A Plan for a Secure Digital Future for NSW
To help protect people’s personal information and enhance digital customer services, the Minns Labor Government is investing an additional $21.4 million in 2024-25 to build the NSW Digital Identity and Wallet.
The nation-leading project will transform the way NSW residents prove their identity and credentials through a secure, smartphone-based system. It will allow people to share their identity and qualifications for a range of tasks and transactions conveniently and safely, while ensuring personal information and privacy are better protected.
An additional 80 licenses will be transitioned to the new online Licence NSW system through a $62.5 million commitment. The new system replaces legacy technology, enhances security, and makes interactions with applications faster and more convenient.
An additional $53.6 million is being directed to the Department of Customer Service to strengthen cybersecurity and keep our community safe.
The investment includes $20.3 million for Cyber Security NSW which works across the public sector to enhance cyber resilience and mitigate threats. The unit plays a key role in early detection, response and recovery from cyber incidents, ensures the continuity of services and safeguards private data.
The Minns Labor Government is also prioritising direct assistance for people navigating the aftermath of a data breach, with $22.7 million for ID Support NSW. The service acts as a lifeline to help NSW residents prevent identity theft and replace their State-issued identity documents.
The 2024-25 Budget also provides stable funding of $2.4 billion to Service NSW to run 117 service centres, contact centres and online channels. The funding creates a renewed focus on frontline service delivery to support demand following several years of pandemic and natural disaster response. The funding includes an additional $10.4 million to enhance security at service centres.
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Response
Ongoing funding for frontline services responding to fires and floods across NSW is being secured through the 2024-25 Budget as part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild essential services and help the community prepare for emergencies.
The Government is investing an additional $189.5 million over four years to ensure Fire and Rescue NSW can respond to emergencies and keep the community safe, and restore job security for firefighters.
This includes guaranteeing the positions of 286 existing firefighters who did not previously have ongoing funding. These positions are in addition to 20 extra firefighters recruited this year who are set to graduate in June 2024.
This Budget is also delivering for Western Sydney and the new airport, committing $15.4 million to buy land and build a new 24-hour fire station at Badgerys Creek with three new firefighting appliances.
The Minns Labor Government is building more resilient and safe communities by delivering long-term funding for the state’s flood response capability.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) will receive a boost of $94.7 million over four years to support flood response and rescue, including fleet and equipment.
Additional hazard reduction crews will be deployed in 2024-25 by the Rural Fire Service through a $5 million allocation to help carry out vital mitigation work ahead of the next bushfire season.
The RFS will also partner with the NSW Telco Authority to build a new $75 million call out system to replace ageing technology and ensure volunteers for both the RFS and SES can be activated to help in the field when they are needed most.
The 2024-25 Budget continues the Minns Labor Government’s work to help communities rebuild in the aftermath of natural disasters through the work of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which had funding boosted by $121 million last year.
These responsible investments will help safeguard communities in the face of escalating risks from natural disasters, continuing the ongoing work to rebuild essential services that the Minns Labor Government began in 2023.
Early Intervention through Youth Justice Programs to Keep the Community Safe
The Minns Labor Government will invest an additional $86.9 million in youth justice initiatives over the next four years. This will help address youth crime, keep NSW communities safe, and shape rewarding and fulfilling lives for young people.
The commitment includes $66.9 million to secure the future of early intervention and diversion programs to help guide young people at risk away from anti-social or criminal behaviour and onto a more positive path.
This year’s Budget builds on the $26.2 million package of funding and reforms announced in March to support community safety and wellbeing, particularly in regional NSW, with a focus on strengthening early intervention and prevention programs for young people.
The new $66.9 million injection will ensure the continuation of critical responses to youth offending, including Youth on Track, which helps young people reduce their risk of re-offending or committing more serious offences, and the Bail and Accommodation Support Service, which coordinates safe places for young people to stay until their court date.
The NSW Government will also invest $20 million to develop a new technology platform to house sensitive case file information and support youth justice workers to deliver essential frontline services.
