Budget to do little to dent cost of living pressure in regions

Housing is the centrepiece of the budget with a key policy being the $5.1 billion slated to build 30,000 new homes on government land. Of those, 8400 social housing homes have been designated for the state with 50 per cent set aside for victims of domestic violence.

Acting CEO of Domestic Violence NSW Elise Phillips said the state was playing "catch up" after years of under-investment but said the measure was "long overdue".

Ms Phillips commended the state government on other domestic violence measures including $10 million allocated for mens' behaviour programs.

"The additional $5.6 million for the Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service is a welcomed lifeline for victim-survivors navigating the court system and has achieved incredible results," she said.

But Ms Phillips said there were "significant gaps' in support for Aboriginal women and children, the majority of whom lived outside of urban areas.

Regional NSW, which is disproportionately impacted by domestic violence, did not receive targeted funding either.

Shelter NSW CEO John Engeler said it was "great" the NSW government was investing in public housing but he remained concerned for the "majority of renters".

"While we appreciate the significant investment made in more social and affordable homes the vast majority of renters in NSW will continue to struggle within the private rental market," he said.

"We encourage the NSW Government to move quickly and firmly to ending 'No Grounds Evictions' and replacing them with a set of reasonable grounds."

NSW Council of Social Service CEO Cara Varian questioned whether there was enough cost-of-living relief in the budget.

"There are limited additional cost of living supports for low-income families which is unfortunate given the immense pressure they are under to make ends meet during this cost-of-living crisis," she said.

"And there was no funding for early intervention and family preservation services to ensure kids and families are getting the support they need early instead of when they hit crisis point."

Ms Varian said she remained concerned about "widening inequality" in NSW.

NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said none of the cost-of-living measures his government had introduced had been bought back such as the Regional Seniors Travel Card, Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card and Back to School vouchers.

"It's all good and well to offer toll relief to benefit people in Sydney, but vital measures like the Regional Seniors Travel Card and the Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card don't get a look-in," he said.

The one main cost of living measure introduced, $188 million for bulk billing, was broadly welcomed.

AMA (NSW) vice president Dr Fred Betros said the decision would provided "certainty and protection for general practitioners" and financial relief for patients.

The lack of support for small business, the lifeblood of regional economies, was noted.

Business NSW Regional director Kellon Beard said small business relief was "modest".

"Freezing land tax indexation is effectively a $1.5 billion tax increase on businesses and landlords over the four years to 2027-28," Mr. Beard said.

The $20 million package to boost paediatric services across the state, following ACM's ongoing coverage of a crisis in childrens' health, was welcomed.

Around $2.3 million in funding over four years will also go to support Royal Far West (RFS) which is an extra $570,000 per year for four years.

RFW CEO Jacqueline Emery told ACM the announcement was a step in the right direction.

"We welcome this funding, which will allow RFW to grow our impact on the lives of country children and their families by providing increased access to early intervention for more country children," Ms Emery said.

But she said the money would "not allow RFW the transformational change that we were seeking to establish two rural paediatric clinics in Dubbo and Wagga".

NSW treasurer Daniel Mookhey described the budget as a "responsible budget in difficult economic times".