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WE'LL PUT PEOPLE FIRST

NEW SOUTH WALES LABOR’S POSITIVE

POLICIES

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A MESSAGE FROM BILL SHORTENNew South Wales, Australia’s most populous state and home to our largest city, is integral to the success of our nation.

I strongly believe that when middle and working class families in New South Wales are succeeding, all of Australia will prosper.

From the scenic towns of the south coast, to Broken Hill in the west and Byron Bay in the north, Labor is committed to the people of New South Wales.

At the same time, we will support new businesses in New South Wales to drive innovation, open new markets, here and abroad, and create local jobs.

Labor’s plan is the right one for families in New South Wales.

Labor will protect Medicare, keep the price of medicine affordable and invest in New South Wales hospitals.

We will properly fund schools, improve TAFE and scrap the Liberals’ plans for $100,000 degrees.

Our plan will support Australian families to be confident of their future, because they will know they have a government that is always fighting for them – not just for big business.

On July 2, the people of New South Wales will have a choice between Labor’s positive plan and the Liberals’ next round of harsh and unfair cuts – all so that Malcolm Turnbull can give a $50 billion tax cut to big business.

Labor has developed more than 100 positive policies to build a fairer Australia – I invite you to read more about them at www.100positivepolicies.org.au.

Bill Shorten

“ We will build the infrastructure that the people of New South Wales need to reduce congestion, improve travel times, create well-paying jobs and drive long-term growth across the state.”

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LABOR WILL PROTECT NEW SOUTH WALES JOBS TODAY AND CREATE THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE

Labor is committed to ensuring everyone in New South Wales has the opportunity to work to their full capacity, whether they live in the suburbs of Sydney or in the Riverina

NEW JOBS TAX CUTUnder Labor’s New Jobs Tax Cut, small businesses will be able to claim a tax deduction of up to $20,000 per worker to offset the wages of up to five new employees. Just like the previous Labor Government’s instant asset write-off, businesses will be able to claim the New Jobs Tax Cut as part of their regular tax return. This minimises paperwork for busy employers.

This represents a $257 million investment in getting older Australians, parents, carers and younger Australians back to work. It will help up to 30,000 Australians find a job each year. Our New Jobs Tax Cut will reward small businesses that invest in jobs and do their bit to get these Australians back into work.

WORKING FUTURESLabor will get more young people into work – and keep them there, by delivering real skills and real opportunities through our Working Futures program. We will support 20,000 people per year aged between 15 and 24 to complete a comprehensive work and training program, setting them on the right path to high-quality and long lasting jobs.

Working Futures will offer real training for real jobs. This is in stark contrast to the Liberals’ exploitative Youth PaTH program, which subsidises employers to place jobseekers on internships without sufficient workplace protections.

REAL SKILLS, GOOD JOBS Labor will ensure more young people can get apprenticeships by creating 10,000 new Apprentice Ready places, offering a 20-week, industry endorsed pre-apprenticeship course for trades on the National Skills Needs List.

A Shorten Labor Government will help retrenched workers gain formal recognition of their skills through an accelerated apprenticeship program, helping them to find their next job. A National Skills Recognition Entitlement program will help 5,000 mature-aged and retrenched workers turn their extensive work experience into formal qualifications.

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PROTECTING PENALTY RATESAt a time when we are facing the slowest wages growth in 25 years, Labor supports workers’ weekend penalty rates and will oppose Mr Turnbull’s attempts to cut them. Labor does not want some of our lowest paid workers to be forced into taking a pay cut. Labor will intervene in proceedings in the Fair Work Commission to protect weekend penalty rates.

COMPLETING THE NBNA Shorten Labor Government will fix Malcolm Turnbull’s mess and build the national broadband network Australia needs to create the jobs of the future. We will scale up the rollout of fibre-to-the-premises and phase out the rollout of fibre-to-the-node.

Labor will deliver fibre-to-the-premises to up to two million homes and businesses across the country that are due to get Malcolm Turnbull’s second-rate copper version, including hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in New South Wales. For example, Ballina, Minto, Regentville, Glenmore Park, Lismore and Narooma will all be fibre-to-the-premises.

LOCAL JOBS FOR LOCAL PEOPLEA Shorten Labor Government will invest $68.6 million over the next four years to deliver our Local Jobs for Local People program. This will connect people in disadvantaged communities, including in regional New South Wales and our second tier cities with jobs and training opportunities, while tackling the complex social and local issues that can keep Australians from finding work.

Local Jobs for Local People will operate in up to 20 communities across Australia in areas of high unemployment or entrenched disadvantage.

RENEWABLE ENERGYClimate change is driving the most profound restructuring of the world economy this century – the transition from fossil fuel based energy to renewable energy. The transition is happening now and it is accelerating. With the right policies, the renewable energy sector provides immense opportunities: it will drive jobs creation, drive manufacturing investment and put downward pressure on power prices for families and small businesses.

A Shorten Labor Government understands the fundamental importance of this transition and the massive opportunities it brings. We will put a strong renewable energy sector at the centre of Australia’s response to the challenge of climate change.

DRIVING INNOVATION IN OUR CITIES AND OUR REGIONSLabor has a comprehensive plan to drive innovation in cities and regions across New South Wales. This includes:

n Supporting great ideas by co-investing in early stage and high potential companies through the $500 million Smart Investment Fund.

n Bringing together the superannuation, venture capital and startup sectors in an Innovation Investment Partnership to identify barriers holding back investment in Australian-based venture capital funds and early-stage enterprises.

n Improving access to finance for startups and micro-businesses through a partial guarantee scheme, Startup Finance.

n Getting startups to help solve government problems through Challenge Platforms and support startups to compete in government tenders.

n Accelerating innovation in our regions through Regional Innovation Hubs.

n Reforming the innovation architecture through Innovate Australia.

n Improving the flow of capital to startups through Startup Capital.

n Backing our best and brightest overseas with Landing Pad hubs for Australian innovators.

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INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEW SOUTH WALES NEEDSLabor is investing in the infrastructure that will create jobs and drive the New South Wales economy for the next generation. Labor will build the infrastructure that New South Wales needs.

These initiatives will create thousands of jobs for New South Wales, including investing in freight networks at Port Botany and regional airports like Moruya on the south coast.

Our investments will be made following positive assessment of major projects by Infrastructure Australia. Labor will undertake proper planning to ensure that scarce taxpayer dollars are spent on the projects that will promote new jobs.

BOOSTING RAIL FREIGHT AT PORT BOTANY A Shorten Labor Government will commit $175 million to boost rail freight at Port Botany, a priority project for New South Wales’ economic future. Australia’s economic prosperity is tied to our ability to minimise bottlenecks in the logistics chain and Port Botany is vital to that. As a main gateway for container freight, unclogging Port Botany is a priority project for the future of Sydney, and central to boosting employment in businesses across New South Wales that rely on freight. It will reduce congestion on our roads.

WESTERN SYDNEY A Shorten Labor Government will tackle traffic congestion in Western Sydney by supporting a missing rail link, connecting the north-west and south-west of Sydney, via the second Sydney Airport. This contribution will create over 1,000 local jobs in planning and construction. Labor will invest $400 million in a passenger rail network that connects the major growth areas of Sydney.

Labor will invest in planning work for a third crossing of the Hawkesbury River in the Richmond/Windsor area. Congestion and heavy truck traffic continue to be major frustrations for people in the Hawkesbury, as the road network has not kept pace with population growth in the local area. Labor’s options study will look at the current local road network, population growth, land use activities, and environmental issues.

A Shorten Labor government will commit $50 million to kickstart the critical upgrade of the Appin Road to improve capacity, safety and invest in local jobs. The Appin Road was once a country road linking a town to a village. Now it sits between two growing major regions – south western Sydney and the Illawarra. The time for the Appin Road upgrade has come.

RURAL AND REGIONAL NEW SOUTH WALES A Shorten Labor Government will commit $76 million to commence duplicating the Barton Highway – a key piece of regional infrastructure, and part of the National Highway Network. Labor will get this work started, continue to consult with the local community and work it through to conclusion.

Labor will upgrade Moruya regional airport, committing $2.5 million to expand the airport’s capacity. This project will add 34,000 square metres of commercial space and provide new opportunities for food producers to access markets in Australia and around the world.

THE ILLAWARRAThe completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail project will provide a 35 kilometre rail link between the port of Port Kembla and south-west Sydney, which will expand business opportunities and create new jobs in the Illawarra. A Shorten Labor Government will commit $50 million to get this important infrastructure project back on track for the Illawarra and surrounding region.

CENTRAL COAST & THE HUNTERA Shorten Labor Government will commit $89 million in infrastructure funding for Central Coast and Hunter locals, businesses and tourists.

Labor will commit:

n $60 million for the Central Coast Roads Rescue Package to remedy long-standing local roads issues across the region.

n $2.5 million for footpaths to improve pedestrian safety and movement on the Central Coast.

n $2.5 million for stage two of the popular Ettalong foreshore project to extend the Labor-funded stage one, delivered in 2013.

n $13 million toward the Hunter region’s most important new infrastructure project, the Glendale Interchange.

n $10 million to raise Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow to ensure this vital road between Maitland and Kurri Kurri is no longer flood prone.

n $500,000 to scope the feasibility of straightening the railway line between the Central Coast and Sydney and building a new road from Woy Woy to the M1.

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First they tried to introduce a GP Tax, then the Liberals introduced a GP Tax by stealth by freezing the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

The Liberals are doing all they can to destroy Medicare.

In contrast, Labor has a positive plan to protect Medicare and ensure our world class universal health care system continues to deliver the best possible health outcomes for everyone in New South Wales, now and into the future.

PROTECTING MEDICARELabor built Medicare and we will always fight to protect it. Labor will reverse the Liberal Government’s freeze on the Medicare Benefits Schedule. This means that under Labor an average family in New South Wales with two children will be more than $400 better off. We will prevent the Liberals from privatising Medicare.

SCRAPPING THE MEDICINE PRICE HIKELabor will scrap the Liberals’ medicine price hike and ensure medicine remains affordable for middle and working class New South Wales families. Under the Liberals, medicine will go up by as much as $5 per script. Under Labor, medicines will be more affordable.

INVESTING IN HOSPITALSLabor will increase funding for New South Wales hospitals over the next four years. This will reduce waiting times for elective surgery and in emergency departments. Under Labor, hospitals in New South Wales will receive $630 million more than they would under the Liberals.

GIVING WESTERN SYDNEY THE HEALTH CARE IT DESERVESA Shorten Labor Government will make it a priority to provide the people of Western Sydney with proper health care, delivering much needed funding to redevelop the Nepean Hospital. Labor will support Stage 4 of the hospital’s redevelopment, delivering a new cancer centre, comprehensive clinical centres and outpatient services, plus new operating theatres.

Families in Western Sydney will benefit from the redevelopment, which will feature a world-class emergency department plus state-of-the-art birthing suites and ante and post-natal care facilities. This investment of $88 million will allow work to start immediately on the much needed redevelopment.

REVERSING CUTS TO PATHOLOGY AND IMAGING SERVICESA Shorten Labor Government will reverse Malcolm Turnbull’s cuts to bulk billing incentives for pathology and diagnostic imaging. Labor’s measures give pathologists and radiologists a specific incentive to bulk bill. Without it, bulk billing will fall, co-payments will rise, and patients will be forced to pay more for tests and scans – or to skip them altogether.

A NEW OPERATING THEATRE AT HAWKESBURY HOSPITALA Shorten Labor Government will provide $5 million to build a new operating theatre at Hawkesbury Hospital. Hawkesbury Hospital provides both public and private services and is the primary hospital serving Sydney’s north west. The new operating theatre will allow the hospital to reduce waiting times for orthopaedic and eye surgery for older people as well as ENT surgery for children.

PREVENTATIVE HEALTH PACKAGEChronic diseases are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia. Many of these diseases are due to preventable risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking and harmful use of alcohol. Labor has developed a five-point plan to combat chronic disease:

n Investing in 50 Healthy Communities nationwide, to help communities at the greatest risk of chronic disease to stay well.

n Tackling obesity through Australia’s first National Physical Activity Strategy and a National Nutrition Framework.

n Expanding the successful Better Health Channel into a nationwide platform for health information.

n Continuing the push to reduce smoking rates, particularly in at-risk communities.

n Addressing harmful use of alcohol through a National Alcohol Strategy.

LABOR WILL SAVE MEDICARE

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A NEW DRUG TREATMENT SERVICE ON THE SOUTH COASTA Shorten Labor Government will develop a new National Drug Strategy, delivering smart, cost-effective policies that help vulnerable communities in the grip of illicit drug abuse. Labor will ensure that people who want to turn their life around don’t have to wait six months or more for a treatment service.

As part of this, Labor will invest $2 million in a new alcohol and illicit drug treatment centre on the New South Wales South Coast. If we want to get on top of illicit drug use, we need to make sure that people have access to treatment services.

HELPING CENTRAL COAST WOMEN ACCESS DRUG TREATMENTA Shorten Labor Government will ensure that pregnant women in need of residential drug treatment to manage their addiction have better access to services. Labor will invest $2.2 million in the Kamira Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Wyong, providing residential rehabilitation treatment for mothers and pregnant women with alcohol and drug addiction problems. We recognise drug and alcohol dependency affects families from all walks of life – this funding will enable this facility to provide greater services to help families make positive changes in their lives.

A NATIONAL APPROACH TO SUICIDE PREVENTIONA Shorten Labor Government will set a target of reducing suicides by 50 per cent over the next 10 years. Our National Suicide Strategy provides a strong national commitment to reducing suicide. Labor will commission Australia’s first national data-set of suicide deaths and invest $72 million over three years for 12 regional suicide pilot projects.

A HEADSPACE CENTRE IN THE CLARENCE VALLEY A Shorten Labor Government will provide $1.8 million in funding for the development of a headspace Centre in the Clarence Valley to assist young people experiencing mental health issues. Regionally delivered and funded services are vital to preventing mental illness and building stronger, more resilient communities and funding will ensure young people can access the help they need.

Labor has committed to give funding certainty to the 95 headspaces currently running around the country.

CENTRAL COAST MEDICAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE A Shorten Labor Government will invest $32.5 million in the Central Coast Medical and Research Institute at Gosford Hospital. This world-class facility will create hundreds of jobs and allow local medical, nursing and allied health students to undertake training where they are living.

INNOVATION IN HEALTH CAREBecause of Labor, Australia has one of the best health care systems in the world. But Australia’s health care system continues to face significant challenges. An ageing population, growing health inequality among many groups, as well as locations of disadvantage, means that Australia requires new and innovative approaches to care. A Shorten Labor Government will provide an additional $100 million over two years to develop and roll out new models of primary care around Australia.

UPGRADING TUMUT DISTRICT HOSPITAL’S TELEMEDICINE INFRASTRUCTURERates of chronic disease are higher and life expectancy is lower outside major cities. Labor’s $2 million investment in the Tumut District Hospital, in the Riverina, will enable the upgrading of the emergency department and enhance its telemedicine infrastructure – something that is absolutely essential in regional areas. Labor supports the hard-working doctors and nurses in Tumut, and we will make sure that everyone can have timely access to health care.

LIFE SAVING MEDICAL RESEARCH AND CARELabor will invest in life saving research and care for those in New South Wales suffering from chronic disease. These commitments include, nationally:

SAVING HAYMARKET CLINICFor forty years, the Haymarket Clinic in Darlinghurst has been doing incredible work caring for some of our community’s most vulnerable people. The Clinic has been receiving annual funding of around $900,000 from the Federal Government, but sadly the Liberals have cut that funding. Labor is making a funding commitment of $1 million per year over the next four years, ensuring that the Haymarket Clinic has the funding certainty it needs to continue delivering free medical, nursing and welfare services.

n $10.6 million to increase the number of prostate cancer nurses.

n $8 million for ovarian cancer research.

n $7 million to assist women with breast cancer. in rural areas and with secondary breast cancer.

n $1.1 million to assist people managing allergic diseases.

n $4 million to improve care and support for people suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.

n $84 million to improve access to lifesaving technologies for Australians with type 1 diabetes.

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INVESTING IN NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND TAFEEvery child deserves to have the same chance of succeeding at school, and in life, as any other child in Australia.

Improving education is the key to opportunity and to the future economic and social prosperity of our nation. Australia cannot be an innovation nation without a world class education system. Labor will make the targeted, needs-based investments we need to give every child the chance to reach their potential and get ahead in the knowledge economy, wherever they are in New South Wales.

IMPROVING NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOLS - YOUR CHILD. OUR FUTURE Labor’s Your Child. Our Future plan aims to put Australia’s schools back among the very best in the world. Every student in every school will be supported to achieve their best through investment in:

n More one-on-one support.

n Better remedial literacy and numeracy programs - and more extension options.

n Early intervention programs in every school.

n Improved Year 12 retention – supported by more vocational pathways.

n Better access to allied health support – like speech and occupational therapists.

Labor’s investment is targeted to improve the results of those students who need it most, including students with disability, Indigenous students, students in regional and rural areas, and students from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Labor’s policy is a $36 billion investment in our nation’s schools over the next decade, including $1.4 billion more in targeted, needs-based funding for New South Wales schools in 2018 and 2019 alone, compared to the Liberals.

Across New South Wales, Labor’s investment in local schools means more targeted, needs-based funding:

n In Western Sydney, Labor will invest $389 million more for schools in 2018 and 2019 alone, compared to the Liberals.

n In the Hunter, Labor will invest $140 million more for schools in 2018 and 2019 alone, compared to the Liberals.

n On the Central Coast, Labor will invest $79 million more for schools in 2018 and 2019 alone, compared to the Liberals.

n In the Illawarra, Labor will invest $59 million more for schools in 2018 and 2019 alone, compared to the Liberals.

n In rural and regional New South Wales, Labor will invest $289 million more for schools in 2018 and 2019 alone, compared to the Liberals.

PROTECTING TAFE – STRENGTHENING VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONLabor will protect TAFE by introducing a TAFE Funding Guarantee that will ensure a minimum proportion of vocational education funding stays with TAFE. We understand how critically important TAFE is to so many students, communities, industries and businesses. It is a national asset and we must work across all levels of government to ensure its future. TAFE must remain an essential part of Australia’s skills and training sector as it plays a vital role in servicing our regions, industries in transition and disadvantaged groups.

Labor will undertake a comprehensive National Vocational Education and Training Sector Review to make sure the system is meeting the needs of students and employers and enforcing strong standards.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICSLabor will make sure all New South Wales students have the opportunity to learn coding – an essential skill for the future workforce.

Seventy-five per cent of the fastest growing occupations will require skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Nationally, Labor will provide a further 25,000 teaching scholarships for recent STEM graduates and support 25,000 existing teachers to up-skill. This will mean around 17,000 new and up-skilled STEM teachers for New South Wales schools. Labor will provide 100,000 STEM Award Degrees – meaning students who graduate from certain STEM courses will do so without a HECS debt.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONEvery one of the 183,000 families in New South Wales that rely on the Child Care Benefit will be better off under Labor. From 1 January 2017 Labor will increase the Child Care Benefit by 15 per cent.

Across New South Wales, Labor’s increase to the Child Care Benefit will benefit families:n In rural and regional New South Wales, 44,920 families will see an increase of up to

$31 per child per week, or up to $1,627 per child per year.

n In the Hunter, 14,680 families will see an increase of up to $31 per child per week, or up to $1,627 per child per year.

n On the Central Coast, 10,000 families will see an increase of up to $31 per child per week, or up to $1,627 per child per year.

n In the Illawarra, 7,300 families will see an increase of up to $31 per child per week, or up to $1,627 per child per year.

n In Western Sydney, 70,210 families will see an increase of up to $31 per child per week, or up to $1,627 per child per year.

Labor’s plan to increase the Child Care Rebate cap from $7,500 to $10,000 from 1 January 2017 will mean that many of the 254,000 families in New South Wales that rely on the Child Care Rebate will be up to $2,500 better off per child per year.

Across New South Wales, Labor’s increase to the Child Care Rebate will benefit families:n In rural and regional New South Wales, 51,830 families that rely on the Child Care Rebate

will be up to $2,500 better off per child per year.

n In the Hunter, 20,350 families rely on the Child Care Rebate will be up to $2,500 better off per child per year.

n On the Central Coast, 12,080 families that rely on the Child Care Rebate will be up to $2,500 better off per child per year.

n In the Illawarra, 9,720 families that rely on the Child Care Rebate will be up to $2,500 better off per child per year.

n In Western Sydney, 72,000 families that rely on the Child Care Rebate will be up to $2,500 better off per child per year.

KEEPING OUR UNIVERSITIES OPEN TO ALLNew South Wales will not have a strong economy in the future if our students are forced to pay for $100,000 degrees. Under the Liberals, many students will be priced out of university, no matter how bright they are.

Labor will deliver a Student Funding Guarantee, removing the need for higher fees. Under Labor, students will be able to study at any of New South Wales’ wonderful universities because of their grades and hard work, not because of their parents’ bank balance.

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Labor believes in budget repair, but unlike the Liberals we will not be fixing the Liberals’ budget mess by attacking the family budget.

LABOR’S PLAN FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY For most young families in Australia, the dream of purchasing and owning their own home is almost completely out of reach. Just one in seven of all house purchases are from first home buyers, and in Sydney houses now cost 12 times average annual income.

A Shorten Labor Government will reform negative gearing, helping put the Australian dream of home ownership back within the reach of middle and working class families. We will limit negative gearing to new housing from 1 July 2017 – all investments made before this date will not be affected by this change and will be fully grandfathered.

Additionally, Labor will halve the capital gains discount for all assets purchased after 1 July 2017. This will reduce the capital gains tax discount for assets that are held longer than 12 months from the current 50 per cent to 25 per cent.

Labor is committed to ensuring that the tax system is fair for all Australians.

COUNCIL AMALGAMATIONS A Shorten Labor Government will stand up for the people of New South Wales and give them a genuine say in how their councils are elected. The Liberals’ plan to sack directly elected representatives and force councils to amalgamate is an insult to democracy and the people of New South Wales. Labor will set aside $20 million in funding to offset the costs of the Australian Electoral Commission running plebiscites across NSW at the request of councils, so that the people can decide how they want their local governments formed.

FAMILY TAX BENEFITS Labor will oppose the Liberal Government’s harsh cuts to Family Tax Benefits. Under Labor, families earning less than $100,000 will maintain their FTB at current rates. Families earning over $100,000 will have a reduction of 50 per cent of their FTB-A end of year supplement.

Under Labor, a couple with a single income of $85,000 and two children in primary school will be around $1,300 better off each year. A sole parent with income of $65,000 and two children in high school will be around $3,000 better off each year under Labor.

WATER TRIGGER FOR UNCONVENTIONAL GAS EXTRACTION Labor recognises the importance of and the community concern about the extraction of gas from coal seam, shales and tight formations. The former Labor Government added a Water Trigger to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act to cover coal seam gas and large coal mining developments. This ensures that if these projects impact water resources, then they are rigorously assessed under the EPBC Act.

A Shorten Labor Government will extend the protection provided by the Water Trigger to ensure that any shale or tight formation gas developments that impact water resources will be subject to a full assessment under the EPBC Act and approval from the Minister for Environment; including an assessment by the Independent Expert Scientific Committee.

STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG COMMUNITIES

n $20 million to build a Performing Arts Centre in Gosford, because Labor believes the arts belong to all Australians.

n $5 million to expand commuter car parking at Schofields Train Station, increasing public transport access in some of Sydney’s fastest growing areas.

n $7.5 million investment for the active transport link between the Parramatta River at Iron Cove to the Cooks River at Earlwood.

n $10 million to transform the Botany Aquatic Centre and open its doors all year round.

n $4 million to build the Sydney Multicultural Arts and Sports Precinct in Belmore.

n $1 million to complete Stage One of the Kingscliff Sport and Recreation Complex.

n $500,000 for the Banjo Memorial Skate Park in Wamberal.

n $1 million to help rebuild the amenities block for the Abbotsford Juniors Amenities Building at Campbell Park, Chiswick.

n $600,000 for the much-needed improvements at District Park, the home of tennis in Newcastle.

n $500,000 to fund the third section of the Great Blue Mountains Trail which will add six kilometres of new walking and cycling track linking the town of Blackheath to Mt Victoria.

n $1 million to build a grandstand at EDSAAC Oval for the benefit of the whole Central Coast community.

LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS A Shorten Labor Government will invest in a range of community projects to improve quality of life for the people of New South Wales. These include:

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New South Wales has been through three years of harsh cuts, chaos and broken promises under Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull. Cuts to schools and universities, cuts to Medicare, cuts to Family Tax Benefits and cuts to pensions. This is the legacy of the Abbott-Turnbull Government.

New South Wales cannot afford another three years of cuts that hurt families and the local economy.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENTUnder the Liberals the youth unemployment rate in New South Wales has remained above 11 per cent, double the national unemployment rate. The number of young people in job training across the country has plummeted. There are now nearly 45,000 fewer apprentices in New South Wales than there were in 2013. Labor is committed to ensuring one in ten jobs on our priority projects will be filled by new apprentices, so young people from all across New South Wales can learn the skills they need for the jobs of the future.

CUTS TO SCHOOLSThe Liberals have cut almost $9.3 billion from New South Wales schools. This means larger classes, less personal attention and fewer resources for students in New South Wales. It means Indigenous students, students with disability or additional learning needs and students from low socio-economic backgrounds will miss out on the support they need to achieve their best:

THE LIBERALS HAVE HURT NEW SOUTH WALES

n In the Hunter, schools will lose $771 million over the next ten years under the Liberals’ cuts.

n In Western Sydney, schools will lose $2.3 billion.

n On the Central Coast, schools will lose $387 million.

n In the Illawarra, schools will lose $402 million.

n In rural and regional New South Wales, schools will lose $2.3 billion.

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CUTS TO HOSPITALSThe Liberals have cut billions from New South Wales health facilities. This will put further pressure on already stretched public hospitals and push up waiting times for elective surgery and emergency department care.

CUTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICESThe Liberals cut $271 million from assistance grants to New South Wales councils in the 2014 Budget. These cuts are ongoing, and very significantly impact on the ability of councils in New South Wales to deliver basic community services like child care and libraries. It has led to cuts in road maintenance, and has cost local jobs.

CUTS TO UNIVERSITIESOver the next five years the Liberals will rip more than $1.8 billion from New South Wales universities. If the Liberals get their way, university students from New South Wales would be facing fees of up to $100,000 for degrees.

Universities across New South Wales face massive cuts under the Liberals:

n The University of Wollongong will lose $129 million over the next five years.

n The University of Newcastle will lose $213 million over the next five years.

n The University of Sydney will lose $314 million over the next five years.

n Southern Cross University will lose $77 million over the next five years.

n The University of New South Wales will lose $257 million over the next five years.

n University of Technology Sydney will lose $156 million over the next five years.

n The University of New England will lose $101 million over the next five years.

CUTS TO VULNERABLE AUSTRALIANSIn their 2014 Budget, the Liberals tried to introduce laws that would have left young jobseekers with nothing to live on for six months. In 2015 they tried again, this time for a month. The Liberals tried to cut $2,500 from jobseekers under 25 by changing the eligibility age for Newstart and Youth Allowance. These measures would have pushed young people into poverty.

CUTS TO PENSIONSIn 2014, the Liberals tried to cut the indexation arrangement for every one of New South Wales’ 1.3 million pensioners. If the Liberals are re-elected, many pensioners in New South Wales will lose up to $1,600 because of the abolition of the Pensioner Education Supplement and $208 from the abolition of the Education Entry Payment.

Under the Liberals, age pensioners who were born overseas and want to spend more time overseas when they retire will have their pension reduced after six weeks.

CUTS TO FAMILIESMore than 470,000 families in New South Wales will lose their full Family Tax Benefit A Supplement if the Liberals are re-elected. That’s a cut of $726 per child, per year.

More than 390,000 single parents and single income families in New South Wales will lose their Family Tax Benefit B Supplement if the Liberals are re-elected – a cut of $354 per family per year.

A UNITED LABOR TEAM WILL PUT PEOPLE FIRSTFrom the day Bill Shorten became Leader, Labor’s team has remained united,with a single-minded commitment to deliver those policies that put people first. A healthcare system underpinned by Medicare. An education system that gives every child in every school more individual attention – Public, Catholic or Independent. University and TAFE that is accessible for all.

WE HAVE PUT FORWARD OUR POSITIVE PLANS.WE ARE UNITED. WE ARE READY.

Authorised by G. Wright, Australian Labor Party, 5/9 Sydney Avenue, Barton ACT 2600.Printed by Kwik Kopy Central City, 70 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000.

WE'LL PUT PEOPLE FIRST