"The NSW Mini Budget has already extracted savings of $81 million across several Government departments, as well as cutting $5.5 million worth of employment and training programs operated by the Department of Education and Training (DET)," said NCOSS Director, Gary Moore

"It is rumoured that DET's overall budget of nearly $10 billion per year (25% of the total NSW Budget) is already under extreme pressure. Finding a further $400 million from DET would savage the State's current education and vocational training effort."

"And other human services such as health, housing, child protection and disability services, can not withstand Budget cuts."

"In NSW, the last 5 years have seen strong economic growth deliver record business profits, employment growth and well above average salary increases for high income earners."

"Opinion polls consistently indicate that the people of NSW want affordable and effective education delivered by well qualified and well paid teachers. And the NSW Industrial Relations Commission believes that the NSW economy can afford this 12% pay increase."

"NCOSS has already proposed to the Carr Government in its 2004-05 Budget submission, other modest and fair revenue measures beyond the recent property tax changes."

"These include lowering the payroll tax threshold whilst introducing concessional rates for smaller employers and introducing a specific levy on high powered, off road leisure vehicles and machines."

"And if NSW Treasury has underestimated the size of the revenue stream from property taxes, then any new windfall should go to human services, including meeting this wage increase."

"The NSW Budget is now worth nearly $40 billion annually. The Treasurer should exhibit the political will and good policy sense to further reform State revenues."