Cashed-up state to spend ‘like we’ve never seen before’
With another healthy budget surplus forecast, a state treasurer is expected to reveal significant spending to boost infrastructure investment and create jobs.
state budget and tax
Heartbroken mum urges free vaccines for deadly disease
After watching her son die in a few hours, a grieving parent is lobbying a state government to help prevent the disease that killed him.
Vance downplays row between Trump, ’emotional guy’ Musk
US Vice President JD Vance has sought to downplay Elon Musk's criticism of the president as an "emotional guy" who became frustrated.
Steelworks sale on track despite hit on state budget
The sale of a steelworks is tracking better than expected after a state government handed down its no frills budget.
Voters forgo sugar-hit as law and order tops budget
A pre-election budget has few sweeteners for voters as a state government focuses on boosting its law and order credentials with a $395 million package.
Liberal premier in crosshairs, fresh election possible
A Liberal state could be heading for a fresh election, with its minority premier vowing to fight on in the face of a no-confidence motion he is set to lose.
Liberal debt to double, state companies face sell-off
A state government is hanging its hat on potential asset sales and a public sector "efficiency unit" as means to pay down ballooning budget debt.
Premier denies ticketless fares revamp is off the rails
A completion delay and cost blowout on ticketless public transport fares for commuters doesn't mean the overhaul has hit the skids, a premier insists.
‘Wafer-thin’ budget surplus won’t fix debt problem
One unforeseen event would likely erode a state's long-awaited return to surplus, as its treasurer attempts to tame mounting debt in her first budget.
Debt piles up as public service faces $3b budget cut
Taxpayers are set to foot the bill as interest on debt eats a $29-million-a-day hole in a state budget, despite public service job cuts and higher tax revenue.
Billion-dollar promise to fix crime woes in Top End
More prison beds and a crackdown on parents who don't send their kids to school are among a territory government's big-ticket budget promises.
Frugal Kiwi government takes axe to central bank budget
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is "redesigning" its operations after the government announced funding cuts of 25 per cent from July.
Greens pushing Labor to scrap property tax breaks
Federal Labor has ruled out changes to property tax handouts, but the Greens will try to force the party to act on the issue if there's a hung parliament.
Coalition energises race for votes with gas and petrol
The coalition have pledged gas investment to bring down power prices as they position themselves as stronger leaders for the nation ahead of the election.
Labor gets tick on tax cut, Liberal fuel plan sputters
Labor's election tax cuts will provide a "meaningful" boost to the economy, while the coalition's fuel excise cuts have been labelled economically "silly".
Pauline Hanson eyes cuts on grog tax, climate spending
Pauline Hanson is taking aim at climate change spending, public servants and First Nations agencies in a bid to address the cost of living.
Public service jobs on line as poll battlelines form
The coalition has doubled down on plans to axe public service jobs if elected as the prime minister goes into bat for Australians working from home.
Labor ‘unashamed’ in pitch for cost of living vote
The federal budget will deliver help for working people, Anthony Albanese declares, as Labor tries to draw the opposition into revealing its hand.
No respite from tax burden on younger workers in budget
Young income earners will be increasingly called upon to fund rising public spending unless structural tax reforms are made in the next term of government.
Cheaper power bills pledge as Dutton spurs gas supply
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's budget reply has outlined an alternative vision to drive down energy costs and ease pressure on household budgets.
Feds accept GST recommendation despite state pressure
A controversial GST carve-up will go ahead as a federal minister says his government will not overrule an independent body's recommended funding for states.
Cyclone’s blow to budget as food, building costs hit
The full impact of the destruction wrought by Cyclone Alfred is being assessed, with grocery and construction prices under pressure.
Sunshine State dark as mining boom costs GST billions
One state has gone backwards in the latest recommended GST revenue carve-up with billions of dollars flowing to another as its population booms.
US budget deficit hits record $US1.147 trillion
The Treasury Department reports the US deficit in February rose $US11 billion from the same month in 2024.
Labor set for budget boost thanks to higher tax take
Australia's bottom line will be $11 billion better off, if the government releases a budget before the election, a leading economist predicts.
Credit rating outlook downgrade rests in state’s hands
A state government can fix a credit rating outlook downgrade in its first budget after an international agency identified "significant fiscal deterioration".
Public service jobs face axe in fresh bid to fix budget
Up to 3000 public service jobs are set to be slashed as a state seeks to burst its ballooning wage bill ahead of the budget.
State at war with watchdog over $11.7b budget blowout
The Victorian government is questioning the integrity of the financial watchdog in a bid to dismiss billions of dollars in updated major project cost figures.
Ex-Liberal spared conviction on personal tax offences
Former Tasmanian MP Adam Brooks has been spared a conviction on personal tax offences, while a company he directed was fined $5000 for failing to file returns.
Ballooning capital works blamed for budget blowout
A state will be in the red for some years as its government flags swelling infrastructure costs, as the opposition warns of the risk of potential spending cuts.
Budget blues in the most populous state as rates weigh
Government finances are wobbling in Australia's most populous state as stubbornly high interest rates weigh on home building and consumer spending.