Relief for cost-of-living pressures

Cost-of-living pressures remain a challenge for households across NSW, including regional communities. The government is providing immediate relief for motorists, households and workers, while investing in longer-term reforms to strengthen energy security, reduce exposure to fuel shocks and support regional growth.

Fuel and vehicle cost relief

The global oil shock has put pressure on fuel prices and household budgets, especially in regional NSW where many people rely on cars, utes and heavy vehicles every day.

This Budget includes a 12-month Transport Affordability Package totalling $561.4 million, putting money back in people’s pockets where the pressure is greatest. This includes lower registration costs through a $100 discount on private vehicle registration over 12 months (excluding caravans and trailers) and freezing Opal fares at 2025 prices.

Lower fuel costs through the temporary fuel excise reduction from 1 April to 30 June 2026 have helped reduce the cost of keeping people, goods and businesses moving. This delivered a total excise reduction of 32 cents per litre for petrol and diesel.

This Budget also supports better fuel price transparency through $2.6 million to upgrade FuelCheck and enforce accurate fuel price reporting

Energy and water bill relief

Lower bills make a real difference to household budgets, especially where summers are hotter, distances are longer and energy needs can be higher.

• Energy efficiency upgrades through an additional $7.2 million to support households and businesses to reduce bills and emissions, particularly in regional NSW. 
• Energy rebates for eligible concession card holders, Family Tax Benefit recipients, seniors and people who rely on medical or life support equipment.
• Water rebates for eligible pensioners, Department of Veterans’ Affairs card holders and community organisations.
• $480.0 million in interest-free loans and $77.1 million in discounts to install energy-efficient technologies under the NSW Home Energy Saver program. This will support households, including apartments and social housing, to install energy-efficient appliances such as air conditioners, heat pumps and solar hot water, and connect batteries to a virtual power plant.

First home buyers support

Thousands of first home buyers in regional NSW are getting into the market with help from the NSW Government’s expanded First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme.

Between 1 July 2023 and 1 June 2026, around 39,800 buyers in regional NSW (including Newcastle and Wollongong LGAs) cumulatively saved around $775.0 million in transfer duty, or about $19,400 on average per purchase.

The regional LGAs of Central Coast, Wollongong, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle benefit most from this transfer duty relief, with a combined total of $243.0 million saved over this period.

Health, travel and essential services

No one should face extra hardship because the care they need is far from home. These measures help regional patients and families access essential services:

• An additional $71.7 million for travel and accommodation assistance for patients who need to travel long distances for treatment not available locally through the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme.
• Free parking at rural and regional public hospitals.
• Free glasses and vision aids for financially disadvantaged residents through the NSW Spectacles program.
• Up to $250 off council rates and waste charges for eligible pensioners through pensioner council rates and water rebates.
• Extending 3-Year-Old Fee Relief in Long Day Care to the end of 2027.

Additionally, a $1,000 cost-of-living payment will be provided for more than 120,000 NSW Government employees, because annual growth in the Sydney consumer price index (CPI) exceeded 4 per cent between the March quarter 2025 and 2026.

The government has abolished the wages cap and delivered record pay rises for nurses, teachers and police. In regional NSW, a pay rise has been received by:

• over 26,000 nurses and midwives
• 33,561 teachers
• 4,520 police officers.

Skills, training and workers

Building skills close to home helps people take up better jobs without leaving their communities. Support for regional workers, apprentices and trainees includes:

• Subsidised vocational education and training for in-demand skills and industries through the Smart and Skilled program.
• Fee concessions for Australian Government welfare beneficiaries and people with disability.
• Travel and accommodation support for apprentices and new entrant trainees who need to travel more than 120 km (round trip) for day or block-release training