Isentia Conversations with Rachel Clements from the Centre for Corporate Health
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking to experts about the best ways of working and communicating through a time of unprecedented change.
In this episode, we talk to Rachel Clements, the Director of Psychological Services at the Centre for Corporate Health. Rachel shares some practical tips on how organisations can mitigate psychosocial risks in a time of heightened anxiety – and some advice on maintaining your own mental fitness. Isentia’s Insights Director, Ngaire Crawford also shares some of the trends across social and traditional media.
What mainstream media is saying, with Ngaire Crawford
3:30 – Over the past week, data from mainstream media suggests we’re starting to get a bit restless. Across Australia and New Zealand we’re talking about:
Lockdown restrictions
Business and Economic Impact
When will life be normal again?
Google searches have largely been about restriction levels and what people are and aren’t allowed to do. People are starting to unpack misinformation and search about interesting theories such as 5G towers causing coronavirus.
5:08 – On social media, people continue to reach out and be creative with memes, but there is still an undercurrent of stress and uncertainty.
5.28 – People are starting to shift their mentality from ‘what i need to care about right now’ to ‘ what i need to start caring about in the future’.
People have specifically been worried about:
⇒ Bills/rent/mortgages – specific items that need to be paid.
⇒ Superannuation – the increasing worry is reflective of the long term view – when will this be over?
⇒ Mental Health – still a concern for people
⇒ Job losses – more so about individual bill payments and reduced personal income as opposed to job losses or business strategies.
6:28 – Having context is incredibly important. As communicators, everyone wants to provide genuine and authentic information. It’s important to:
⇒ Understand who you’re communicating to and what they’re feeling.
⇒ Listen. Add additional sources into your information bubble. Look at what’s trending on Google, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Look at specific hashtags to get an understanding of what people are talking about and are interested in.
⇒ Seek feedback from audiences, but be aware that patience is starting to wane.
⇒ Keep curious, consider your own media consumption habits and who you are supporting and why.
⇒ Continue to watch what drives emotional responses online such as cancel culture and conspiracy theories, which are usually indicative of wider audience feelings and outrage.
⇒ Audiences and businesses are starting to get antsy about normality and what the future looks like – they want to know what will the new normal look like?
Rachel Clements addresses the psychosocial risks during COVID-19
9:08 – Rachel tells us there are many psychosocial risks impacting people around the world in relation to COVID-19. In particular, people are experiencing an emotional journey and a wellbeing journey. She says you need to understand what’s happening emotionally with people, so you can tailor communication according to the stage that they’re in.
10:00 – To understand the psychosocial risks for COVID-19, a framework has been developed that outlines its 3 stages.
Stage 1 – we were (and some of us still are) operating in flight or fight, operating in panic, fear and anxiety and not taking in much information. We were just trying to survive.
We were adjusting to working from home, adjusting to new technology and having to do pivots within our business. There was a need to look at the media and be drawn into the fear contaigum.
People in this stage don’t take in much information, so we have to be careful with how tailored messages were communicated.
There are many people still in this stage, but there is a shift of people moving into stage 2.
11:15 – Stage 2 – is thought to be more psychologically challenging than stage 1. This is because there is a realisation social isolation and social distancing is our reality and its duration is unknown. Things are unpredictable and this can be mentally tough for people.
11:47 – At the moment, there’s an increase in disengagement, an increase in dissatisfaction, anger, irritability, frustration and languishing – which is akin to depression. If people are sitting in the stage of languishing, they are suddenly feeling unmotivated and not satisfied, a languishing mindset can start to take a toll on their mental wellbeing.
People are starting to transition into ‘i’m tired’, ‘i’m sick of this’ and begin to break the rules or behave in a way that is opposite to what they are asked to do.
12:22 – Stage 3 – People start to adjust to the new normal and have a bit of optimism for the future. People begin to become creative again and feel a sense of hope.
It’s important to understand the different stages in order to communicate. The success of your communication is based on the stage of a person’s emotional journey and their readiness to take in information.
13:10 – There are some psychosocial risk factors currently seen in our workplace environments:
⇒ Pre-existing mental health conditions. Those who were already in an anxious or depressive state, who’ve been forced into social isolation and self distancing, puts them at risk of exacerbation. Drugs and alcohol are being used as a coping mechanism to deal with the increased fear and anxiety people are feeling.
⇒ Pre-existing circumstances within our lives such as relationship break-ups, issues with children, financial stressors, don’t stop and people’s capacity and ability to deal with these external stressors have eroded.
⇒ Family dynamics – although our situations have changed, our expectations have not. There are increased feelings of failure, guilt and burn-out as we try to keep up with family life and work life. The inability to change our mindset and expectations to our current circumstance are leading to excessive stress.
⇒ Family and domestic violence – there are increased levels of hostility and an increase in domestic violence during social isolation.
17:19 – Employment risks have also increased, some of these include:
⇒ Financial pressure caused by the economic downturn. People are concerned about their job security and their financial position.
⇒ Workload challenges. People are trying to balance their personal life, professional life and their associated workloads.
⇒ Loss of direction from social isolation. It can also make people feel demotivated and we need to ensure our teams are kept motivated to prevent languishing and dissatisfaction.
18:45 – During these times, people are struggling with their wellbeing. Trends are already being noticed, these include:
⇒ Heightened levels of anxiety
⇒ Exacerbation of pre-existing mental health conditions
⇒ Presentation of new mental health conditions
⇒ Increase in social withdrawal
⇒ Increase in drug and alcohol use as a coping mechanism
⇒ Increase in incidences of intolerance, aggression and conflict. Humans don’t like to be contained and this is why there is an increase in these behaviours.
⇒ Increase in incidences of domestic violence
⇒ Increase levels of suicidality
21:05 – Wellbeing needs to be on the radar and there has never been a better time for organisations to communicate and discuss strategies to prevent people’s wellbeing diminishing. These include:
⇒ Equip HR and leaders to lead remotely and equip all employees to work remotely
⇒ Identify unique workplace psychosocial stressors – is someone in the team going through a stressful time personally? Is a family member unwell or is someone experiencing a mental health issue?
⇒ Maintain connectivity – seeing someone’s eyes can be beneficial for feeling connected
⇒ Maintain a balance between work and other commitments whilst working remotely
⇒ Develop and maintain a ‘new business as usual’ – find new routines and effective ways to work. People respond well to routine.
⇒ Supportive and visible leadership
⇒ Recognise early warning signs of poor mental health
⇒ Manage anxiety and maintain resilience
⇒ Have R U OK? Conversations
⇒ Promote employment assistance programs and virtual onsite support
If you would like to view other Webinar Isentia Conversations: Communicating through Change:
Loren is an experienced marketing professional who translates data and insights using Isentia solutions into trends and research, bringing clients closer to the benefits of audience intelligence. Loren thrives on introducing the groundbreaking ways in which data and insights can help a brand or organisation, enabling them to exceed their strategic objectives and goals.
This month, we chat to Shirish Kulkarni, Director of Monnow Media about effective storytelling. He shares his research about why the way we tell stories needs to change to make news more engaging, inclusive and informative.
Isentia’s Insights Director, Ngaire Crawford also shares some of the trends we’re seeing across social and traditional media, and how we’re seeing the notion of ‘effective’ storytelling change for our clients.
https://youtu.be/tz8LuhjuzBA
Ngaire Crawford talks about the storytelling trends across social and traditional media
3:41 - Mainstream media is talking about:
Back to end-to-end COVID coverage with a regular cadence of updates
Anti-maskers are in the spotlight and the phrase “Bunnings Karen” has returned over 6000 media items
A slight increase in global coverage related to second waves of the virus.
Considerable reduction in racial inequality discussions
Across New Zealand where COVID isn’t quite the main focus, there is a lot of coverage about elections and electioneering.
5:12 - Across social media, there is a lot of division:
Between openly calling out misinformation, and perpetuating misinformation.
Between those ‘doing the right thing’ and those who are not. This is more about calling out individuals rather than organisations.
6:12 - On Google Trends, people across Australia and New Zealand are looking for search terms:
Kerry Nash (Bunnings Karen)
A lot of TV shows and celebrity content (Kanye West etc)
Sports (NZ)
7:06 - In terms of storytelling, it’s important to understand the context in which you are communicating. The things to consider:
Impact of video - divisiveness can breed “recipients” or “evidence” based culture. Video is the easiest way for messages to spread quickly and for media to lift the story. Consider this from a risk perspective (media and customer service training) as well as your content - it might not the time for beautifully produced videos just yet.
Echo chambers -heightened emotional states can mean that audiences seek out information that confirms information they want to believe. Keep an eye on misformation that’s relevant to you and your organisation.
Media as a moral high-ground: Anti-maskers, “fake news” etc can cause a really visceral reaction from the public, and from news media. Unfortunately, this misunderstands the context of those arguments.
9:37 - The narratives to watch at the moment:
Rules fatigue: People are getting tired of being told what to do, it’s a natural reaction (psychological reactance) but it’s something to be really mindful of when communicating right now. There is a heightened emotional state, especially for those who are entering a second lockdown.
Shirish Kulkarni talks effective storytelling
10:26 - Over the past year I’ve conducted research on how we can better tell news stories, and my findings can be applied across the communications industry. We are all storytellers in one way or another.
11:00 - We’re hardwired for stories, at an anthropological and neuroscientific level, stories help orientate us within the world. They are a virtual reality simulator helping us practice for real life.
11:53 - Typically, news stories do the opposite of traditional storytelling (i.e have a beginning and an end to the story). Instead, we (journalists) use the inverted pyramid structure where the top line is the conclusion and then filters down to the least interesting or least important information.
12:39 - The concept of the inverted pyramid structure dates back to the days of the telegraph, the original newswire. It was expensive, unreliable and it made sense to put the most important information at the beginning, just in case you lost the end of it. Although we don’t use the technology of the telegraph anymore, we still use the habits formed by that technology which continue to define journalism and communications.
13:03 - We conducted research with 1300 participants and the results showed users prefer stories that work in a straightforward and linear structure, much like traditional stories. More information was picked up as it fits with how we are hard-wired to navigate the world.
13:28 - Journalists are failing because they are ignoring what users need from the news. In an attempt to reverse that, I came up with six key principles that should be at the forefront of our minds when telling our stories.
Content - is it useful or relevant and does it help us understand the world better?
Context - are we providing enough context? News largely focuses on breaking or moving news but that's often to the detriment of context, analysis and understanding.
Users have agency - they are not just passive victims of the news, they can be part of creating solutions and want the opportunity to choose how to engage with the news.
Tone - we need to consider the tone we are using. We tend to fall back on journalist language which is old fashioned and formulae.
Diversity and inclusion - are crucial when storytelling. It’s about telling different stories, ones that reflect the richness of our societies. This is very important.
Inverted pyramid - is this the best structure to tell a narrative? What are the alternatives? What we are doing isn't working so we’ve got nothing to lose by trying something different.
17:24 - Based on these principles, I created a number of prototypes and tested them with users. When compared with a BBC news article, users overwhelmingly preferred our prototype. They picked up more information in less time and found it easier to navigate. This proves there is a better way of telling stories, we just need to be prepared to think differently and put users at the centre of our thinking.
Q&A
18:40 - How do you think the media coverage of COVID-19 applies to your research?
Media has a crucial role. The only justification to have journalism is to provide reliable and useful information. There’s a big thing about news being about entertainment and there’s a focus on the drama of news rather than the information of news. What do we need to know? We are users as well as the audience and this should be taken into consideration when wanting to drive engagement.
23:46 - Do you have any tips for making the linear narrative structure more effective especially through face to face presentations rather than emails?
What really worked for us was using a "narrative accordion". We had 5 questions, and the answers could be expanded and read based on the user's interest. It didn't matter whether the question was at the beginning or end as it was up to the interest of the user. Simplify what you’re saying, and question whether it’s useful to your users.
28:15 - What have you learned about younger generations and their behaviours?
People have an incorrect characterisation of young people and get their needs completely wrong. There is a perception you can’t make a video longer than two minutes for the younger generation because they have a short attention span and are unable to comprehend what is being said. This generation is the most emotionally and culturally intelligent generation we have ever had. Young people aren’t put off by complexity or depth, they are craving it. Don’t underestimate them.
If you would like toview other Webinar Isentia Conversations: Communicating through Change:
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Blog
Isentia Conversations with Shirish Kulkarni from Monnow Media
We chat to Shirish Kulkarni, Director of Monnow Media about effective storytelling. He shares his research about why the way we tell stories needs to change to make news more engaging, inclusive and informative.
From multi-national corporations to local government bodies, a media release is the bread and butter of any organisation.
It's the primary vehicle for delivering to the myriad journalists scanning both the digital and paper world for tidbits of information they can sculpt into newsworthy articles.
A media release that stands out from the crowd is much more likely to gain traction and, if you have accurate media tracking tools in place, can reveal a lot about your target demographic and its awareness of your brand. Of course nailing the perfect media release is no easy feat, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.
While a good writer will gradually hone their skills over years of practising their craft, there are a few things you can do to instantly improve the quality - and open rates - of your releases. Boost your chances of exposure and consequent brand recognition by avoiding these seven deadly sins of media release writing:
1. Lust - your uncontrolled desire for wordy headlines
Conciseness is the hallmark of any good media release writer, and this extends to your headlines, too. While your headline should convey an idea of what the media release contains, making it too long turns audiences off and discourages them from reading on. Copyblogger reported that 80 per cent of people may read a headline, but only 20 per cent will read the rest.
Keep your headlines, short, snappy and creative. Incorporating meaty or surprising statistics into the headline will improve your press releases' chances of getting opened, as it immediately indicates what the rest of the text will be about.
2. Gluttony - your appetite for lengthy intros knows no limits
Journalists are busy people and don't have time to spend dissecting lengthy discussions on the latest and greatest developments at your organisation, regardless of how well it's written. A reader should be able to get the gist of your media release within the first paragraph or two at most.
Media monitoring analytics may be able to reveal successful patterns in your media release structures, allowing you to cut the filler, condense your writing and get to the crux of the issue as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence and convoluted media releases are unlikely to ever see the light of the day.
3. Greed - you overindulge in promotional phrasing
Media releases are a balancing act between news and promotion, though many PR managers are guilty of leaning too heavily towards the latter. A media release is not an opportunity to sell a product or service and the language you use should reflect this.
Steer well away from salesy sentencing and avoid hyping up your organisation too much. Instead, present the facts in an objective and impartial manner, discuss the role your organisation played in the topic at hand, and let readers form their own opinion.
4. Sloth - you recycle information and use it in your media releases
Media releases feature a distinct style of language and structure and each one you write should be treated as an opportunity to teach consumers about your organisation. Even with deadlines looming over you, avoid copying text from internal documents and including it in your media releases.
Similar to how you would tailor a resume to get a specific job, media releases should be crafted to target a specific magazine, newspaper or website. Write each one from scratch and create unique content that will really hit the mark with your chosen demographic.
5. Wrath - you use excessive exclamation marks
Exclamation marks, most commonly associated with anger (wrath) or loudness, are one of the most ill-used punctuation marks in media releases. You may be excited about developments within your organisation, but using exclamation marks (or worse, multiple exclamation marks) to highlight your point makes the media release look spammy, overly promotional and untrustworthy.
Limit your use of this punctuation mark. Unless someone in your media release feels particularly strongly about a certain subject, it's unlikely that you'll need one whatsoever.
6. Envy - you try to copy other press releases
It can be frustrating to see another media release gain serious traction in your market, especially when you feel as though yours are just as well crafted. However, do not begin mimicking the media releases of other organisations in hopes of achieving similar success.
Be confident in your skills to create a winning media release and feel free to experiment with structures that are a little bit different. As noted in the slothful sin, a media release should be unique in style and content, and copying another's will not reap sustainable results in the long run.
7. Pride - you write about events that are not newsworthy
You're proud of your company and you want the world to know about every little development that takes place behind its doors - we understand. However, remember that media releases essentially help journalists report on the news. If it's not timely, local, new, extreme, unusual or high-impact, you may need to reconsider how newsworthy your media release really is.
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Blog
The 7 Deadly Sins Of Writing A Media Release
From multi-national corporations to local government bodies, a media release is the bread and butter of any organisation.
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.
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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NSW Budget 2026: Cost of living relief ahead, but regions, renters, and businesses remain unconvinced
NSW Budget 2026: a sector breakdown of who gained and who didn’t, with stakeholder reactions across housing, health, business and more.
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?
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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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Blog
Introducing Lumina AI View: AI Visibility Built for PR & Comms
Lumina AI View, the latest in Isentia’s AI suite, is trained on PR & comms workflows to help you understand what AI knows about you — and how it learned it.