‘Where the bloody hell are ya?’: NZ’s budget sledge
New Zealand is campaigning for Australian talent off the back of major tax reforms in the budget, with the Kiwi government also whacking the broken promise.
budgets and budgeting
Taylor faces ‘strategic error’ in seizing on migration
Angus Taylor is set to face one of his biggest challenges as opposition leader when he hands down his budget reply amid a growing challenge from One Nation.
Middle ring could be ‘hollowed out’ by tax overhaul
Tax changes in the federal budget will likely shift property investors to new houses in the outer suburbs and inner-city apartments, economists say.
Coalition’s bracket creep plan to cost tens of billions
The coalition's economic plan for Australia would hand back more money to workers by indexing tax rates to inflation at a cost of tens of billions of dollars.
Bleak outlook for national economy if Iran war drags on
Higher budget spending won't help the Reserve Bank, economists warn, as a prolonged war in the Middle East is forecast to push inflation above seven per cent.
Tax relief for workers and pain for investors in budget
Australians who earn a wage will get $250 in tax relief as part of Labor's budget, but investors and wealthy families could be left worse off.
Budget spending stokes fears of further rate rise pain
An extra $114 billion in federal government spending will be directed off-budget as the treasurer claims a "historically responsible" fiscal update.
Labor tucks away $77b war chest for further tax cuts
A new $250 a year tax offset gives the government an option to return bracket creep directly to working Australians, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.
Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
Budget announcements for green industry and nature protection fall short as climate costs mount and opportunities to extract more fossil fuel income go missed.
Tax, migration and NDIS in coalition’s economic sights
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has unveiled a raft of economic policies aimed at winning back voter support and countering the rise of One Nation.
Last-minute budget pitch to ‘level field’ for young
Labor has made a pre-budget pitch to young Australians on social media as the government shakes up the tax system to help more people buy homes.
Super shake-up wins support as budget savings spruiked
Changes to the superannuation performance test will unlock more investment opportunities, the sector says, but concerns are raised over the scheme's integrity.
Full steam ahead: billions more locked in for rail line
The federal taxpayer's stake in Victoria's massive Suburban Rail Loop public transport project has ballooned to $6 billion, as regional rail gets the axe.
Labor plots budget housing boost to fend off One Nation
Jim Chalmers hopes slashing red tape and winding back investor tax breaks will convince voters the dream of home ownership is still alive.
Budget builds up to shift for ‘broken’ housing market
An extra $2 billion will be pledged in the budget to build sewerage and roads for new homes as the treasurer frames housing policy as a remedy to populism.
‘Need to do more’: Labor to lift lid on housing reform
Australians are under financial pressure and the government cannot "just sit back", the prime minister says, as his treasurer prepares to hand down the budget.
Hopes of wartime windfall shot down for federal budget
The federal treasurer is being urged not to grandfather tax breaks for asset-holders in the budget as the economic impact of the Iran war worsens.
PM rubbishes budget tax speculation as home prices slow
Sydney's home price premium over Brisbane and Perth continues to narrow as values retreat in Australia's two largest cities.
Fiscal restraint to define federal budget as costs rise
Health, defence and welfare commitments are among fiscal pressures weighing on the federal budget as Treasurer Jim Chalmers vows to put a lid on spending.
Budget to address ‘immediate needs’ of households: PM
The upcoming federal budget is widely tipped to pare back incentives for property investors as the prime minister promises to tackle intergenerational inequity.
Right tax moves matter more than mandates: treasurer
Expected changes to negative gearing or capital gains tax would not break an election promise because they would be for the right reasons, Jim Chalmers says.
More cops, jail guards as territory budget fights crime
The NT budget offers no "lollies and sweets" but it cements the government's tough-on-crime approach, its architects say.
Treasurer hoses down talk of big budget handouts
The Reserve Bank governor was only talking about hypotheticals when saying extra government spending makes it harder to control inflation, the treasurer argues.
Islamic State-linked cohort to face arrest on return
A group of 13 women and children are set to return to Australia after years spent in a Syrian refugee camp following the fall of Islamic State.
End of the free ride: studies call for road user charge
Two transport groups say fuel excise is no longer running smoothly and the government needs to charge motorists based on how far they drive.
Fuel bonus as WA posts eighth straight budget surplus
More than $1 billion in cost-of-living relief will be shared in Western Australia as the state capitalises on an iron ore uplift to bank another budget surplus.
Worse to come as oil crisis adds fuel to rate-pain fire
A rate hike in May is forecast by analysts after the Iran oil shock pushed the annual headline inflation level to the highest point in almost three years.
NDIS in treasurer’s sights as budget outlook darkens
The treasurer is playing down talk of an improvement to the federal budget bottom line after economists tipped an Iran war-driven revenue boon.
‘Pretty severe’: warnings for Australia ahead of budget
One of the world's leading economic bodies has warned a global recession could be on the way if the Middle East conflict is not resolved quickly.
Spoils of Iran war to deliver Chalmers a budget boost
The federal budget will be billions of dollars better off, even with added spending, because of higher commodity prices and inflation, a top economist says.
Reality bites as Gen X defers cost of living
As fuel costs soar, more consumers are choosing to buy now and pay later - and the biggest spenders may come as a surprise.