The NSW Government has announced a significant wage increase for public servants as part of its 2024-25 Budget. 

Over the next three years, public sector employees will see a 10.5 per cent increase in wages, inclusive of superannuation. 

This increase is expected to benefit more than 400,000 workers, including hospital staff, school staff, police, and other public sector employees.

“This is the next step in upholding Labor's promise to attract, reward, and retain essential workers,” the government says. 

The pay rise is projected to exceed the estimated cost-of-living increases for the next three financial years.

Additionally, the government has introduced a $1,000 annual “cost-of-living” protection payment for public sector workers if inflation exceeds 4.5 per cent in a given year. This payment will not apply to senior executives. 

The wage offer includes a collaborative approach to bargaining, allowing for negotiations on productivity gains and the involvement of an independent umpire to assess and determine union and department claims. 

This new framework aims to strengthen services across NSW by focusing on productivity reforms and offsets in exchange for further pay increases.