NSW Labor says it will spend $430 million to upgrade Westmead Hospital if it wins government, without leasing poles and wires.


The NSW opposition will provide $430 million to redevelop Westmead Hospital if it wins government at the March election, Labor leader Luke Foley says.

Mr Foley said the money can be spent without privatising the state's electricity assets, a major re-election platform of Premier Mike Baird.

"Labor's commitment is unconditional whereas under the Liberals, the redevelopment will only proceed if NSW families agree to Mr Baird's blackmail and the privatisation of the electricity network," Mr Foley said in a statement.

"Population projections indicate an additional one million people living in western Sydney by 2031. The Local Health District has estimated that by 2021, the area will need 20 per cent more hospital beds."

Mr Foley said Labor would provide $430 million to fund stage one of the Westmead redevelopment.

The money will come out of $3 billion Labor says it will spend on health and education, and key elements of the plan include a new emergency department, 14 new operating theatres and a new pathology service.

Mr Foley says he can unlock an additional $10 billion in infrastructure investment over the next 10 years, on top of the capital expenditure contained within the budget - valued at $15 billion per year.

Mr Baird has described the Labor blueprint as a shambles, while business groups earlier this week said Mr Foley's $10 billion plan minus the power deal amounts to an "attack" on small business.

Mr Foley had been under pressure to match the premier's aim of reaping $20 billion to spend on roads, railways, hospitals and schools through his planned lease of 49 per cent of the state's electricity distribution assets.

On Saturday he announced a package to match the NSW government's plan to build a billion-dollar light rail line in western Sydney.

While yet to formally table a route, Mr Foley says it makes sense for a line from Strathfield to Parramatta via Olympic Park.

Finance for the proposed project would include $600 million from Labor's $10 billion infrastructure package announced on Thursday.


Copyright AAP 2015