Willoughby has been left out in the cold by the Minns Labor Government in this year’s State Budget, with no new infrastructure, cuts to public schools, and no cost-of-living relief for struggling local families.

“The people of Willoughby and NSW deserve a budget of real vision and ambition with a real plan for our state,” Member for Willoughby Tim James said.

“The test of this Budget was whether it eased pressure on household budgets and invested in the infrastructure and services our growing community needs. It has failed on both counts,” Mr James said.

“The Minns Labor Government has instead delivered a budget of record-high taxes and record debt, whilst offering little cost-of-living relief.”

“I’ve consistently said we need to deliver more housing, but it must be accompanied by corresponding investment in infrastructure. The budget not only fails to deliver a credible plan to meet the state’s housing targets, it provides no new major infrastructure nor does it make the needed investment in the schools, transport, metros, roads, health services or open space we need locally to match the government’s plans for tens of thousands of new residents in our area.”

“Worse, it confirms cuts, including scrapping two planned public schools. More than $20 million was budgeted in previous years for each of the new public schools at Chatswood and St Leonards, but that amount is now zero.”

“Families in Willoughby are paying more, but they’re getting less. Electricity prices are up, toll relief is gone and taxes are rising.”

Key local failures include:

• Two planned public schools at Chatswood and St Leonards scrapped, despite over $20 million allocated in previous budgets.
• No new infrastructure investment in areas subject to higher density development, including the Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development precinct.
• No new expansion of the Sydney Metro, or plan to address peak hour overcrowding.
• Reduced funding for Royal North Shore Hospital, with no new capital works.
• No timeline for the new ambulance station on Falcon Street.
• Toll relief scrapped and harbour crossing tolls increased adding pressure to family budgets.

“Local initiatives in the pipeline such as the conversion of our local bus depots to electric buses, a new ambulance station, and freeway improvements, were wins secured under the former Liberal Government,” Mr James noted.

“Locally, this Budget simply recycles old announcements. There is nothing new for Willoughby.”

Statewide, the Budget reveals:

• Capital investment falling from 2.8% to 2.0% of gross state product over four years
• Transfer duty up 22%, payroll and land tax up 24%, motor vehicle taxes up 26%
• Interest on government debt rising by 7.4% annually

“This Budget is long on spin but short on substance. It lacks the vision and ambition that once delivered transformative projects like the Sydney Metro. We deserve better.”

“Budgets are about priorities and Labor has clearly chosen not to prioritise Willoughby.”

“I’ll keep standing up for the services and investments we need and deserve across Willoughby and NSW,” Mr James concluded.