"The first NSW Budget, of the new century, is a great opportunity for the Carr Government, to help narrow the social and economic divide, which has grown strongly in NSW, during the second half of the 1990s," said NCOSS Director, Gary Moore.

"On a per capita basis, the 20% of the NSW population, who are low income individuals and families, have witnessed a decline in the real level of NSW Government spending on services, since 1995/96."

"Much of the extra social spending over the past four years, claimed by Percy Allen, the new head of the Council on the Cost of Government, has gone to public sector wage increases and dealing with recurrent debts in Departments such as Community Services, Health and Juvenile Justice."

"As well, the growth in the level and complexities of community needs, has swamped the extra resources provided by the NSW Government. And this has occurred, during a sustained period of economic growth and reduced unemployment levels."

"Bridging the Social Divide, lays out a modest, but meaningful program of revenue and spending measures which will genuinely tackle disadvantage, improve standards of living and continue to reduce State debt."

"We propose that business more fairly shares its payroll tax responsibilities and better meets its mutual obligations, for the business welfare payments it receives."

We suggest that wealthy landowners pay more land tax, whilst property investors, at the cheapest end of the private rental market are encouraged to provide affordable housing."

"We argue that the State's GST windfall on stamp duties is directed into priority health, community services and other social spending."

"In a post-Olympic environment, NCOSS outlines how the NSW Government can now responsibly commit the same amount of Olympics spending to much needed public services and community facilities, especially on the urban fringe and in rural NSW."

"This submission calls on the Carr Government to discontinue the $40 million it provides to the very best off private schools."

" We propose that part of these funds, and the $55 million currently spent on the non means tested, Back to School Allowance, are used to dramatically assist schools tackling high levels of welfare need and families struggling to meet core school costs."

"Bridging the Social Divide calls for far reaching measures in community services, including significant increases in the level of foster care payments, more investment in neighbourhood and family support services, a pre-school, or equivalent place for all 4 year olds and new after care services for troubled young people."

"We outline the real level of funds required, for a genuine start to devolving large institutions, to community care, for people with disabilities. And we propose an innovative, State-wide support service for children and young people with a disability."

"This submission proposes a new, No Interest Loans Scheme, based on experience in Victoria and Western Australia, to assist low income people with purchasing essential goods and services."

"We seek an expansion of State funding to tackle the crisis in public dental care and the creation of a NSW Gambling Commission and a Gambling Industries Ombudsman, to better regulate gambling operators and provide more robust consumer protection."

"In rural affairs, Bridging the Social Divide outlines over 30 recommendations, including 10 new rural community support workers, the extension of the full range of public transport fare concessions to private operators outside Sydney, and the write-off of outstanding debts of rural Area Health Services."

"We highlight the urgent need for an additional $18.6 million for the NSW Legal Aid Commission, to meet desperate priorities in civil and criminal law matters."

"And Bridging the Social Divide, also seeks a critical Carr Government commitment to properly support the State's 7,000 charities and non profit community organisations."

"The package we seek includes extra funding for the 10% to 30% cost increases expected in mid-2000 from wage improvements, flowing from the current Social and Community Services Award case."

"It also proposes a 10% increase in State Government grants to compensate for GST charges and, new funds for interpreter services, which the Premier stated in 1998, would be available, across NSW Government departments, for regular access by community organisations."

"These are some of the $1.8 billion of revenue and spending measures contained in this NCOSS pre-Budget submission."

"The Carr Government can begin the 21st century with a State Budget, which genuinely promotes the common good, and starts to bridge the social divide, whilst keeping the ratings agencies happy. We hope it has the vision, and the political will to do so."