Aged Care Insite Australia's number one aged care news source
More nurses, an increase in hospital beds and hospital upgrades are among the election promises that led the Coalition to a landslide victory in NSW.
A triumphant Barry O'Farrell has claimed a mandate for change after the coalition demolished Labor in the NSW election, promising to return honesty and accountability to government.
O'Farrell on Saturday led the Liberal/Nationals coalition to its first election victory in NSW in 16 years, decimating the Labor party in one of the biggest voting landslides in the history of federation.
O'Farrell, the state's 43rd premier, pledged to make changes to the NSW struggling transport, health and planning systems and to breathe new life into the state's economy.
"We have a mandate to deliver the real change to make people's lives better; we have a mandate to get on and clean up the mess that was government in NSW and restore confidence in government in NSW," he told Sky News.
He indicated that public sector jobs may be targeted, saying productivity was more important than numbers.
"I have always been of the view that it is not about how many but what they are doing," he said.
"What ... I am determined to ensure is that people who are in the jobs can actually deliver better services to people across this state."
O'Farrell said the coalition has committed to providing 2500 more nurses, 900 more teachers and 550 more police.
Coalition health election promises
* $3 billion for health infrastructure over the next four years, including $885 million for hospital upgrades.
* $340 million for almost 2500 more nurses and 1390 hospital beds.
* $20 million for medical research.
* A Mental Health Commission.
* $72 million in extra funding for St George Private Hospital to allow 13,000 more surgical operations to be performed.
AAP
Do you have an idea for a story?Email [email protected]
Get the news delivered straight to your inbox
Receive the top stories in our weekly newsletter Sign up now