Last Saturday NSW teachers voted to accept the offer made by the NSW Government to lift teachers wages and restore respect and integrity to our states’ education system. 

Under the former Liberal Governments wages cap and an ever increasing and unnecessary administrative burden, NSW teachers were leaving the profession in droves and our education system was in crisis.

Now, 95,000 NSW teachers will receive largest pay rise in decades. Sophie Cotsis MP believes that this is an achievement for the history books.

‘Education is always one of the top priorities on my mind. I regularly speak with teachers to understand the practical challenges they are facing on the ground, and ensure I can do my best to support our educators,’ said Ms Cotsis. 

‘When our government was elected in March, we committed to end the wasteful spending of the previous Liberal Government, repair the budget and invest in our essential services. This agreement with our teachers is a vital step in delivering on that commitment.’

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The Minns Labor Government will deliver a major upgrade for Canterbury Hospital to meet the healthcare needs of the growing local community, the first major upgrade since 1998, said Ms Cotsis.

It is part of a landmark $3 billion commitment in the NSW Budget for new and upgraded hospitals across greater Western Sydney, one of the largest investments in Western Sydney health infrastructure in recent memory. 

The 2023-24 NSW Budget includes $350 million to expand Canterbury Hospital and upgrade existing infrastructure, to ensure the facility is able to meet the healthcare needs of the growing multicultural community. 

The Minns Labor Government has an ambitious agenda to rebuild essential services, including healthcare, that communities across greater Western Sydney rely on. 

• An additional $400 million to build the $700 million Rouse Hill Hospital – the first brand new adult public hospital to be built in Western Sydney in more than 40 years. 

• $550 million for Fairfield Hospital, in its first major redevelopment since it opened in 1989. 

• $1.3 billion to build the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on a new site, the first major investment since the two hospitals merged in 1997. 

• $120 million for additional beds at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals. 

Together, these landmark investments will deliver on the Minns Labor Government’s pledge for 600 new hospital beds across greater Western Sydney. 

Hospitals across greater Western Sydney have been left overwhelmed and underfunded after 12 years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals, including not permanently funding 1,112 nurses and midwives currently working in NSW hospitals. 

Data from the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) shows almost 12,000 patients presented to Canterbury Hospital’s emergency department in the April to June quarter, 2023, with significant increases in the number of patients in the most urgent triage categories.

Addressing these challenges has been made more difficult by the state of the budget we inherited, with record debt, $90 billion worth of privatised assets and $7 billion in unfunded promises. 

We can’t undo 12 years of Liberal and National neglect of our health system overnight – it will take time. 

These historic investments in new and upgraded hospitals in greater Western Sydney are possible because the Minns Labor Government is making responsible decisions to repair the budget and reprioritise spending on essential services. 

The Minns Labor Government is setting out a long-term plan to repair the budget so we can deliver essential healthcare services for families across greater Western Sydney, reduce waiting times and improving access to timely, high-quality healthcare.

“For 12 years, the healthcare needs of south west Sydney - one of the fastest growing parts of our state – were left neglected by the former Liberal Government. 

“Today, we are making good on our pledge to this growing community to deliver the healthcare services they need and deserve.” 

“By upgrading Canterbury Hospital and expanding its capacity, we are investing in the delivery and accessibility of healthcare to meet the needs of this community well into the future.”