2025-06-24
Today NSW Greens Spokesperson for Treasury, Abigail Boyd, has said that the Minns Government’s 2025/26 Budget is a missed opportunity to help millions of people struggling to pay their bills.
Quotes attributable to Abigail Boyd, Greens NSW MP:
“Right now, people in our communities are suffocating under the Minns Labor government’s business as usual agenda which does nothing to combat skyrocketing grocery prices, energy bills and out-of-pocket education and health costs, nor does it come close to delivering the investment we need in accessible, affordable housing,” said Ms Boyd.
“This is not a budget for people–it’s a budget for Big Business, the gambling lobby, private developers and climate-wrecking corporations. The Minns Labor government’s third Budget is a betrayal to all those in our communities doing it toughest – failing to address the rising cost of living in this state or lift people out of poverty, while leaving billions in uncollected revenue on the table from big business. Whether its failing to rein in subsidies for pokies operators, leaving high-end taxes lower than in other jurisdictions, or failing to innovate to raise revenue from the big corporations who can most afford it, the Minns Labor government would rather turn its back on workers and everyday people than take on the vested interests in our State with the bold reforms it once promised.
“This is a Labor government that refuses to pay nurses and midwives a fair wage and is trying to strip injured workers of their entitlements due to so-called budget constraints, while all the while cosying up to its mates in the clubs industry by failing to rein in pokies subsidies that are costing billions. The only ones thanking Minns and Mookhey for this budget is the Business lobby, which shows you how far the Labor party will go to turn their backs on workers.”
“Across the State, nurses, midwives and other essential workers are without hope that they will ever earn fair wages and conditions after the Labor Minns government has forced them to beg for scraps under its failed mutual bargaining regime. The impact on essential public services like hospitals has been particularly catastrophic, with workers fleeing the state for higher wages elsewhere and people going without the medical treatment they need. This is a fundamental betrayal and a slap in the face to all those who voted this government in.
“We know that the greatest issues of our time – climate change, the cost of living, housing affordability – will negatively impact marginalised communities disproportionately. And yet this Budget does nothing to provide for those doing it toughest.
“Labor has put no extra money into frontline domestic violence services. Instead, they’ve made a desperate, and frankly sad attempt to spin funding for courts as funding for victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.
“While acknowledging the catastrophic impact that more severe and frequent weather events are having on the people and finances of our State, there is nothing new in this Budget to properly tackle the climate crisis and accelerate our State’s transition to 100% renewable energy.
“For years, the Greens have consistently offered constructive options for how the government can increase revenue in order to better fund the universal services our community desperately needs. These proposals include:
- A progressive payroll tax system that expands in scope to capture rideshare, delivery and other gig worker platforms as well as consulting firms and others currently dodging basic taxes.
- A luxury motor vehicle duty that progressively increases taxation on cars according to their retail market price.
- A ‘vacancy tax’ for properties left empty for more than six months in areas with high levels of housing stress.
- A supplementary banking levy that taxes banks on the assets they hold in New South Wales, raising at least $600 million each year.
“There is no excuse for the Treasurer’s cowardly retreat on removing subsidies for pokies operators and failing to redirect billions towards the services people in this state rely on.
“The Greens are calling on the Minns Labor government to have the courage to raise revenue from those who ought to be paying a fair share–the fossil fuel industry, gambling companies, big banks and the very wealthy–in order to provide a better life for the people of New South Wales.”
Media Contact - Therese Camus 0467 562 685