Cost-of-living pressures will be eased for NSW families with the 2018/19 state budget including a suite of measures for new parents and those struggling with childcare costs.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday said families were reaping the benefits of the government's strong financial position with cost-of-living relief a key sweetener in the coalition's final budget before the state election in March.
"The budget at its core has a strong heart - it's for the people," Mr Perrottet said.
Following last year's rebate for active kids, the government is introducing a creative kids rebate, with parents getting a $100 voucher for each school-aged child to be used for extracurricular activities such as music, drama and coding.
Access to early childhood education will be boosted with nearly $200 million over four years to extend government subsidies to all three-year-olds in preschool.
The government predicts the move, which will provide access for all children to attend two years of preschool, will save families about $825 a year.
New parents will also be supported with a $156.5 million package to improve the well-being of parents and their babies, including a $7.6 million baby bundle of essential items to help with their child's early health and development.
"As joyous as early days are, they can also be tough. We want to make sure the support is there," Mr Perrottet said.
It will be easier for families to get savings on bills with the government spending $19 million to make Service NSW centres across the state one-stop shops to access government rebates, refunds and concessions.
But the Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW says the cost-of-living measures do little for affordability.
The state's leading development industry body warns financial pressures won't improve unless real action is made on housing affordability.
"A critical component of liveability is affordability and Sydney families continue to feel the pressure of increasingly unaffordable housing, hitting household budgets hard," institute chief executive Steve Mann said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Community Housing Industry Association NSW argues the budget fails to provide social and affordable housing for renters doing it tough.
The not-for-profit body has called for planning reforms and subsidies to close the housing gap.
Australian Associated Press
