Budget drops as Libs act over biff

THE NSW Treasurer has revealed a budget surplus of $3.9 billion and promised to use “the holy grail of numbers” to address cost-of-living pressures, as state Liberals vow to take disciplinary action against branch members responsible for an ugly budget-eve brawl at a southern Sydney branch meeting.

Despite losing billions in stamp duty revenue, the surplus for 2017-18 exceeded expectations by $600 million off the back of increased mining royalties and GST receipts.

Nine months out from the March 2019 state election, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet yesterday promised his new 2018-19 budget would help ease cost-of-living pressures for families while maintaining a record $87 billion infrastructure spend.

“Over the past 12 months, housing cooled more quickly than previously forecast,” the Treasurer told Parliament.

“As a result, transfer duty revenues – 11 per cent of total revenue – will be $1 billion lower than we expected in last year’s budget and $5.5 billion lower in the three years to 2020-21.

“Despite this, our finances remain in excellent shape.”

The Treasurer’s message focused on the hip pocket but more than half of government expenditure is flowing to the transport portfolio next financial year. The Coalition government will spend $51 billion on road and rail over four years.

Despite lacking any big ticket items for struggling families, the government has extended subsidies to three-yearolds attending preschool, saving parents an average of $825 per year.

In the meantime, police are now attempting to piece together what happened on Monday, budget eve, when they were called to a kebab shop in Arncliffe about 7pm, with officers saying they saw “people running from the location”.

THE LIBERAL PARTY STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE KIND OF BEHAVIOUR THAT IS ALLEGED TO HAVE OCCURRED

LIBERAL PARTY SPOKESMAN

A man in his 40s was taken to St George Hospital with minor injuries. Branch members were heading into the kebab shop for an “administrative meeting”, a Liberal Party spokesman said yesterday.

The fight, believed to be between factions, erupted as members were trying to enter the meeting to vote on whether to create a new branch in the area.

The party is co-operating with police, the spokesman said.

“An internal investigation will also be undertaken and disciplinary action taken against those responsible,” he said.

“The Liberal Party strongly condemns the kind of behaviour that is alleged to have occurred.”