NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam today unveiled his ten top priorities to get NSW back in front after 12 years of Labor.

"NSW used to be the premier state. After 12 years of Labor, it's a claim we can no longer make," Mr Debnam said.

"Today I outline my plan and my priorities to get NSW back in front and restore NSW as the Premier state again," he said.

My plan comprises ten priority tasks

1. Rescue and grow the NSW economy right across the state;

2. Tackle our water crisis and begin drought proofing NSW;

3. Deliver the roads and infrastructure NSW has been waiting for;

4. Stop the rot and restore accountability to State Government in NSW;

5. Run a public transport system that commuters want to use;

6. Get resources to our nurses on the frontline in our hospitals;

7. Ensure the justice system protects our community first, not offenders;

8. Re-empower and equip police to protect public safety;

9. Make public schools an attractive choice for all families; and

10. Take the lead on managing the impacts of climate change.

"This plan to get NSW back in front focuses on the critical issues of rescuing the NSW economy from recession, tackling the water crisis and delivering the roads and infrastructure our economy needs to grow," he said.

"These are the issues which underpin our lifestyle, our jobs and our security.

"I've already outlined an extensive policy framework to deal with water. I will establish a $1 billion Drought Proofing NSW Infrastructure Fund to go towards stormwater harvesting, dam enhancement, recycling ocean outfalls and repairing leaky pipes.

"I will also double the rainwater tank rebate and extend it to country NSW.

"To kickstart the economy to get NSW back in front, I will reduce the burden of taxation on businesses through payroll tax cuts exempting 4,500 businesses and giving a tax cut to a further 22,000 businesses.

"I will introduce a Housing and Homebuyer Rescue Package including raising the first homebuyer grant, providing stamp duty concessions for investors providing low-cost rental accommodation, and extending incentives for businesses to employ apprentices.

"These policies build on the initiatives I announced earlier this year to restore accountability, improve decision making, remove duplication, cut delays, reduce costs and restore public confidence in private public partnerships, that has been decimated by Labor in the wake if the Cross City and Lane Cove tunnel debacles, just to name a few.

These initiatives include:

• establishing a clear, public, infrastructure plan for metropolitan Sydney and NSW that sets out priorities and projects for the near and long term;

• ending silo-based infrastructure decision-making and avoiding project delays by using the successful Olympic Coordination Authority model to deliver a whole-of-government approach;

• establishing an Infrastructure Development Round Table, which I will chair, comprising relevant Ministers, Department Heads and business leaders to identify projects and priorities, recommend improvements to the bid process and drive a national approach to PPPs through COAG and the National reform agenda;

• creating Partnerships NSW to engage the brightest and  most experienced minds from the public and private sectors to ensure each project is funded in a way that delivers optimum public value and outcomes, by appropriately allocating risk and responsibility in any partnership;

• ending the paralysis of Labor’s planning and approval system, by resolving numerous and long over-due regional plans and LEPs across the State to give certainty to residents, councils and investors; and,

• reducing bid costs, especially for smaller projects, through greater standardisation of documentation and assessment procedures, tightening up Government specifications to reduce uncertainty in bid design and  ensuring an appropriate balance between necessary probity protections and an instructive flow of information between bidders and clients.

"These initiatives are all designed to ensure a NSW Liberal/Nationals Government does not repeat Labor’s mistakes on infrastructure, particularly when it comes to PPPs.

"Tough decisions have to be made. I will take them to get NSW back in front again," Mr Debnam said.