Overview

NCOSS presents a Pre-Budget Submission (PBS) to the NSW Government each year, which recommends revenue and spending initiatives for human services and includes sections on rural priorities and economic and social trends.

The document is the result of extensive consultation with NCOSS members, peak bodies, rural and regional forums, Aboriginal communities, local communities and consumers.

The PBS is a major NCOSS policy document and an excellent resource for community organisations across NSW.

The NCOSS PBS cycle is linked to the NSW State Budget process.

NSW 2007-08 State Budget
The 2007-08 NSW State Budget was delivered on 19 June 2007. NCOSS conducted an analysis of the Budget, and requested portfolio Budget briefings from human services agencies, which were held on 19 and 20 June. NCOSS also asked NSW Treasury to provide a seminar for the community sector on the Budget Papers, which took place on 12 June.

Click here to access a summary of the NCOSS analysis of the 2007-08 NSW State Budget, which will also appear in the July edition of our member newsletter NCOSS News. NCOSS will use this information to help develop its 2008-09 PBS.

Consultations for the NCOSS 2008-09 Pre-Budget Submission
NCOSS commenced holding rural and regional PBS consultations in 2002, out of recognition that people living and working outside Sydney are generally unable to participate in metropolitan consultations, primarily due to the cost of travel. Since then, NCOSS has visited different rural and regional areas across NSW.

In July and August 2007, NCOSS will visit Orange, Dubbo, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Blue Mountains (Lawson), Muswellbrook and Maitland to conduct consultations, and will also consult with members, peaks and policy advice groups through the forums it regularly convenes.

Click here to access a Timetable for the NCOSS Rural and Regional PBS Consultations. If you are unable to participate in the NCOSS Pre Budget Submission consultations, click here to access an on-line feedback form to let us know your issues.

Using information obtained from these consultations, NCOSS policy staff will develop recommendations for revenue and expenditure initiatives to submit to the October meeting of the NCOSS Board. Final NCOSS recommendations will be sent to the relevant Ministers and Directors-General of human services agencies. NCOSS will seek meetings with these Ministers and DGs to discuss the recommendations.

The printed PBS will be launched in December, then distributed to NSW Ministers, Directors-General of human services agencies, Shadow Ministers, Cross-Bench MLCs and MPs, members of NCOSS forums, key stakeholder organisations and the media.

NCOSS 2008-09 PBS Process
Click here to access a one-page diagram detailing this year's PBS process
[46kb pdf download]

• NCOSS analysis of the 2007-08 NSW State Budget
• A Fairer NSW: Bold Solutions, Real Results
  NCOSS 2007 NSW State Election policy document.
  [544kb pdf download]
• NCOSS 2006-07 Pre Budget Submission
  [458kb pdf download]

• Wendy Hall, NCOSS Policy Coordination Officer
  phone: 9211 2599, ext 118
  email: wendy@ncoss.org.au