NSW state budget 2014: winners and losers

Winners and losers from the Baird government's last budget before the 2015 election:

Winners

- Western Sydney – measures include $400 million for Parramatta light rail, feasibility study for the M9 motorway, redevelopment of Westmead Hospital and $16 million for the Parramatta Park Trust.

- Commuters - $863 million for the North West Rail Link, $103 million for South West Rail Link, $265 million for the CBD South East Light Rail, $398 million for WestConnex. Also funding for feasibility studies for a Northern Beaches motorway tunnel, an extension of the F6 and corridor for the M9.

- Patients – five new ambulance stations to be built, $1.3 billion for hospital redevelopments including a new hospital at Byron Bay, $6 million for the Sydney Genomic Collaborative Program.

- Vulnerable children - $500 million over four years for child protection, including more caseworkers, a technology upgrade to improve caseworker mobility and parenting support.

- First home buyers – from July 1, first home buyers purchasing a new home worth up to $750,000 will be entitled to a $15,000 grant. The threshold is currently $650,000.

Losers

There are few obvious losers in this year’s pre-election budget.

- Foreign home buyers – the New Home Grant, worth $5000, will be restricted to Australian citizens and permanent residents from July 1.

- Environmental activists – the budget pays scant attention to issues including climate change and the coal seam gas industry. Only $3 million is set aside for climate change adaptation, while there is $13 million extra for drought assistance. However, the Environment Protection Authority gets a modest budget increase.