Cost of living support and relief

Boosting bulk billing

The $188.8 million Bulk-Billing Support Initiative will protect the cost of seeing a GP and reduce the strain on our emergency departments. The initiative will ease financial pressure on GP practices by waiving historical payroll tax liabilities for contractor GPs and provide an ongoing tax rebate to clinics that meet bulk-billing thresholds.

This initiative eases cost of living pressures on families and households by ensuring clinics don’t pass on additional costs to patients.

Energy rebates

The expanded energy social program, which includes an increase of $100.0 million in 2024-25, will support up to 1 million NSW households with the cost of living, and brings the total program for 2024-25 to $435.4 million.

From 1 July 2024 the Family Energy Rebate and the Seniors Energy Rebate will increase to $250, and the Low-Income Household Rebate, the Medical Energy Rebate will increase to $350. The Life Support Rebate will be up to $1,639 for each equipment type.

This support is in addition to the Australian Government’s $300 energy bill relief payment.

Supporting motorists on Sydney’s privatised toll roads

The $60 toll cap that began on 1 January will continue, with an investment of $561.0 million over two years.

Motorists in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Marsden Park, Auburn and Merrylands have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the NSW Government’s toll cap so far.

The scheme is expected to return cash back to 720,000 motorists.

Support for 31,000 first home buyers and counting

Since 1 July 2023, more than 22,800 first home buyers, who purchased a home for up to $800,000, or vacant land up to $350,000, have received a stamp duty exemption.

More than 8,200 first home buyers, who purchased a home valued between $800,000 and $1 million, or vacant land between $350,000 and $450,000, have enjoyed a stamp duty concession.

In total, over 31,000 first home buyers have had the purchasing power for their first home boosted by an average stamp duty saving of around $20,500.

In 2024-25, the concessions and exemptions will continue to support more people to get their first home.

Better pay

The Government’s wages policy has delivered the biggest increase to the wages of essential workers in over a decade.

The Government has already delivered professional rates of pay for paramedics, in recognition of the move towards university qualification and increased registration requirements, plus expansion of the scope of paramedicine.

Building on the Government’s 4.5 per cent wage offer of 2023-24, the 2024-25 Budget provides for a 10.5 per cent wage increase (including superannuation) over three years to benefit the more than 400,000 NSW public sector workers.

Cost of living support measures

In 2024-25, the NSW Government will provide around $8.7 billion to households to assist with growing cost of living pressures.

Housing

Concessions and exemptions from transfer duty on properties valued less than $1.0 million for eligible first home buyers under the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme which was expanded on 1 July 2023.
A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant for eligible first home owners buying a newly built house, townhouse, apartment, unit or similar with a purchase price below $600,000 or land and new house with a total combined cost below $750,000.
Private rental assistance through Rent Choice, Advance Rent, Bond Loan and other programs to help eligible persons, including those escaping domestic violence, set up and maintain a tenancy in the private rental market.
The Pensioner Council Rates Concession provides a rebate of up to $250 on ordinary council rates and charges for domestic waste management services to eligible pensioners, jointly funded by councils.

Energy and water

Providing energy bill relief for families, seniors and households in 2024-25:

the Low Income Household Rebate provides up to $350 per year off the electricity bills of certain Commonwealth concession card holders
helping eligible people who receive the Family Tax Benefit to pay their electricity bills through the Family Energy Rebate of up to $250 per year
the NSW Gas Rebate provides up to $110 per year off the gas bills of certain Commonwealth concession card holders
assisting self-funded retirees who hold a valid Commonwealth Seniors Health Card with the cost of energy through the Seniors Energy Rebate of $250 per year
the Medical Energy Rebate of up to $350 per year for eligible concession holders with medically diagnosed inability to self-regulate their body temperature in extreme environmental temperatures
the Life Support Rebate provides annual assistance of up to $1,639 per equipment type for people who need to use approved energy-intensive life support equipment at home
National Energy Bill Relief Package a one-off bill relief payment of up to $300 to the electricity bills of all households and up to $325 for small businesses – delivered by the NSW Government with Australian Government funding
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance for people experiencing difficulty paying their energy bill because of a short-term financial hardship, crisis or emergency
support for customers in long term energy debt to reduce or eliminate their debt as part of the Energy Debt Relief Trial
eligible pensioners and low-income families are entitled to a concession for water rates
Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative to help reduce energy bills for tenants and keep their homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Health

Assisting people in NSW, who have specific, short-term or ongoing health needs, by providing appropriate assistive technology through the Aids and Equipment Program.
Providing ambulance services free of charge for certain concession holders and victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse.
Providing new parents with a Baby Bundle filled with essential items to assist in their child’s early health and development.
Free dental care for children attending schools participating in the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Clinics program.
Providing financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs when a patient needs to travel long distances for treatment that is not available locally through the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme.
Free glasses and vision aids for financially disadvantaged residents through the NSW Spectacles Program
The Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate of $250 which helps eligible NSW residents cover the costs of fertility testing and $2,000 through the Fertility Treatment Rebate for eligible fertility treatments.

Education

To support families with young children with the cost of living, the NSW Government will continue to provide up to $4,220 per year in fee relief for parents and carers of 3–5-year-olds in community and mobile preschools. In addition, $500 - $2,110 in fee relief is available to parents and carers of children aged 3 - 5 years attending eligible preschool programs in long day care centres. It is estimated that over 200,000 enrolments will be eligible for NSW Government fee relief in 2024.
Fee-free training for the formal training component of apprenticeships and traineeships.
Subsidised vocational education training for in-demand skills and industries and fee concessions for Commonwealth welfare beneficiaries and people with a disability through the Smart and Skilled program.
The Vocational Training Assistance Scheme travel and accommodation allowance for apprentices or new entrant trainees who are required to travel more than 120 km round trip to attend day or block-release training.
Bert Evans Scholarships for apprentices in NSW who are facing hardship in their personal circumstances but demonstrate a capability for vocational education and a positive attitude in their training and workplace.

Recreation

Two $50 Active and Creative Kids combined vouchers for eligible families available twice a year at the start of Term 1 and Term 3 to enable kids to participate in sports, recreation, cultural or creative activities.
Free or subsidised swimming lessons for more than 20,000 children and adults every year from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and financially disadvantaged communities through the revised Learn to Swim Program.
Discounted entry to national parks for certain concession holders including pensioners and veterans.
Fishing licence fee exemptions for Aboriginal persons, youths, and certain concession card holders including pensioners and veterans.

Transport

Toll Relief – $60 weekly toll cap eligible private motorists that spend between $60 and $400 on tolls a week can claim a rebate of up to $340 a week, each quarter.
The M5 South-West Cashback Scheme which enables residents to claim back the value of tolls (excl. GST) paid while using a vehicle registered in NSW for private, pensioner, or charitable use on the M5 South-West Motorway.
Daily, weekend and weekly Opal Card Travel Caps for adults, children, youths, and concession holders.
The School Student Transport Scheme which provides subsidised travel to and from school for eligible students on Government and private bus, rail, and ferry services, long-distance coaches, and in private vehicles where no public transport services exist.
Concessional Driver Licence Renewal fees for eligible concession holders.
Vehicle registration exemptions for eligible concession card holders including pensioners.
The Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme provides a 50 per cent subsidy of a taxi fare, up to a maximum of $60, for eligible NSW residents who cannot use public transport because of a severe and permanent disability.
Providing a $100 rebate to registered first and second year apprentices through the Apprentice Vehicle Registration Rebate.
Reducing the cost of towing privately registered caravans, boats, and horse floats on certain toll roads through the Large Towed Recreational Vehicle Toll Rebate for up to eight trips per month.

Other

The NSW Companion Card is for people with significant and permanent disability who need a high level of care in the community. The program allows a cardholder’s support person free entry into participating venues and events.
Land Tax Early Payment Discount provides a 0.5 per cent early payment discount where the full amount is paid within 30 days of issue of the notice of assessment in the land tax year.
Free Working with Children Checks for volunteers, students on a professional placement, and potential adoptive parents or authorised carers.
Reduced or waived court fees in some circumstances where a person’s capacity to pay may otherwise limit his or her access to justice.
The NSW Trustee and Guardian offers free preparation of Will and Power of Attorney documents for individuals eligible for a full Centrelink Age Pension and for those receiving Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pension or Disability Support Pension and would otherwise be eligible for a full Centrelink Age Pension.

Read the full budget overview here.