The incoming NSW Labor government says it won’t be wasting any time in delivering public sector wage increases, but hasn’t given any indication of what a pay rise might look like.

Labor won the election over the weekend after 12 years in opposition, with Chris Minns to become the 47th NSW premier.

One of his key commitments in the run-up to the election was a promise to abolish the 3 per cent public sector wage cap, which had been set to drop down to its previous level of 2.5 per cent in the next two years.

Frontbencher Penny Sharpe, who on Monday confirmed she will be Environment Minister in the new Minns lineup, said public sector wages will be going up, but didn’t say by how much.

“It’s the case that many of the agreements do expire in July so yes, the clock’s on and we won’t be wasting a minute,” she told the ABC.

The clock’s on and we won’t be wasting a minute

Penny Sharpe

Pressed on what sort of a pay rise public servants could expect, she said the new government will discuss that with employees, as well as conditions.

“We’ve made a commitment that we want to sit down with public sector workers … and discuss with them not just the issue of wages but also, the issues of conditions and recruitment and retention,” she said.

Protecting Sydney Water

Ms Sharpe also said in line with another key election promise to safeguard state-owned assets from privatisation, one of Labor’s first pieces of legislation will be to protect Sydney Water in the constitution.

“We have a fundamental view about water which is that it’s a public good and it needs to be protected, we’re actually going as far as protecting it in the NSW constitution and it’ll be one of our first pieces of legislation,” she said.

We have a fundamental view about water which is that it’s a public good and it needs to be protected

Penny Sharpe

Along with Sydney Water, Labor has pledged to protect Hunter Water, Water NSW, Endeavor Energy, Ausgrid, Essential Energy, the Sydney Harbour Crossings, iCare, Forestry Corp, Landcom, and the NSW Port Authority.

Labor has also promised to trial 500 cashless poker machines with the introduction of a mandatory 12-month cashless gaming trial starting July 1.

The trial will be overseen by an independent panel which will deliver a report to Cabinet and provide a roadmap for gaming reform across the state.

A new clean energy investment body

Labor has also pledged to create a state-owned body to accelerate investment in renewable energy assets.

The proposed Energy Security Corporation will initially be funded $1 billion from the existing Restart NSW fund, and will partner with industry on projects including renewable storage such as pumped hydro, commercially-viable technologies to provide grid stability, and community batteries.

The ESC will aim to expand private sector renewable energy investment in NSW similar to the way the Commonwealth’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has expanded renewable energy investment across Australia, Mr Minns said ahead of the election.

However it will be different from Victoria’s State Electricity Commission. While the SEC will own its renewable energy assets, the ESC provide finance.

Ms Sharpe has also previously promised that Labour will review the environmental offsets system within the first 18 months of government.

Western Sydney councils say now put money where your mouth is

The Western Sydney leadership dialogue applauded what it said was the return of traditional ALP heartland to Labor with wins in Parramatta, Penrith, East Hills and Camden.

It called on premier-elect Minns to roll out the new schools promised for the region’s growth suburbs, get the Aerotropolis underway, address home affordability and see that Sydney’s housing burden is shared fairly in the east as well as the west. 

The peak body representing councils in the Greater Western Sydney region is also calling on the new government to address a $6 billion social infrastructure funding shortfall impacting the region.

“State government funding for local councils has long been insufficient to deliver the infrastructure and services that communities need,” WSROC President, Councillor Barry Calvert said in a statement.

“Local councils have been struggling to keep up with rising costs with severely strained budgets, compounded by additional funding needs created by recent natural disasters.

“Councils rely on rates, grants and developer contributions to fund infrastructure and services to the community, but all of these come under the control of the state government”.

Liberal party in search of a new leader

The liberal party is looking for a leader after Matt Kean said he wouldn’t be throwing his hat in the ring, saying he wanted to spend more time with his young family.

“I have decided not to throw my hat in the ring for the NSW Liberal leadership,” Mr Kean said in a statement.

“I have a young family and I would love to spend a little more time with them. The election result will enable me to do that.”

Meanwhile, ounting was continuing on Monday to determine whether Labor would claim 47 seats, which will give it a majority.

The new government is set to be sworn in today.

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