for first and second-year apprentices.
- $15 million implementing the Waterfall train disaster inquiry recommendations, including $8 million on expanded safety mechanisms in train and on-board radio communications.
Already announced:
- $10.3 billion over four years to be spent on roads.
- $38 million to build Camden/Narellan Road.
- $130 million for the $524 million North West Transitway.
- $221 million for the Pacific Highway.
- $32 million for the Princes Highway.
Social Services
- $1.5 billion for people with disabilities and the frail and aged - a 9 per cent boost in disabilities spending.
- An extra $82 million over four years will be spent on building or buying group homes for people with disabilities, many of whom are already in state care, either in jail, juvenile detention centres or with the Department of Community Services. It is unknown how many spaces in the homes will be provided for young disabled adults who live with their families.
Education
The education budget, up 4.5 per cent, will exceed $10 billion for the first time but there are few new initiatives for schools or TAFE institutes.
The big winners are Aboriginal students, who will share $53 million over four years to improve their academic results.
Thirty schools with large numbers of indigenous students will be reclassified as community schools.
Next year, more than 2500 students in these schools will have individualised learning plans, along with 2200 students in the Riverina, North Coast and Western Sydney regions.
The community schools will hire all teachers based on merit, a major change in teachers' industrial practice. Until now, seniority and teaching in difficult schools to earn transfer points have been the backbone of teacher appointments.
This new model will also lay the groundwork for teachers to be paid based on their performance.
Despite last week's revelation by Professor Tony Vinson that $180 million was needed over two years to bring shoddy public schools up to scratch, the maintenance budget has been lifted only marginally and only with the help of federal funding.
The $10 million increase - to $194 million - will do nothing to help wipe out the $115 million maintenance backlog identified by the NSW Auditor-General, Bob Sendt, last year.
SMH poll
Rate the Budget
Excellent - 9%
Good - 12%
Average - 17%
Poor - 21%
Woeful - 38%
Total Votes: 1712
