Roads, Rail & Relief for GWS in Federal Budget

The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue has welcomed the Federal Government’s investment in Greater Western Sydney (GWS) to address the cost-of-living crisis and fund critical road and rail projects for the rapidly growing region in the 2025-2026 Federal budget.

The Federal Budget delivered tax cuts, energy bill and student debt relief, childcare subsidies and investment to reduce the cost of medicines for GWS residents.

“The cost-of-living relief announced tonight goes right to the heart of the issues that are being discussed around kitchen tables across GWS,” Mr Leto said.

“Major relief for the young and aspirational population of Western Sydney is also a positive move with young people set to receive a big cut to their ballooning student debt and new families scoring three days of free childcare to help them work and earn more.

“GWS is one of the battlegrounds for the upcoming election and the hip-pocket relief provided by the government will be a major boost for those doing it tough in the West.”

The budget also confirmed $2.3 billion for infrastructure for GWS, including $580 million for roads in North West Sydney, $500 million for Liverpool’s Fifteenth Avenue Liverpool to Airport Transit Corridor, and $1 billion to preserve land corridors for metro rail to be extended from Bradfield to Macarthur.

“We are pleased to see funding confirmed to link the region’s growth areas to Western Sydney International as it prepares to take flight in late 2026,” Mr Leto said.  

“While tonight’s budget is a step in the right direction, there are still a number of major infrastructure projects for GWS that require further Federal support.

“Given the current state of the housing crisis, this budget doesn’t provide a lot of encouragement for first-time buyers, particularly when it comes to boosting supply, although the investment in modular and prefabricated housing is welcomed.”