Foster Carers Aren’t in It for the Money — But NSW’s Budget Boost Could Change Lives
There was little cause for delight among Treasurer Daniel Mookhey's budget revelations. No exciting promises about shiny new metros. No new handouts to ease the pressure on household budgets. No credible path to achieving housing targets in New South Wales, although a $1 billion fund to improve supply will provide a welcome boost. The government is stabilising debt and forecasting a surplus in 2027/28, the first in almost a decade. But that won't exactly thrill voters. Ahead of every budget, treasurers are inundated with worthy funding requests and often those with the loudest voices win. So, it's significant that this time around, the government is helping those who can't speak up for themselves — the state's most vulnerable children. Fixing a system in crisis The NSW out-of-home care system is the biggest in the southern hemisphere, according to the government, with 14,000 children in the care of the state. ...