NSW Budget Delivers For Public Servants, Omits Hunter Park Proposal

BY OLIVIA DILLON

There's concerns the Hunter is not reaping the rewards of it's major representation in NSW Cabinet, following the release of the state government's budget today.

The Newcastle Herald reports Sydney is mentioned 22 times in the overview of Labor's first budget in 13 years, but Newcastle and the Hunter are not mentioned once.

It's also understood no major funding has been committed for the major redevelopment being planned for Broadmeadow.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said during a media conference in Sydney today, planning for the Hunter Park project is ongoing, and confirmed the scandal surrounding former Minister for the Hunter Tim Crakanthorp, has not affected the government's commitment to it. 

Meantime, it seems public servants in the Hunter are the big winners of the budget, with funding confirmed for their wage increases.

The Minns government has set aside $3.6 billion to fund pay rises for nurses, paramedics, teachers, prison officers, police, and childcare workers, and will spend $572 million on making more than 1,000 pandemic nurses and midwives permanent.

It's expected the budget will spark backlash from the Opposition, with a number of Coalition-led initiatives being either scrapped or cut back, including the Active and Creative Kids Vouchers, which will be lowered, and the Regional Senior's Travel Card, which will be dumped. 

 

Image: NSW Government

 

Hunter nurses say budget commitments aren't enough to solve healthcare crisis

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter nurses are slamming the NSW Government's new health spending and budget commitments, with concern it won't fix the healthcare crisis.

The Premier yesterday announced a $4.5 billion recruitment drive to find 10,000 new nurses, doctors, and other staff over the next four years, with $1.76 billion of that dedicated to paramedic personnel and new stations.

The wage increase cap for public sector workers will also be lifted from 2.5 to 3 percent, and then to 3.5 percent the year after.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has been pushing for a 4.75 percent increase, however, still below inflation, which currently sits at 5.1 percent.

Dominic Perrottet has described the offer as "fair and reasonable", having to balance the interests of unions and the Government's financial bottom line.

But John Hunter Branch Secretary Rachel Hughes says it's insulting to nurses.

"Was it fair and responsible for all the bonuses that the state politicians got?" she said. "Bonuses between $5,000 and $160,000 each, while we struggled to get what we were entitled to with pay rises over the last two years."

"Where does this fair and responsible come in with the community and the patients that we're concerned about? Is he?"

The Government's also handing out a $3,000 payment to all public health workers, to say thanks for their work on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The union maintains, however, the Government's failed to meet their major demands, and the recruitment drive

Ms Hughes says the Premier is "tone-deaf" when it comes to their real concerns.

"Our biggest request was ratios to make it safer for patients and nurses, and we also asked for a pay rise that reinstated the pay cuts and freezes we'd had over the pandemic," she said.

"Unfortunately he failed to deliver on either of those."

"There will be further action. The response from the Government is just not enough."

Image credit: NSW Nurses and Midwives Association.

Hunter healthcare workers hopeful after NSW budget promises, wage increases

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.

Premier Dominic Perrottet. Image credit: nswliberal.org.au