Budget

Thursday, 25 June 2026, 11:55 am

Kellie Sloane promised to cut taxes for businesses and build a new metro line.

In short:

The Opposition Leader said payroll taxes would be cut to save small businesses up to $76,000.

She made this promise in her budget reply speech, where she also quoted Eminem.

Ms Sloane also promised a new metro line for Sydney.

The NSW Opposition Leader used an Eminem quote in her budget reply speech.

She started her speech with a quote from Eminem's song Lose Yourself.

Ms Sloane said the government had wasted its chance to make a difference.

She quoted Eminem, saying 'If you had one shot, would you capture it or let it slip?'

A Liberal and National government would cut payroll taxes to save small businesses up to $75,850.

The tax threshold would increase, so about 4,000 businesses wouldn't have to pay it.

The payroll tax rate would be lowered for businesses with a total Australian payroll below $10 million.

The Liberals and Nationals have raised the payroll tax threshold five times before.

The government collected more payroll tax than expected in 2025-26.

The opposition leader didn't say how much the tax cut would cost.

The Coalition would bring back a policy that helped deliver big infrastructure projects.

The Western Sydney City Deal helped fund the M12 Motorway and Metro Western Sydney Airport.

Ms Sloane said the opposition would make a new deal with Canberra to deliver new projects.

The Liberals and Nationals would make a new deal with Canberra to build more things.

Many projects in the original deal are finished, so the need for more infrastructure is still there.

The new city deal would include plans to build a metro for south-western Sydney.

The government borrowed our idea

The state budget shows the government collected more payroll tax than expected.

Ms Sloane promised to give drivers a $100 rego rebate.

We're glad the government used our idea in their budget.

The Coalition would create a renewable energy zone in some cities.

The Premier said this plan would cause problems for the state's energy plan.

The New England REZ would be changed to avoid putting transmission lines through farms.

The New England REZ is over budget and behind schedule.

Labor's plan has hurt local communities.

The Liberals and Nationals would freeze developer contributions on new houses.

Developer contributions add costs to housing projects, which are passed on to buyers.

One Nation is ahead in polling

The Long Bay Correctional Complex would be closed to build 12,000 new homes.

Here are the winners and losers of the 2026 NSW budget.

Ms Sloane's speech came as the state opposition was overtaken by One Nation in a poll.

The Liberal and Nationals got 20% of the primary vote, while One Nation got 27%.

There was no mention of One Nation in Ms Sloane's speech.

The state election is in less than nine months, so Ms Sloane's chance to make a difference is getting smaller.

Thursday, 25 June 2026, 11:55 am

Practice Listening