Baby wipes, driverless cars and free apprenticeships: 2018-19 NSW Budget

New parents will receive a baby bundle of essential and every day items.

The government is spending $7.6 million on the gift baskets  to support the health, development and well-being of their babies.

They include, a baby safe sleeping bag, room thermometer, wipes, nappies and educational materials.

The 2018-19 Health Budget will be made up of $23 million and will include an extra 1370 front-line health workers. 

The government have announced funding for an additional 950 nurses and midwives, 300 doctors and 120 allied health workers. They have not detailed where the new workers will be employed. 

Described as a plan to “building for tomorrow and delivering for today”, the 2018-19 NSW budget includes a $10 million, to spend over four years, dedicated to expand trials of driver-less vehicles. 

100,000 free apprenticeships will be available for any course at TAFE or non-TAFE providers, to ensure “a strong pipeline of skilled workers across the state.”

The free apprenticeships will be on offer over the next four years and include all 121 courses currently funded under the Smart and Skilled program.

$15 billion to be spent on school funding in the budget, including the roll out of 900 additional full-time teachers.

$32 million will be invested in Catholic and Independent Schools over four years to assist them to build more class rooms, and $6 billion over four years to deliver new and upgraded government schools. 

About 1000 public schools will receive air conditioning with $500 million allocated to the Cooler Classrooms program. 

Consumers will soon be able to quickly change electricity deals with just one click, as transforms Service NSW into a “cost of living cop” to help residents understand and navigate deals by energy retailers. 

$56.4 million will be spent over four years on the fleet program which will fund 270 vehicles, 124 marine vessels, and 95 trailers.