Shadow Treasurer Ryan Park and Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen, have labelled Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s promise to address cost of living pressures in the upcoming budget a “hurtful con”, with inner west families having suffered through eight long years of rising costs and record low wage growth under the Liberals and Nationals Government.

NSW Opposition analysis of key cost of living pressures exposes massive increases in tolls, electricity bills, rent and house prices for Sydneysiders. 

As residents face these rising costs, the NSW Government continues to dither and neglect taking real action to reduce cost of living pressures.

Since 2011, the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government has:

- Reintroduced the M4 toll and hit motorists with a $2,000 tax on Western Sydney;

- Sold the State’s electricity network and sent bills soaring 58 per cent;

- Failed to protect renters who have suffered over 26 per cent increases in rent; and

- Overseen a property boom that has sent median house prices soaring by over 84 per cent.

As families continue to experience a strain on their household budget, the Liberals and Nationals can find more than $2 billion for their Sydney Stadium splurge.

Whilst the Treasurer waxes lyrical about a budget that “builds for tomorrow” the Government is nowhere to be seen on the issues of today.

If the upcoming budget does not address the unfair toll on the M4 and rising electricity prices then it is a failure.

Quotes attributable to Jo Haylen, Member for Summer Hill 

“There isn't a day when a local resident doesn't walk into my office for help with their electricity or gas bills, or for help with housing. 

"The Premier's priorities are back to front. What we know for certain is that this Budget will contain money for knocking down a stadium when people are hurting. 

"This Government is only interested in helping out their mates in the big end of town." 

Quotes attributable to Shadow Treasurer Ryan Park

“If the Treasurer was serious about easing cost of living pressures, his Government wouldn’t be increasing tolls and wouldn’t be ignoring the rising cost of electricity.

“Whether it’s electricity or whether it’s general cost of living – people are finding it difficult to make ends meet. The Government needs to use this budget to address some of those challenges.

“Wages have flat lined, at a time when expenses continue to grow and with it the gap between those who can afford things and those who can’t is continuing to grow.

“People in NSW in 2018, right across this State, are struggling with the increasing cost of living, whether it’s house prices, high tolls or keeping the lights on.”