6 May 2017 – NSW Parliament Wrap Up

The week really began for the Government on Sunday evening, with Treasurer Dominic Perrottet revealing that the 2017-18 State Budget will be handed down on 20 June. This will be the Treasurer’s first Budget, and all signs are pointing towards yet another standout result for NSW.

This week also marked 100 days in office for Premier Gladys Berejiklian, her office celebrating with a media release that detailed the Government’s achievements since her appointment. It’s worth a look if you’re after a political titbit or two.

Here’s how the week panned out…

Households to benefit from higher solar tariffs
On Monday, Minister for Energy & Utilities Don Harwin announced that 350,000 households and business will likely have access to a higher feed-in tarrif from June this year. In May, Minister Harwin asked the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to review voluntary solar feed-in tarrifs. Current indications are pointing towards a doubling of the existing tarrif, to between 11.6 – 14.6 cents per kilowatt hour, when IPART hands down its final report next month.

Federal Government to build Western Sydney Airport
Three ministers—the Premier, Minister for Transport & Infrastructure Andrew Constance, and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres—teamed up on Tuesday to welcome the Federal Government’s decision to build the Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek. Although the airport falls under the Federal Government’s remit, the NSW Government has committed $3.6 billion of state funds for ancillary projects to support the site, including road upgrades and a scoping study for a future CBD rail connection. The airport is expected to generate $1.9 billion for Western Sydney’s economy during the construction phase alone.

$60 million boost to school infrastructure budget
Tuesday also saw the Premier and Minister for Education Rob Stokes allocate an additional $60 million to the state’s education infrastructure budget to address maintenance backlogs in NSW schools. The funds will be prioritised for use by schools with the biggest backlogs, to resolve issues such as roofing and painting by December 2018 at the latest. The $60 million cash injection is the largest single contribution made by a NSW Government for school maintenance spending in the state’s history, bringing the Government’s total budget for the matter to $390 million. The estimated total cost of the state’s school maintenance backlog is currently $775 million (down from $1 billion under the Keneally Labor Government).

Premier’s address to National Press Club

“The people of NSW should not continue to be held hostage to a lowest-common-denominator approach that privileges the parochial interests of small populations.” – Premier Gladys Berejiklian

The Premier made waves with her vision for the future of the Commonwealth on Wednesday, during an address to the National Press Club in Sydney. The Premier called for a “massive overhaul” of Commonwealth-state relations, to give states greater autonomy in service and infrastructure provision. The Premier said, "We need fewer agreements, fewer points of contact between the two levels of government, less red tape, less prescriptive agreements, less overlap and more trust … For the states that take the lead on reform, the Federal Government should step back, and allow greater flexibility.”

The Premier also supported a change in the way GST is distributed, advocating for a per capita approach. This model would deliver NSW an additional $13 billion over four years, although the state would still hand over $4 billion more than it generates over the same period.

However, it was the Premier’s comments about the influence of smaller states and territories that really made headlines. Calling for reform to the consensus-driven COAG model, the Premier said, “Too often I have witnessed in frustration ministerial council meetings where the ACT with a population of 400,000 – not much more than the population of Blacktown council – has an equal voice with a state of 7.7 million.” She has a point …

Construction commences on Circular Quay light rail interchange
On Thursday, Minister Constance announced that construction has begun on the Circular Quay terminus of the Sydney CBD Light Rail project. Two compounds have been installed in front of the Gateway building on Alfred Street where the terminus will be located, which will remain for the duration of works. The Government has already laid five kilometres of track for the project, including the first sections of wire-free track along George Street. When completed, the Circular Quay interchange will provide commuters with access to bus, ferry, light rail and train services at the one stop.

39-storey building approved for Sydney Olympic Park
Friday saw Minister for Planning & Housing Anthony Roberts announce that a new high rise mixed-use development has been approved for construction at Sydney Olympic Park. The 39-storey building will accommodate 229 apartments as well as offices and ground floor retail, generating an estimated $112 million for the local economy during the construction phase. The project’s design, which incorporates “staggered terracotta fins” (whatever that means), was the result of a competitive architectural process for the site, which had previously been identified for development.

Government begins advertising for Greyhound Racing Commission roles
Finally, Minister for Racing Paul Toole ended the week by announcing that the Government has started hunting for recruits for the new Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, and for the reformed Greyhound Racing NSW Board. A new Chief Commissioner, who will be tasked with overseeing the establishment of the Commission, is due to be the first appointment made. They will later be joined by two other Commissioners to help enforce a new regulatory framework for the sport in NSW.