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Next week’s Federal Budget has many Australians wondering how they will be affected. 

The government has strongly advocated for building a more resilient economy than their predecessors, yet in recent months, the economy is suffering due to a rapid rise in inflation. This has pushed up interest rates and is squeezing the cost of living with both consumers and businesses feeling the pressure. 

Following groceries, the leading financial stressors for Australians are petrol, rent, mortgage payments and energy bills. And just to make ends meet, Aussies are making more considered purchases, seeking higher paying employment or working multiple jobs. Australians are already anxious about inflation with growing concern there’s no end in sight. 

Will the government restore their trust in Australians and keep their pre Federal Budget promises?

Cost of living crisis

Latest data from CHOICE’s Consumer Pulse survey, revealed that cost of living pressures are a major concern, with 90% of Australians seeing an increase in their household bills and expenses over the past year. 

Inflation pressures are intensifying and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) continues to drive up interest rates - their highest level in 7 years. The government has promised a long-term and sustainable approach to cost of living support in the form of a relief package. 

Concerned about their mortgage payments, up to a third of mortgage holders could struggle to keep up with future repayments, with younger generations particularly concerned about surging interest rates. 

Using Isentia data, during an eight week period from early August to early October 2022, 18% of Australia’s front pages featured cost of living stories. Even in a time of large local and international news such as the war on Ukraine and the Optus security breach, the cost of living crisis was still making front page news.

According to Pulsar data, anxieties around the cost of living, peaked following the RBA's interest rate announcements on 4 September and 4 October. For the sixth consecutive month, Australians have had to tighten an already lean household budget.

Apprehensions around security increased on 24 September as a result of the Optus security breach and again on 10 October when the government announced changes to the country's defence projects.  Also on 10 October, cost of living concerns spiked after growing speculation surrounding the Stage 3 tax cuts being recalibrated. Australians also felt a heightened sense of unease after the announcement of a future surge in energy costs, following a recent  35% rise.

Childcare fees are at their highest in 8 years, with child care subsidies failing to keep out of pocket costs to a minimum. On 16 September, conversation around child care spiked, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised to reduce the cost of childcare, yet pledged to keep spending restrained in light of budgetary constraints. 

As part of the cost of living relief package, this reduction won't come into play until mid 2023. Can Australian families wait this long?

Problematic climate conditions such as excessive rain and floods are leading to localised food price increases and diminished food quality. Even in the same area, poorer households are faring far worse than affluent counterparts. Across the board, there has been  a surge in the cost of fruit and vegetable prices (7.3%) and meat, seafood and bread rising by 6.3%. 

On top of these climate issues, labour shortages in both warehousing and transportation have resulted in added disruption to the supply chain. Freight costs are on the rise, putting intense pressure on importers and exporters. 

Are Aussie consumers looking at a continued supply chain that is more disruptive than the 2020 toilet paper shortage? The rise in the cost of living weighs on households' spending, and Australians are seeking alternate ways to make extra cash.

The thrifty shopper

As the cost of living rises, many Australians are seeking alternate ways to make or save cash; trimming budgets where they can; cancelling home entertainment subscriptions, and reducing insurance coverage for lower fees to name a few. Purchases at all levels are becoming more involved and highly considered, with discounts heavily sought after.

As Millennials and Gen Z shoppers are gaining more buying power, their passion for sustainable commerce is stronger than ever. Selling personal items to make extra cash has been on the rise with retail e-commerce platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and ‘Recommerce’ platforms like AirRobe, are booming. Not only are Australians becoming more financially savvy, they are conscious of the need to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ - a criteria these platforms adopt.

Following the money

There’s no doubt that inflation is changing salary expectations. And for those in industries where movement and remote working is possible, many Australians are following the money.

Data from the Reserve Bank of Australia, shows organisations have reported higher rates of employees leaving to achieve higher pay packets as a way to provide temporary relief for  the rise in cost of living. Interestingly, this higher voluntary turnover was especially concentrated in professional services. 

In response to labour shortages, organisations are implementing a range of non-base wage strategies - e.g bonuses, flexible work practices, more internal training and hiring staff with less experience, as opposed to increasing base wages.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures also show Australians are taking on multiple jobs, as full-time work forces employees to juggle several roles to make ends meet. Although multiple job holding is more common in low-paid industries, a record high of 900,000 people held multiple jobs in the June quarter of 2022. 

This is an increase of 4.3 per cent from the previous quarter and is a reflection of wages growth stagnating and nominal wages barely keeping up with consumer prices. The result; people needing to work more hours to make ends meet. 

Using data insights from Pulsar, wages is one of the ‘most anticipated’ topics in this year’s Budget. The Wage Price Index (WPI) rose 0.7 per cent in the June quarter and 2.6 per cent over the year, which represented a substantial fall in real wages given inflation rose 6.1 per cent last quarter. 

Social media conversation around wages is evolving with other indicators suggesting wages are still climbing alongside extreme uncertainty surrounding global growth and rampant inflation. 

Will Australians see more dollars in their pocket after the Budget is handed down?

Australians taking action

With Australians taking a greater interest in living a sustainable lifestyle, the government and organisations are prompted to influence the lever of positive change and create actionable outcomes.

Despite a great deal of politicians pledging change, governments are often swayed by the media and public opinion which can derail policies wanting to address complex, longer-term challenges. Millennials and Gen Zs have long pushed to see societal and economic change. 

Results from the 10th Annual Deloitte Global 2022 Gen Z and Millennial Survey shows they are increasingly becoming more politically involved. These influential cohorts are progressively showing interest in political issues, and turning to social media to discuss their opinions. Moreover, they are consciously making calculated career decisions and spending their money with organisations who share the same values.

Social engagement shows left wing millennials are showing concern over the budget and economic issues, with Treasurer, Jim Chalmers gaining the most chatter. Similarly, baby boomers are equally vocal, using the same keywords as millennials but they also seek strong leadership and a strong economy.

For younger demographics, their interactions or relationships with organisations is dependent on the organisation's treatment of the environment, their policies on data privacy and their position on social and political issues. 

For governments, tackling environmental, economic and social issues and their impact requires a huge transformation across all sectors. Market forces alone will not solve the problem, and the onus is on governments to take a lead to meet the sustainability challenge. 

The October Federal Budget is an opportunity for the government to show they are the lever of change by creating actionable outcomes and a positive impact. Australians are concerned for the welfare of the country and previous governments have fallen short. 

The government promises to back clean energy and build new renewable infrastructure across the country, will they succeed or disappoint?

The Federal Budget can be an overwhelming time, with an abundance of promises and policies, it can be hard to stay on top of the latest news. We have a comprehensive range of political news services available to help you navigate the political media coverage at this October Federal Budget. Want to learn what’s being said at this Federal Budget?

Click here to start navigating the announcements that may impact your organisation.

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We sat down with Brendan McGreevy, recently appointed Country Manager for Australia (2017) and discussed his viewpoints on leading the Australian team and the latest release of Custom Reports on Mediaportal.

Tell us who you are and how you came along with your Isentia journey

My name is Brendan McGreevy and I am the Country Manager for Australia [here at] Isentia. I joined the company in January 2004 as a tele-sales consultant, selling media intelligence services and data distribution. I’ve managed the tele-sales team and the Slice products over a number of years before we brought that back into the [Isentia] family, I’ve been a BDM, a Service Consultant, a Sales Manager and now I’m Country Manager. I have done many, many jobs and have always been in client facing, which is what I like, and I hope to continue my career throughout the company in a client-facing role.

What job haven’t you had at Isentia?

I haven’t been Chief Executive yet, so maybe at some point in the future! I am keeping my options open though.

What are you 100% passionate about and what gets you going every day?

Probably two things – one being the media and how it rapidly changes, the different forms and the different platforms that are popping out pretty much every month or every year. The other is clients – dealing with communicators – people in PR and Corp Comms.

It’s fast paced, and every day is a new and different day. If one client is on the news on a Monday, it’s going to be someone different on a Wednesday. [It’s] that kind of variety that keeps you getting up in the morning and keeps you coming into work. 

What are you most proud of, a moment of time of your life at Isentia?

I can’t think of one defining moment. I suppose each year when you see the achievements of the team, achievements of the clients, and you are hitting those targets – seeing the client growing every year and seeing that we’re doing all those things right that keeps the clients coming back for more and more. I would say that is probably the proudest achievement. 

Can you talk about what makes the Australian customer base unique and what is different about them?

I think what makes it unique from the rest of the company is that there are clients that have used us for many, many years. We’ve been through the evolution of their businesses and their careers and they’ve been through the evolution of our business.

From the hard copy clipping agency in the 80’s and 90’s through to the digitally media intelligence company we are now. Personally, I’ve worked with a lot of them [the clients], since the early 2000’s and it does create a bit of uniqueness within our business. We do find that a lot of people in the Account Management team and the Sales team have been here for 20 to 30 years, and they tend to stick around because they know the people that they’re working with. Whether they move from government to private sector [or elsewhere], they always move back again, so you tend to meet the same people over and over again – it gives that sense of familiarity with all of the clients. 

Looking at the new Custom Reports feature, what do you think would excite them most about it?

Probably the levels of customisation that we can now offer – like adding in the client’s logo and customising the look and feel of it. 

Even though it is our content that we’re sending to the clients, it is their work. Allowing them to personalise their work and distribute that internally in a format that actually gives them the kudos and credit for what they’ve done and what they’ve achieved. I think that is going to get on pretty well. 

What do you think makes Isentia brilliant?

What makes us brilliant is the people that are here.

I think the people that works here takes a very specific breed of person – you’ve got to love the media, you’ve got to love communications, you’ve got to love PR, you’ve got to love marketing, and you’ve got to love what we do, you’ve got to love the industry.

I think that is everybody that is here – evident in the high tenure of service across the business. People love what they do, they love that it is fast-paced, and they love that it is continually changing. And at the same time there is a level of familiarity at what we do as well. So yeah, it is definitely the people. 

What is your favorite feature within the latest Custom Reports release and why?

To be honest, that is my favourite feature – the customisable view of it. In previous reports you could only use the PDF and that was very much a standard, static document. This is the client’s document, and it is important that when we build our products and services that they are all about the client and not about us. It’s not about the media, it is not about the content, it is actually about that client and their business and what they need to use the information for, and how they can customise it for different stakeholders, and different audiences internally. So, the more it looks like their document and the more they can customise it, the better it is. 

Given your recent promotion to Country Manager, what excites you about the year ahead?

What we just completed in Australia is a slight restructure of the sales and services team. Previously we had an account management structure. We’ve [since] taken client success out and created a new division for Client Success and a new division for Sales.

These changes excite me because now we’ve got a dedicated focus on service for our clients and trying to understand what our client wants from us and how we can make that service better, and that is the dedication of that team. They don’t have to sell, or have find a new revenue stream, their job is purely to service our clients. Going back to that value and Isentia being client obsessed, this structure allows us to actually be client obsessed – to focus on our clients and their needs on a day-to-day basis, but to also have consultants from a different team to help clients with different services when the need arises. 

Watch the video here.

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Isentia’s analysis of stakeholder reactions to the NSW Budget across 11 key sectors.

The 60-second summary

In his fourth budget, handed down on Tuesday, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey prioritised cost-of-living assistance for New South Wales residents.

In response to rising fuel prices and three interest rate increases, the government announced a $100 discount on car registration, a reduced toll cap, and frozen Opal fares. The budget also includes a record $10.3 billion commitment to health and a significant increase in funding for domestic violence services.

In reaction to the announcements, stakeholders responded with caution rather than celebration. Economic growth forecasts have been revised down to 1%. The budget has returned to deficit, and property tax revenue is declining. 

Industry groups broadly described the budget as careful and responsible, while advocates for renters, farmers, the homeless and people with disabilities criticised the limited support. Groups representing the almost 3 million people who live in regional New South Wales - almost one-third of the state’s population - felt the budget fell short for the regions.

And with a state election approaching in early 2027, many stakeholders indicated they will continue to advocate for additional measures from the Minns government.

The numbers at a glance

Key figures highlighted by stakeholders:

$10.3 billion Health funding increase (4 yrs)	$561.4 million Transport Affordability Package
$100 Off private car registration	$50 Weekly toll cap (down from $60)
$184.1 million Domestic & family violence boost	$9.2 billion New & upgraded schools
$6.5 billion Electric buses (10 yrs)	$116.7 billion Total infrastructure pipeline
$2.3 billion 2026-27 deficit	1.0% Growth forecast (down from 2.5%)

Sector scorecards

Cost of living relief [Mixed]

The budget’s headline announcement is a 12-month, $561.4 million Transport Affordability Package, offering $100 off private car registration, a reduced weekly toll cap from $60 to $50, Opal fares frozen at 2025 prices, and the removal of toll administration fees. 

Additionally, $557.1 million was committed to the Home Energy Saver scheme, continuing the interest-free loans for households to install energy-saving upgrades. 

The New South Wales public sector is the largest employer in Australia, so a $1,000 bonus for 120,000 government workers was well received by the Public Service Association and for  public servants living in Sydney. The bonus comes off the back of the announcement that Sydney’s CPI had exceeded 4 per cent since this time last year. 

Australia’s peak industry association, the Australian Industry Group, described the cost-of-living measures as a sensible response, acknowledging current economic challenges, noting that the relief is intended to be temporary.

"Today's NSW Budget treads carefully, given the challenging economic times ahead for the State's economy."

— Helen Waldron, NSW State Head, Australian Industry Group

Leading community services organisation Social Futures welcomed the support but cautioned that it is limited, noting that lower public transport fares and tolls primarily benefit urban areas, and that low-income households remain at risk. 

And the Insurance Council of Australia expressed concern that the Emergency Services Levy continues to rise, with NSW households and businesses carrying the load, set to pay $1.5 billion this year. 

Health and mental health [Mixed]

The NSW health sector received the largest commitments in this year’s budget, with a $10.3 billion increase over four years. This increase includes 9,000 additional health workers, and an $11.9 billion building program for 32 hospitals and 2,500 extra beds. 

The industry group representing NSW general practitioners welcomed support for patient transitions out of hospital, funding for rural travel, and the Thriving Kids and ADHD initiatives.

"GPs can help to cure a healthcare system struggling under the burdens of an ageing population, an epidemic of chronic disease, and a growing need for mental health care."

— Dr Rebekah Hoffman, RACGP NSW & ACT Chair

The doctors’ union was more guarded in its response, with the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) welcoming the funding but stating it does not address the core issue of recruiting and retaining staff, as NSW continues to offer the lowest doctor salaries in Australia.

"Doctors, nurses and other health professionals have kept the public health system functioning under enormous pressure, but dedication is not a workforce plan."

— Dr Nicholas Spooner, President, ASMOF NSW

The NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association took the criticism further, with NSW AMA claiming the government’s health funding has gone backwards in real terms, due to health inflation rising at 4.9 per cent. 

"The NSW Government has promised 9,000 additional health workers, including paramedics, nurses and allied health staff, but there is no mention of doctors. That is a serious gap in today’s Budget."

— Dr Fred Betros. President, AMA NSW 

Mental health groups expressed concerns about their stakeholders being overlooked in this year’s budget. The Mental Health Coordinating Council welcomed crisis funding, but stated the budget relies too heavily on hospitals to deliver services. 

"Mental health reform cannot rely primarily on hospitals and crisis responses."

— Dr Evelyne Tadros, CEO, Mental Health Coordinating Council

NSW’s Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA) also criticised the government for not addressing priorities from the 2024 Drug Summit, leaving over 100,000 people waiting for treatment.

Housing, property and homelessness [Negative]

Housing was the most challenged area in the budget announcement. The government highlighted planning reforms, an expanded Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee, and funding for Modern Methods of Construction. 

Community housing group, Faith Housing and the Planning Institute of Australia viewed these as positive steps. However, the Urban Development Institute raised concern over an $8 billion reduction in property tax revenue.

"The lack of direct investments in supply-side initiatives in this Budget will make it harder for us to turn around the housing crisis."

— Stuart Ayres, CEO, UDIA NSW

The peak body for property developers in Australia, Urban Taskforce described the budget as a missed opportunity to increase housing supply, and the Property Council warned that additional federal tax changes could further reduce the number of new homes. 

Homelessness and tenant advocates were more critical. Homelessness NSW described the housing package as insufficient, and the Tenants' Union noted that the government holds $2.5 billion in renters' bonds, forgoing up to $200 million annually in interest.

"We should not let the pursuit of budget savings punish the state's most vulnerable people by putting off meaningful investment in housing and homelessness."

— Amy Hains, A/CEO, Homelessness NSW

The Retirement Living Council welcomed the removal of foreign surcharge duty on large retirement village projects, describing retirement living as essential infrastructure.

Domestic violence and social services [Positive]

A $184.1 million increase put forward by the government would raise funding by 50% across six frontline domestic and family violence programs, marking the largest core funding boost for the sector in over a decade. 

The Male Family Violence Prevention Association, or “No to Violence”, had advocated for this change, and welcomed the recognition of programs directly addressing men who use violence.

"Men's Behaviour Change Programs play a vital role in stopping violence at the source."

— Phillip Ripper, CEO, No to Violence

The NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS), NSW’s peak social services body, responded to the announcements positively. They welcomed funding for award wage increases for community workers and enhanced patient travel support, while advocating for increased investment in preventative measures.

"This Budget lays the groundwork for deeper investment in people and communities."

— Cara Varian, CEO, NCOSS

Community groups like Uniting NSW.ACT and Social Futures agreed, stating the budget missed an opportunity to invest in early support to prevent families from reaching crisis.

Infrastructure and construction [Mixed]

While the government highlighted a $116.7 billion infrastructure pipeline, industry stakeholders pointed to a downward trend. Infrastructure Partnerships Australia reported a $1.1 billion reduction in infrastructure funding, but characterised this as a deliberate measure, rather than neglect.

"The Budget isn't flash, it doesn't hand out treats like confetti, but it does deliver a sizeable serving of sensible government."

— Adrian Dwyer, CEO, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia

Construction industry groups expressed concern, with the NSW Civil Contractors Federation (CCF NSW) warning that without a consistent pipeline, skilled workers may relocate interstate and become costly to attract back.

"This State Budget reflects an underwhelming level of infrastructure investment relative to the scale of NSW's growth needs."

— Kylie Yates, CEO, CCF NSW

The NSW Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association were more optimistic, noting increased housing approvals and welcoming the emphasis on prefabrication and materials supply.

Business and industry [Mixed]

Business groups acknowledged the Treasurer’s fiscal discipline but noted a lack of direct support. 

Business NSW welcomed the $4.1 billion workers’ compensation premium freeze for employers but highlighted the absence of a payroll tax cut and no changes to the Emergency Services Levy.

"The Government is expecting to collect an additional $1 billion in payroll tax – or about $25,000 per eligible business – pushing more of the tax burden onto employers at a time they can least afford it."

— Daniel Hunter, CEO, Business NSW

Unions NSW viewed the budget differently, describing the end of the wage cap and the return of hospitals and prisons to public management as positive outcomes for workers.

"We are seeing the dividend of a government that understands the value of essential workers."

— Mark Morey, Secretary, Unions NSW

Regional NSW and agriculture [Negative]

Perhaps the strongest criticism on budget night came from regional stakeholders across the state. The Country Women’s Association of NSW stated the budget prioritised those living in Sydney, with significant funding for Western Sydney hospitals, schools, and transport, while regional roads, maternity services, and mobile coverage were not addressed.

"Billions for Western Sydney. Crumbs for the bush. The Budget does not lie."

— Tanya Jolly, State President, CWA of NSW

NSW Farmers also criticised the budget, stating it was repeating previous announcements and not in support of the sector’s goal of reaching a $30 billion industry by 2030. Both groups indicated they will make regional NSW a key campaign platform ahead of the 2027election.

"Producers are facing generational challenges and what we've seen today is a recycled response that does nothing to address the issues that matter most."

— Xavier Martin, President, NSW Farmers

Education and early learning [Mixed]

The budget included education commitments of $9.2 billion, including over 260 new and upgraded schools, with a quarter of the funding to be directed to regional areas. 

Education workers unions welcomed the move to make tens of thousands of teaching positions permanent. However, the early learning sector received no immediate funding boost, noted by the Independent Education Union. They cited the absence of promised support for community preschools, although an announcement is expected soon.

"It's time for wages that properly value the work of community preschool staff."

— Carol Matthews, Branch Secretary, IEUA NSW/ACT

Energy, environment and transport [Positive]

The budget outlined $6.5 billion over ten years to build electric buses and depots in NSW, a measure supported by unions for supporting local manufacturing. 

The continuation of funding to households looking to make energy savings was mostly well received, with $557.1 million promised for the Home Energy Saver program.

Further to this, the budget looks to unlock up to $77 billion in private investment through the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. Master Builders of NSW emphasised the benefits of the funding, creating regional construction jobs with the rollout of renewable energy projects.

Legal and justice [Negative]

The NSW Police were promised funding across a range of initiatives in a challenging period for law and order in the state. In reaction to the funding announcements, the Police Association of NSW (PANSW) welcomed the $108.8 million investment targeting digital infrastructure and crime-fighting technology. However, the union pushed for more workplace reform and funding for front-line resources. 

To the contrary, the legal sector expressed dismay about being excluded from infrastructure spending. The Law Society of NSW stated the legal profession was overlooked in the budget’s building program, with no funding for key asks such as safe rooms for victims or digital court upgrades. 

"Our members will be disappointed that the court system was allocated a meagre share of the $116.7 billion in state infrastructure investments through to 2030."

— Ronan MacSweeney, President, Law Society of NSW

Community Legal Centres NSW further noted that $3.5 million promised under a national agreement for community legal practice a year ago remains unfunded.

"People cannot pay their rent with promises, and community legal centres cannot deliver services with funding that has never arrived."

— Sarah Marland, Executive Director, Community Legal Centres NSW

Mining and resources [Positive]

The resources sector responded positively, highlighting in statements that mining royalties are projected to reach $3.4 billion next year. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) welcomed the continuation of the Critical Minerals Royalty Deferral Scheme and progress on land access reform, while emphasising the need for faster project approvals.

"There's no better way to improve productivity than approving projects quicker."

— Warren Pearce, CEO, AMEC

The NSW Minerals Council had a similar sentiment but took the opportunity to criticise the federal government for recent inflation and interest rate hikes and proposed changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing. They pointed to the claim that the NSW budget will now lose at least $8.4 billion in foregone property-related taxation revenues, and that mining royalties will need to help cover that gap. 

The winners and losers

Stakeholders point to the positives and negatives out of this year’s Budget. 

WINNERS

LOSERS

Nurses, midwives and essential public workers — the wage cap is gone, with pay rises of 16–28% over three years and a $1,000 cost-of-living payment for 120,000 staff. Drivers and commuters — $100 off rego, a $50 weekly toll cap, frozen Opal fares and scrapped toll admin fees. Women and children escaping violence — a 50% funding lift across six frontline domestic violence programs. First home buyers — average savings of $20,400, with about 30,000 more expected to benefit next year. Hospital patients — $11.9 billion to build 32 new and upgraded hospitals and 2,500 extra beds. Older people downsizing — foreign surcharge duty waived on large retirement village and build-to-rent projects. Local bus manufacturing — $6.5 billion to build electric buses and depots in NSW.

Renters — the government forgoes up to $200 million a year in interest on $2.5 billion of held bonds. People sleeping rough — homelessness advocates call the $224 million housing package “crumbs”. Young people without a home — no new investment in specialist homelessness services since 2012. Farmers and the bush — no new transformational funding; “billions for Western Sydney, crumbs for the bush.” Businesses — no payroll tax or Emergency Services Levy relief, with payroll taking up about $1 billion. Insurance holders — the Emergency Services Levy is forecast to raise $1.5 billion, up 66% over five years. Drug and alcohol services — the 2024 Drug Summit priorities go unfunded as 100,000 people wait for treatment. Community legal centres — $3–3.5 million promised a year ago, still undistributed.

What this means for communicators

This budget is defensive in nature, presented as a relief budget to the people of New South Wales. With growth slowing, inflation continuing to rise, and an election approaching in March 2027, the government is prioritising measures that directly impact voters, such as everyday costs for fuel, tolls, fares, and power bills, over large new projects.

 Cost-of-living measures, health funding, and domestic violence spending are expected to be central to the government’s messaging in the coming days and weeks. 

A clear pattern in stakeholder reactions is the divide between metropolitan and regional interests. Regional groups, including the CWA, NSW Farmers, and rural health and legal groups have consistently expressed concerns about being overlooked, and have noted Sydney projects receiving significant funding. This regional grievance is likely to become a prominent narrative in the lead-up to the election.

Housing remains another hot issue for the government. Industry representatives warn that housing supply is stagnating and the tax base is shrinking, while homelessness and tenant advocates argue that vulnerable groups are being overlooked. 

With both ends of the spectrum - from developers to welfare organisations - claiming ongoing dissatisfaction, housing will be a persistent challenge for the Minns government. 

The opposition has characterised the budget as evidence that NSW is regressing, suggesting that housing, regional services, and business costs will shape the election debate as we head into 2027. A clear understanding of audience groups and what drives them will be key to success for any government in such uncertain times. 

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For real-time monitoring of the budget reactions and the journey to the 2027 state election, register here and we'll reach out to you.

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There is a new frontier where public perception is shaped: Large Language Models. Right now, LLMs are answering critical questions about your organisation. What are they saying? And more importantly, which sources are shaping those answers?

To navigate this landscape, public relations professionals don't need generic tools, but rather technology that speaks their language, and addresses the realities of a changed media and informational landscape.

That is why we're unveiling Lumina AI View, the latest addition to our intelligent suite of AI tools from Isentia. Trained specifically on the workflows and challenges of modern PR & communications, Lumina AI View helps you understand exactly what AI knows about you, and how it learned it.

A new standard for AI visibility

AI View tracks your citation strength and source quality alongside those of your competitors, giving you a clear view of where you hold authority and where you have gaps.

Lumina AI View maps your AI reputation from the ground up, allowing you to:

• See which sources matter: When tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini discuss your organisation, which outlets do they cite? Track your source footprint over time and view the impact of key target media on how you’re discussed. We measure your citation strength and source quality alongside those of competitors, giving you a clear view of where you have authority and where you have gaps.
• Gain industry-specific insight: Your competitors get cited from Financial Times and Bloomberg. You get cited on Reddit. Each brings opportunity – and risk. Discover how you measure up against industry standards, and target the sources that actually influence how AI represents you.
• Catch narrative shifts early: AI responses change when new sources appear, sentiment shifts, or old controversies resurface. Get alerts when citation patterns change suddenly, before they impact the way you’re perceived by stakeholders.

Measure your progress: From media monitoring to full media intelligence

Lumina AI View is built on the principle that insights get stronger with repeated measurement. To help you maintain a clear view of your reputation, our proprietary scoring system provides regular updates that show you:

• Evolving trends in how sources cite your organisation
• Competitive standing and benchmark metrics
• Where models differ in information presented, and sources cited 

Whether you run it weekly, on-demand, or whenever you need a check-in, patterns will emerge, trends will become clear, and you will build a baseline that makes any sudden narrative changes both comprehensible and the prerequisite to action.

Lumina AI View is part of Lumina AI, a comprehensive suite of AI tools built specifically for communicators. Our Lumina suite evolves traditional media monitoring into narrative intelligence, enabling you to truly understand how perceptions form, evolve, and impact your reputation.

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Get in touch to register your interest and see what Lumina AI View can do for you.

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