Infrastructure cash splash welcomed: Baird

NSW Premier Mike Baird says he welcomes the federal government's $2.2 billion infrastructure cash injection but is still pushing for more Gonski funding.

File image of NSW Premier Mike Baird

File image of NSW Premier Mike Baird Source: AAP

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's greatest NSW ally is not completely satisfied with the federal government's education funding increase.

But Premier Mike Baird says he is pleased with the billions in infrastructure funding set to flow in Tuesday's federal budget, calling it a "big win" for the state.

At least $2.2 billion will be injected into major NSW road and rail projects including the Sydney Metro and Parramatta Light Rail, Mr Baird confirmed on Monday.

The funding will be unlocked as part of the federal government's 2014 Asset Recycling Scheme following the Baird government's sell-off of NSW's electricity "poles and wires" networks.

"If we didn't undertake the lease of the poles and wires there would be nothing, zero," Mr Baird said.

"Instead there is an additional $2 billion that is coming to the people of this state."

Despite consistently pushing the federal government to fund the final two years of the Gonski education reforms, Mr Baird wouldn't be drawn on whether he was disappointed with the Turnbull government's $1.2 billion boost for schools.

"Certainly the first step we saw over the weekend, we welcome that," he said on Monday.

"But we will continue to argue for the full funding that was part of the original agreement."

NSW will also be hoping for increases to health funding in the federal budget.

"There is a medium-term challenge on where we go with health funding," Mr Baird said.

"What we have between now and 2020 I believe is a fair approach (but) that doesn't mean there aren't challenges," he said.

The federal budget will be handed down on Tuesday.


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2 min read
Published 2 May 2016 5:20pm
Source: AAP


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