State Budget 2025-26

The Tweed River with Mount Warning in the background.

Work is now well underway on preparing our submission to the New South Wales Government as its budgetary process gets underway for the 2025-26 financial year.

The 2023-24 State Government Budget highlights against RCNSW’s key advocacy areas were:

Advocacy priority: Regional Housing

2024-25 Budget Outcomes: 

  • $5.1 billion for social housing, 

  • $253.7 million to help the planning system to improve housing supply, 

  • $253.7 million to help the planning system to improve housing supply, 

  • $200.1 million for health worker accommodation in rural and regional NSW, and

  • an additional $85.0 million for the Housing Infrastructure Fund to support local government to deliver new homes.

Advocacy priority: Regional Roads 

2024-25 Budget Outcomes: 

  • $290.0 million additional funding for the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program, and

  • $66.2 million to continue the Fixing Country Rail Program.

Advocacy priority: Digital Connectivity 

  • $283.4 million to enhance digital connectivity in regional areas.

Advocacy priority: Water security 

2024-25 Budget Outcome: 

  • $307.2 million to improve water security for regional communities, industries and the environment. 

RCNSW welcomed these important funding programs but knows the work on building thriving regional cities is not complete.

Work has started on our 2025-26 budget priorities which includes continuing to advocate on the key areas above while also seeking investment and support for 

  • Immigration to support the need for skills in the regions

  • Road freight connectivity 

  • Liveability, civic and community infrastructure, and 

  • Regional aviation. 


To read the full statement, click here.

Edwina Blackburn