A $100 rebate for parents whose children are engaged in creative and cultural activities and a new scheme which will allow communities to vote for local projects are major features of the state budget.
The new Creative Kids rebate is an extension of the Active Kids rebate, which was introduced last year, and will help parents with commitments such as music lessons, language classes and visual and performing arts.
The budget also provided initial funding for a new scheme in which residents will be able to nominate and vote on projects for their community, expected to range in value from $20,000 to $200,000.
Budget papers confirmed funding allocations for previously announced infrastructure projects in St George and Sutherland Shire, including stage one of the F6 extension, upgrading Heathcote Road, refurbishing St George Hospital’s maternity unit and upgrading signalling on the T4 Illawarra and T8 Airport train lines to provide more services.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet rejected suggestions the budget was a series of election bribes for voters who will go to the polls in March next year.
Mr Perrottet said the budget was rewarding “the heavy lifters across NSW”.
The Creative Kids rebate can be put towards the cost of registration, participation or tuition fees for creative and cultural activities.
Mr Perrottet said, from January 1, 2019, parents of school-aged children will be able to access the $100 Active Kids Rebatye and the $100 Creative Kids Rebate each year for their school-aged child.
A family with two children could obtain $400 from the combined rebates, Mr Perrottet said.
The new fund for community projects is part of an initiative called the NSW Generations Fund, with $3 billion in seed funding, to offset debt and guard against long-term budgetary pressures.
Half the returns from the fund will go into the My Community Dividend program.