Where NSW Was
In 2011, NSW was the worst performing state in Australia - by a long mile.
The budget deficit was $3.7 billion and the infrastructure backlog was at least $30 billion.
Projects had been announced, cancelled, announced again and billions wasted on false starts with nothing to show for it.
Jobs growth had been the slowest in Australia for a decade and was half the rate of the rest of the country.
Businesses and workers had been hit with more than 30 new taxes.
The cost of living was spiralling out of control with no relief.
Housing supply had dropped to decade-lows, pushing up prices and squeezing would-be first home owners.
Wages for government middle managers had blown out.
Corruption was rife and community trust in government at an all-time low.
This was the disastrous legacy of successive Labor governments.
What We Have Built
Today, NSW is a completely different place.
We have rebuilt the state budget to strong surplus, eliminated government sector debt, and taken the NSW economy from distant last to clear first in the nation.
Economic growth in NSW is faster than 27 of 35 OECD nations.
Since 2011, we have created 480,000 new jobs.
We have driven unemployment down to the lowest in the nation for 33 consecutive months.
We have doubled housing completions and quadrupled the number of first home owners getting into the market.
We have slashed back office costs in the public service to support 9,500 extra doctors, nurses and midwives, 5,000 extra teachers, and nearly 1,000 extra police – with the powers they need to keep our state safe from crime and terror.
We have brought true customer service to government for the first time.
Introduced the Opal Card in public transport when no previous governments could.
And created Service NSW as a one-stop-shop for more than 1,000 different state government transactions.
Perhaps most critically, we are transforming NSW with a massive infrastructure program that is the envy of the world.
We have invested $111 billion already – with another $80 billion to come over the next four years.
It is an unprecedented pipeline that is driving jobs, improving living standards, helping business to grow, and setting our state up for decades to come.
Urgency and Determination
Turning NSW around has taken grit, determination and partnership between government, business and the community.
I am proud of what we have achieved.
But I am also filled with a sense of urgency and determination, because I know there is so much more to do.
We are only just getting ahead of the game.
We have been playing catch-up, and now we are at an exciting crossroads.
We are building a NSW where all our citizens have the equality of opportunity that comes with great jobs, great access to health and education, and great transport links connecting our communities.
Strong Economic Leadership
This is why strong economic leadership is so crucial.
Not for its own sake.
But because it is what enables us to be hopeful and ambitious about our future.
It allows us to invest in transport, roads, schools and hospitals.
It allows us to improve our citizens’ lives with better services and care
Critical financial decisions such as asset recycling have freed up billions of dollars to spend on the vital infrastructure that communities need.
And just this month, with the transfer of our share in Snowy Hydro to the Federal Government, we sealed another major deal that will see $4.2 billion invested in infrastructure for rural and regional NSW.
Strong economic leadership is also what allows us to tackle the pressures our households face, help those who need it most, and make our communities as liveable and resilient as they can be.
We know that some in NSW are doing it tough – and we want everybody to feel they are sharing in our state’s success.
Our strong budget means we can respond to the concerns of families and communities.
It means we can give more back to ease the cost of living and provide relief on household bills and everyday expenses.
It means we can help more people buy their first home with cuts to stamp duty up to $25,000 – cuts that have seen more than 20,000 additional people get their foot on the housing ladder since the middle of last year.
Strong economic performance also means we can make a greater difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.
It is why we are able to invest in mental health, in support services for people with a disability, in medical research to find new treatments for illness and disease.
The Next Phase
The opportunities and challenges ahead for NSW are real – and we cannot afford to sit still.
As Premier I always want NSW to do better.
And I will always make sure we are focused on the next opportunity to create jobs and improve lives.
Across the state, we are powering ahead to shape NSW for the next 30 years and beyond.
Last week we reached a historic milestone for NSW when we released the State Infrastructure Strategy, the NSW Future Transport Strategy and the Greater Sydney Region Plan on the same day.
For the first time, these plans were developed together as a single, coordinated longterm strategy for a thriving NSW.
For the first time, infrastructure is being built in preparation for communities growing - not after that growth occurs - with transport and social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals going hand in hand with our strategies for housing.
It is a vision to ensure that workers can get a good job in their local area, that travel times are shorter, and that we focus on the open spaces, amenities and local character that make people feel happy and proud of their community.
Of the 700 projects launched across NSW since 2012 - when we released our first infrastructure plan - more than 430 have already been delivered, 200 are under construction and almost 100 are in the planning stage.
But this exciting new phase we are embarking on doesn’t just focus on the next generation of projects.
More importantly, it focuses on how this infrastructure improves liveability and creates new opportunities.
At the heart of every decision we make is the ambition to lift quality of life in every community – to help every citizen of NSW reach their potential and pursue their aspirations.
New Approaches
In the past, planning for the future in NSW was fragmented and chaotic.
Today, all levels of government, the private sector and the community are working together.
As we build for the future, we are taking new approaches that would never have been possible in the past.
We have transformed the way we think about the Greater Sydney Area with our vision for a metropolis of three cities.
The Eastern City around the current Sydney CBD.
The Central City around Parramatta.
And the new Western Parkland City around the Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.
To grow the Central City and build the Western City, we are investing more than $23 billion in infrastructure over the next four years alone.
Today we announced a key plank of this strategy, confirming our plans for the West Metro.
With fast, frequent rail services, we are targeting a travel time of 20 minutes between the Sydney CBD and the Paramatta CBD.
This morning we have announced major stops at Westmead, Paramatta, Olympic Park and the Bays Precinct – and now we are going out to the community to determine the location of the intermediate stops between those major stations.
Areas under consideration include Pyrmont, Five Dock, North Burwood, Rydalmere and Camellia.
Earlier this month, we accelerated our plans for the Western Parklands City, signing a transformative City Deal with the Federal Government and eight local councils.
The Western Sydney City Deal focuses on the most exciting development of all for NSW – the Western Sydney Airport.
This will be not just an airport but a city in its own right - an aerotropolis that will eventually support up to 200,000 local jobs.
In partnership with the federal government and councils, we will put in place the infrastructure to connect the new airport – including a major North-South rail link – as well as the housing and open spaces for the communities that will call the new Western City home.
To support this new aerotropolis and drive a jobs and industry strategy, we will host a landmark summit with businesses from Australia and around the world.
Companies involved in defence, manufacturing, freight, logistics, agribusiness, health, education, technology and tourism will be invited to participate.
We will be seeking the best ideas from across the globe, bringing inspirations of our own and working together to ensure the aerotropolis is truly is a game changer for NSW and, I believe, for Australia.
It is not just the essential hardware we are delivering – the jobs, roads, rail, hospitals, schools and housing, but true liveability.
We are ensuring our communities have the convenience of accessing all their needs locally, but also the open spaces and amenities that give people the opportunity of the best quality of life.
Confidence and Certainty
During official visits overseas, whether to Asia or the United States, I have received the same message I receive when I travel around NSW – something unique is happening in our state.
In an uncertain world, confidence in NSW is high.
Australian and global businesses are backing our vision of the future and helping us achieve our target of 1 million new jobs by 2025.
Business investment in NSW is the strongest in the nation at more than $15 billion per quarter.
Consumer spending is rising.
We are making NSW the place where the biggest and most iconic companies in the world come to invest.
And where small businesses have the best opportunity to grow, innovate and employ.
This is not just because we keep business taxes low and cut heavy-handed regulation – though we will continue to do both.
It is about giving business certainty and confidence with every decision we make.
Over the past 12 months, a raft of major companies have made new investments in NSW - from Microsoft to MasterCard, Costco to Campbell Arnott’s, Northrop Grumman to Thales.
But just as importantly, we are seeing the success stories of small and medium size enterprise - advanced manufacturers supplying our military, tech start-ups creating new digital services, steelmakers working on our infrastructure pipeline.
The ability for entrepreneurs to be rewarded and business to succeed is the lifeblood of our economy.
We know that a growing economy, creating more jobs in every part of our state, is the key to greater choices and a better quality of life for everyone in NSW.
It is what will ensure equality of opportunity for our 8 million citizens today and for successive generations.
The Future is at Stake
That is the vision of NSW that drives me and my government.
That is what is at stake when we talk about the future of our state.
Because despite all the progress we have made, the path ahead for NSW could still look very different.
From opposition, Labor has opposed every major investment and reform our Government has made since 2011.
They oppose the asset recycling program that has freed up billions of dollars for infrastructure investment.
They oppose our reforms to workers compensation and tax relief.
They oppose our wages policy which has reined in public sector costs.
Most scandalous of all, Labor oppose our investment in infrastructure.
They have not supported a single one of the major infrastructure projects creating jobs, cutting congestion and improving living standards across NSW.
The failure of leadership that defined Labor in government still defines them today.
Despite saying no to every major decision about our future – Labor have been too lazy to articulate any alternative vision for this state.
They are a policy-free zone.
And in the absence of any Labor vision, all we can do is reflect on their record when they were in government.
The people of NSW remember what Labor did to our state - the corruption and incompetence they rejected in 2011.
Consigning that period to history has allowed us to chart a new, better course for NSW.
Conclusion
Only strong economic leadership can secure jobs, deliver world-class infrastructure, and put liveability at the heart of every community in NSW.
This is the hallmark of the Liberal and National Government in NSW.
Working together with business and the community, we have set out an ambitious, exciting vision for the future.
We won’t measure our success just by the strength of our economy, the jobs we create and the infrastructure pipeline we are delivering, but by the positive impact we are having on families and communities – the lifestyles and opportunities that are second to none.
As Premier, I will make sure that we continue to deliver on this vision every day.
So that all our citizens - no matter where they live or what their circumstances – can be their best in a NSW that leads Australia and the world.
In 2011, NSW was the worst performing state in Australia - by a long mile.
The budget deficit was $3.7 billion and the infrastructure backlog was at least $30 billion.
Projects had been announced, cancelled, announced again and billions wasted on false starts with nothing to show for it.
Jobs growth had been the slowest in Australia for a decade and was half the rate of the rest of the country.
Businesses and workers had been hit with more than 30 new taxes.
The cost of living was spiralling out of control with no relief.
Housing supply had dropped to decade-lows, pushing up prices and squeezing would-be first home owners.
Wages for government middle managers had blown out.
Corruption was rife and community trust in government at an all-time low.
This was the disastrous legacy of successive Labor governments.
What We Have Built
Today, NSW is a completely different place.
We have rebuilt the state budget to strong surplus, eliminated government sector debt, and taken the NSW economy from distant last to clear first in the nation.
Economic growth in NSW is faster than 27 of 35 OECD nations.
Since 2011, we have created 480,000 new jobs.
We have driven unemployment down to the lowest in the nation for 33 consecutive months.
We have doubled housing completions and quadrupled the number of first home owners getting into the market.
We have slashed back office costs in the public service to support 9,500 extra doctors, nurses and midwives, 5,000 extra teachers, and nearly 1,000 extra police – with the powers they need to keep our state safe from crime and terror.
We have brought true customer service to government for the first time.
Introduced the Opal Card in public transport when no previous governments could.
And created Service NSW as a one-stop-shop for more than 1,000 different state government transactions.
Perhaps most critically, we are transforming NSW with a massive infrastructure program that is the envy of the world.
We have invested $111 billion already – with another $80 billion to come over the next four years.
It is an unprecedented pipeline that is driving jobs, improving living standards, helping business to grow, and setting our state up for decades to come.
Urgency and Determination
Turning NSW around has taken grit, determination and partnership between government, business and the community.
I am proud of what we have achieved.
But I am also filled with a sense of urgency and determination, because I know there is so much more to do.
We are only just getting ahead of the game.
We have been playing catch-up, and now we are at an exciting crossroads.
We are building a NSW where all our citizens have the equality of opportunity that comes with great jobs, great access to health and education, and great transport links connecting our communities.
Strong Economic Leadership
This is why strong economic leadership is so crucial.
Not for its own sake.
But because it is what enables us to be hopeful and ambitious about our future.
It allows us to invest in transport, roads, schools and hospitals.
It allows us to improve our citizens’ lives with better services and care
Critical financial decisions such as asset recycling have freed up billions of dollars to spend on the vital infrastructure that communities need.
And just this month, with the transfer of our share in Snowy Hydro to the Federal Government, we sealed another major deal that will see $4.2 billion invested in infrastructure for rural and regional NSW.
Strong economic leadership is also what allows us to tackle the pressures our households face, help those who need it most, and make our communities as liveable and resilient as they can be.
We know that some in NSW are doing it tough – and we want everybody to feel they are sharing in our state’s success.
Our strong budget means we can respond to the concerns of families and communities.
It means we can give more back to ease the cost of living and provide relief on household bills and everyday expenses.
It means we can help more people buy their first home with cuts to stamp duty up to $25,000 – cuts that have seen more than 20,000 additional people get their foot on the housing ladder since the middle of last year.
Strong economic performance also means we can make a greater difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.
It is why we are able to invest in mental health, in support services for people with a disability, in medical research to find new treatments for illness and disease.
The Next Phase
The opportunities and challenges ahead for NSW are real – and we cannot afford to sit still.
As Premier I always want NSW to do better.
And I will always make sure we are focused on the next opportunity to create jobs and improve lives.
Across the state, we are powering ahead to shape NSW for the next 30 years and beyond.
Last week we reached a historic milestone for NSW when we released the State Infrastructure Strategy, the NSW Future Transport Strategy and the Greater Sydney Region Plan on the same day.
For the first time, these plans were developed together as a single, coordinated longterm strategy for a thriving NSW.
For the first time, infrastructure is being built in preparation for communities growing - not after that growth occurs - with transport and social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals going hand in hand with our strategies for housing.
It is a vision to ensure that workers can get a good job in their local area, that travel times are shorter, and that we focus on the open spaces, amenities and local character that make people feel happy and proud of their community.
Of the 700 projects launched across NSW since 2012 - when we released our first infrastructure plan - more than 430 have already been delivered, 200 are under construction and almost 100 are in the planning stage.
But this exciting new phase we are embarking on doesn’t just focus on the next generation of projects.
More importantly, it focuses on how this infrastructure improves liveability and creates new opportunities.
At the heart of every decision we make is the ambition to lift quality of life in every community – to help every citizen of NSW reach their potential and pursue their aspirations.
New Approaches
In the past, planning for the future in NSW was fragmented and chaotic.
Today, all levels of government, the private sector and the community are working together.
As we build for the future, we are taking new approaches that would never have been possible in the past.
We have transformed the way we think about the Greater Sydney Area with our vision for a metropolis of three cities.
The Eastern City around the current Sydney CBD.
The Central City around Parramatta.
And the new Western Parkland City around the Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.
To grow the Central City and build the Western City, we are investing more than $23 billion in infrastructure over the next four years alone.
Today we announced a key plank of this strategy, confirming our plans for the West Metro.
With fast, frequent rail services, we are targeting a travel time of 20 minutes between the Sydney CBD and the Paramatta CBD.
This morning we have announced major stops at Westmead, Paramatta, Olympic Park and the Bays Precinct – and now we are going out to the community to determine the location of the intermediate stops between those major stations.
Areas under consideration include Pyrmont, Five Dock, North Burwood, Rydalmere and Camellia.
Earlier this month, we accelerated our plans for the Western Parklands City, signing a transformative City Deal with the Federal Government and eight local councils.
The Western Sydney City Deal focuses on the most exciting development of all for NSW – the Western Sydney Airport.
This will be not just an airport but a city in its own right - an aerotropolis that will eventually support up to 200,000 local jobs.
In partnership with the federal government and councils, we will put in place the infrastructure to connect the new airport – including a major North-South rail link – as well as the housing and open spaces for the communities that will call the new Western City home.
To support this new aerotropolis and drive a jobs and industry strategy, we will host a landmark summit with businesses from Australia and around the world.
Companies involved in defence, manufacturing, freight, logistics, agribusiness, health, education, technology and tourism will be invited to participate.
We will be seeking the best ideas from across the globe, bringing inspirations of our own and working together to ensure the aerotropolis is truly is a game changer for NSW and, I believe, for Australia.
It is not just the essential hardware we are delivering – the jobs, roads, rail, hospitals, schools and housing, but true liveability.
We are ensuring our communities have the convenience of accessing all their needs locally, but also the open spaces and amenities that give people the opportunity of the best quality of life.
Confidence and Certainty
During official visits overseas, whether to Asia or the United States, I have received the same message I receive when I travel around NSW – something unique is happening in our state.
In an uncertain world, confidence in NSW is high.
Australian and global businesses are backing our vision of the future and helping us achieve our target of 1 million new jobs by 2025.
Business investment in NSW is the strongest in the nation at more than $15 billion per quarter.
Consumer spending is rising.
We are making NSW the place where the biggest and most iconic companies in the world come to invest.
And where small businesses have the best opportunity to grow, innovate and employ.
This is not just because we keep business taxes low and cut heavy-handed regulation – though we will continue to do both.
It is about giving business certainty and confidence with every decision we make.
Over the past 12 months, a raft of major companies have made new investments in NSW - from Microsoft to MasterCard, Costco to Campbell Arnott’s, Northrop Grumman to Thales.
But just as importantly, we are seeing the success stories of small and medium size enterprise - advanced manufacturers supplying our military, tech start-ups creating new digital services, steelmakers working on our infrastructure pipeline.
The ability for entrepreneurs to be rewarded and business to succeed is the lifeblood of our economy.
We know that a growing economy, creating more jobs in every part of our state, is the key to greater choices and a better quality of life for everyone in NSW.
It is what will ensure equality of opportunity for our 8 million citizens today and for successive generations.
The Future is at Stake
That is the vision of NSW that drives me and my government.
That is what is at stake when we talk about the future of our state.
Because despite all the progress we have made, the path ahead for NSW could still look very different.
From opposition, Labor has opposed every major investment and reform our Government has made since 2011.
They oppose the asset recycling program that has freed up billions of dollars for infrastructure investment.
They oppose our reforms to workers compensation and tax relief.
They oppose our wages policy which has reined in public sector costs.
Most scandalous of all, Labor oppose our investment in infrastructure.
They have not supported a single one of the major infrastructure projects creating jobs, cutting congestion and improving living standards across NSW.
The failure of leadership that defined Labor in government still defines them today.
Despite saying no to every major decision about our future – Labor have been too lazy to articulate any alternative vision for this state.
They are a policy-free zone.
And in the absence of any Labor vision, all we can do is reflect on their record when they were in government.
The people of NSW remember what Labor did to our state - the corruption and incompetence they rejected in 2011.
Consigning that period to history has allowed us to chart a new, better course for NSW.
Conclusion
Only strong economic leadership can secure jobs, deliver world-class infrastructure, and put liveability at the heart of every community in NSW.
This is the hallmark of the Liberal and National Government in NSW.
Working together with business and the community, we have set out an ambitious, exciting vision for the future.
We won’t measure our success just by the strength of our economy, the jobs we create and the infrastructure pipeline we are delivering, but by the positive impact we are having on families and communities – the lifestyles and opportunities that are second to none.
As Premier, I will make sure that we continue to deliver on this vision every day.
So that all our citizens - no matter where they live or what their circumstances – can be their best in a NSW that leads Australia and the world.