The NSW budget explained in five charts

June 23, 2026 — 3:49pm

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Click here for live coverage of the 2026 state budget.

Daniel Mookhey has delivered his fourth budget against a turbulent backdrop.

Conflict in the Middle East has stoked inflationary pressures and cast a shadow over the global economy. The budget papers warn “geopolitical uncertainty remains elevated”.

At the same time NSW households have been hit by higher petrol prices and three interest rate increases so far this year.

Here are five charts from the budget that shed light on the state’s finances, the economic outlook and what lies ahead for households and consumers.

A $133 billion budget

Despite the economic headwinds, the NSW government has allocated $133 billion to its core activities in the year ahead. That’s $3 billion more than the previous year and double the amount spent in 2014-15.

One reason for the rapid increase is COVID-19; during the pandemic, crisis spending was ramped up to deal with the health challenges and support businesses and households. Total spending by the NSW government jumped from $80 billion in 2018-19 (the year before the pandemic) to $119 billion in 2021-22, an increase of 49 per........

© The Sydney Morning Herald