I understand that people in NSW are doing it tough right now and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for families to make ends meet.

When I was elected in March, I promised the people of NSW that I would end the previous governments wasteful spending and direct it to where people need it most.

Every person in NSW should have access to health, education, reliable power and other essential services.

If we want a world-class health system – we have to train, recruit and retain health workers.

The 2023-24 NSW Budget focuses on my priorities to repair our health system, cut the elective surgery waiting times and ensure our nurses receive the support they need.

This includes committing $2.5 billion to recruit and retain health workers, including delivering the largest pay increase in more than a decade and new salary packaging benefits for more than 50,000 health care workers.

I have also committed $3 billion to upgrade and build more hospitals across our state.

In addition, I have saved the positions of 1,112 essential nurses and midwives left unfunded by the previous government.

As Premier of NSW, I know how important it is to have high quality and talented people joining our health system.

That is why I am supporting 12,000 healthcare students with $4,000 study subsidies.

New students will receive scholarships over $4,000 per year and existing students will receive one-off payments of $8,000 to reduce the financial barriers to studying.

This budget begins Labor’s long-term plan to repair our health system and improve patient outcomes in NSW.

The careful and responsible approach I am taking, means I can fulfill our commitments without privatising public assets or imposing an unfair wage cap on the workers who deliver our essential services.

As Premier, I have a clear focus to manage our finances responsibly so I can provide support when you need it most and improve the essential services that we all rely on.

Yours sincerely,

The Hon. Chris Minns MP
Premier of New South Wales
Member for Kogarah