Olympic city build back on track in Queensland budget
Queensland's budget locks in billions for 2032 Games venues and athletes' villages, with the government insisting the Olympic build is back on track.
state budget and tax
Budget delivers more help for under-pressure families
Roads, schools, and hospitals are all set to benefit from the NSW budget as the government looks to provide cost-of-living relief to motorists and families.
No-frills budget tips surprise surplus amid Games blitz
A pathway to surplus has been mapped out by a state government as it handed down a budget with cost of living relief while ramping up Olympic preparations.
Record cash splurge ahead of state’s high-stakes budget
A record building program looks set to collide with volatile coal royalties, weakening stamp duty and rising debt in a state government's high‑stakes budget.
Premier threatens to name and shame energy retailers
Cost-of-living rhetoric is ramping up ahead of a state budget as leaders deliver warnings to energy companies.
‘Basics’ budget the start of Labor state election pitch
In his government's last budget before a state election, the NSW treasurer is looking to sell a message of responsibility and basic service delivery.
Labor concedes popularity hit from tax changes
New carve-outs for startups and a backdown on trusts are aimed at reducing some of the political blowback from major capital gains tax reforms.
Founders warn of talent exodus despite tax carve-outs
A snap two-day parliamentary inquiry into budget tax changes is set to deliver its report as startup founders warn innovation will be hit despite carve-outs.
breaking_news
business (general)
business enterprises
economy, business and finance
inquiry
politics
state budget and tax
Tax carve-out backdown fails to cut it with businesses
Policy reversals mean innovative startups will have access to a 50 per cent capital gains discount and a mooted minimum tax on discretionary trusts will be cut.
Tax all cars: state urged to expand road-user charge
The NSW government could avoid having its planned road-user charge struck out by courts with big changes, including taxing more drivers.
breaking_news
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
politics
state budget and tax
Higher debt, cheaper homes as territory axes stamp duty
Stamp duty will be abolished for ACT first home buyers in an Australian first, despite the territory budget set to surpass $12 billion in debt.
‘Apples with oranges’: Labor brushes off Kiwi PM’s dig
A visiting leader's remark that taxing capital gains would be "disastrous" has been brushed aside by Labor figures who deny it was a dig at its big reforms.
Tobacco tax cut lit up as black market trade ‘solution’
A state government minister has conceded tobacco tax is fuelling rampant illegal trade as his federal Labor counterpart denies a cut would be a silver bullet.
Liberals mull Greens alliance to kill off tax changes
An unlikely political alliance could put the government's contentious changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount in jeopardy.
breaking_news
budgets and budgeting
economic policy
economy, business and finance
politics
state budget and tax
Budget relief for families but debt burden soars
South Australians will share in a $500 million package to ease the cost of living as the government insists a $53 billion debt won't spiral out of control.
‘Vested interests’ protest against housing tax changes
The property industry is challenging the government's modelling on the impact the federal budget will have on renters and housing supply.
NZ shuns ‘sugar hits’ in budget, cuts growth forecast
New Zealand has unveiled a bare-bones budget with a projected surplus sooner than expected, but few incentives for voters in an election year.
‘Huge mistake’: how Howard spurred Boomer investors
The share of property investors older than 60 has more than doubled since the capital gains discount was introduced, Reserve Bank of Australia research shows.
Treasury chief defends Labor’s beleaguered budget
Controversial budget changes would have cut the lifetime tax benefits for the top one per cent of earners by $400,000 if implemented in 2000, Treasury says.
Labor happy with softer housing market since budget
Tax changes in the federal budget are already helping to level the playing field, according to the housing minister.
Labor warned against rushing through major tax overhaul
The Greens are likely to give their support to changes to negative gearing and the capital gains discount but businesses fear it will drive investors offshore.
Concerns, doubts over Tasmania budget cuts
Rating agency S&P Global says Tasmania's budget repair carries "high execution risk," doubting the government will follow through on $1.47 billion in cuts.
Island state to cut, cut, cut its way back to the black
Tasmania will spend more on servicing debt in 2026/27 than on police, fire and emergency services, showing the scale of the state's borrowing challenge.
‘God help us’: warning as alcohol tax calls spill over
Calls are growing for the federal government to overhaul alcohol taxes to avoid a repeat of the black market takeover of cigarettes.
Auditor casts eye over ‘devious’ 40-year lottery deal
An independent auditor is probing whether a state government ran a competitive process before handing out a 40-year lottery deal after "exclusive" negotiations.
budgets and budgeting
construction and property
housing and urban planning
interest rate
politics
real estate
state budget and tax
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.
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.
Gas tax hopes flicker as reservation scheme revealed
Big gas companies will need to inject more LNG into the Australian market under a plan aimed at bringing down prices and shoring up supply.
breaking_news
budgets and budgeting
economic policy
economy, business and finance
mining
politics
state budget and tax
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.
Shock lottery deal ‘handcuffs’ state to gambling sector
A surprise state lottery deal has "handcuffed" future governments to the gambling industry and undone years of reform, a leading advocate says.
banking
central bank
diesel fuel
economy, business and finance
government
interest rate
mortgages
petrol
politics
state budget and tax
Oil crisis not over: warnings of diesel over $4 a litre
With the Strait of Hormuz still shut and stockpiles running down, economists warn fuel prices could spike above levels previously seen during this oil crisis.