00:00Whether it's paramedics or police, teachers in the classroom, or nurses on the ward, the
00:08state's essential workers are doing some of the toughest jobs out there and many are doing
00:13it in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
00:16I myself have been in the process of moving back home even though I work full time to
00:19try and keep up with the cost of living.
00:22The Premier's announced Tuesday's budget will include $450 million to build at least 400
00:28homes, offering rent at about 20% off the market rate.
00:33We're expecting big towers and they'll be exclusively for essential workers in New South
00:39Wales so that they can roll to the hospital, roll to the ambulance station or the police
00:44station as soon as possible.
00:46The bill to rent program's got the backing of paramedic Michael Jobson who lives on the
00:50Central Coast but works on the lower North Shore.
00:53Twelve hours of a night shift and then driving home up a freeway can be quite detrimental
00:58to the safety of the workforce so I'm very much looking forward to this actually becoming
01:03a reality.
01:04Up to four sites will be selected for the developments, with a preference for land
01:08the state already owns.
01:10While the government will be the developer and the landlord, it's still hoping to make
01:14a return.
01:15The Premier says that cash could be reinvested to build more essential worker housing down
01:20the track.
01:21Affordable housing advocates say the policy's a small down payment on what needs to be a
01:26much bigger investment.
01:27Everywhere you look in New South Wales we're finding more and more people who are finding
01:32it hard to get secure, affordable rental accommodation.
01:38With tens of thousands of essential workers in Sydney, the initial 400 homes will be in
01:43hot demand.
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