Speaking to SBS Arabic24’s Good Morning Australia, Gladys Berejiklian has defended the NSW government's housing affordability package and also said renters have been catered for, saying “more dwellings" will put downward pressure on rent prices.
The housing affordability package announced by the NSW government on 1st June aims to ease pressure on home buyers across the state with a $4 billion budget allocation.
Low income renters will also benefit from an additional 2,200 social affordable units and houses being built in NSW, according to the Premier.
Latest data shows the average rent for an inner ring stand-alone Sydney house is about $810 per week.
Rebates to Help Pay off Bills
While increasing costs are not confined to rent, the NSW Premier is promoting her government’s measures to reduce the cost of living pressures, saying the government “offers rebates to low income people and pensioners to help pay electricity and gas bills.”
“We add $200-300 per year on their bills,” Ms Berejiklian tells SBS Arabic24.
“We add $200-300 per year on their bills”
While noting the cost of living pressures on people across the state, the NSW Premier says she promises to “do everything we can to reduce them (pressures).”
The NSW government announced its latest budget earlier this month with a big surplus which has made it the wealthiest state nationwide.
Asked whether the surplus can be used to further reduce living costs for people in NSW, Ms Berejiklian cautions she does not want to see the budget back in deficit.
“The only reason we have a budget surplus is to make sure we have money there to build all our projects,” she says.
The government, according to the NSW Premier, has “actually reduced costs” in many areas.
“I want to make sure everyone living in our state has the chance to be their best”
In June 2017, the cost of living index was 89.49, making Sydney the 32nd most expensive city worldwide.
Ms Berejiklian insists the government will use the budget surplus to build schools and hospitals.
“I want to make sure everyone living in our state has the chance to be their best,” she says.
Police Well-Resourced
Answering a question on security and whether NSW is safe, Ms Berejiklian confirmed that NSW police are properly funded.
"As a government, everything is done to make sure that police are well resourced to make the community as safe as possible,” she said.
The NSW premier also mentioned the powers recently given to state police.
“We have now the strongest police powers in the nation when it comes to security. We want to make sure at all times that the community feels safe,” Ms Berejiklian tells SBS Arabic24.
Only a week ago, the NSW Parliament passed new legislation granting police greater shoot-to-kill powers when facing threats of terrorism.
With all resources and powers in place, the NSW Premier promised to work hard to make the community safe across the state.
