BY DAKOTA TAIT
The State Government has announced a raft of major commitments in its upcoming budget on Monday, with hopes it could alleviate the pressure on the Hunter's struggling healthcare system and other sectors.
10,000 nurses, doctors, and other roles will be recruited over the next four years in a $4.5 billion spending package, with two-thirds of the jobs expected to sign on in the first year of the program.
$1.76 billion of that will go toward finding more than 2000 paramedics and supporting staff to bolster NSW Ambulance, as well as 30 new ambulance stations, including at Swansea and Gateshead.
All public healthcare workers will receive a $3,000 payment to say thanks for their work on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alongside the spending, the Premier's committed to raising the cap on wage increases for public sector workers from 2.5 percent to 3 percent.
It'll then be increased by another half percent the year after, to 3.5 percent.
It's understood, many unions have been pushing to tie the wage increase to inflation, which currently sits at 5.1 percent, though Dominic Perrottet has described the Government's offer as "fair and responsible".
The Public Service Association is still expected to strike on Wednesday.
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| Premier Dominic Perrottet. Image credit: nswliberal.org.au |
