NSW home buyers win with July 1 changes

CHANGES FOR NSW RESIDENTS FROM JULY 1:

HOUSING

* First home buyers won't pay stamp duty on new or existing properties worth up to $650,000. They'll also receive discounts on homes up to $800,000.

* Stamp duty on lenders' mortgage insurance will be scrapped.

POWER BILLS

* Households will face an annual average increase of more than $300 as electricity prices jump by almost 20 per cent.

* Gas prices will increase by more than six per cent for residential customers, and almost 20 per cent for businesses.

COMMUTERS

* There'll be a 2.4 per cent hike on Opal fares - which amounts to about 50 cents a week for the average customer. The increase won't apply to Gold Opal card holders.

PARKING FEES

* Carers who visit a hospital more than twice a week will be able to apply for a concession card, allowing them to pay for only 10 per cent of hospital parking fees. About 30 hospitals have agreed to the state government deal so far.

BEACHGOERS

* Shark-spotting drones with sirens will patrol the state's northern beaches over the upcoming school holidays for the first time.