Sydney Business Chamber welcomes NSW Budget

The Sydney Business Chamber has welcomed the NSW Budget, saying it delivers key initiatives to reinstate Sydney as Australia’s leading city, through investment in transport infrastructure and a new approach to development.

“The Sydney Business Chamber welcomes today’s budget for the steps it takes to deliver the missing links in Sydney’s transport network, through the North West and South West Rail Links, and the new focus on urban renewal through a new growth delivery entity,” said Patricia Forsythe, Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber.

“This is a budget targeted at Sydney’s transport deficit. It’s a budget that delivers funding for the government’s commitment to build the long-overdue North West and South West Rail Links, expand the inner-city light rail network, increase capacity on Sydney’s congested motorways and provides planning funds for the growth of the motorway network when Infrastructure NSW releases its priority list.”

The decline in consumer confidence has made the challenging task of reducing Sydney’s infrastructure backlog even harder, Forsythe said. She suggested the financial challenges should be an incentive to “pursue a more ambitious state tax reform agenda through the COAG process.” Engagement of the business community to deliver more public services should be considered, Forsythe said.

Forsythe said the Sydney Business Chamber considered it a “shame” that the O’Farrell government has chosen not to scrap the M4/M5 Cashback Scheme.