Queensland floats universal ‘free kindy’ before budget
The Queensland government has floated making kindergarten free for all children as a cost-of-living-busting measure ahead of the upcoming state budget.
state budget and tax
Vow to spare Victorian families COVID debt budget bill
Victorians are bracing for bad news as the state government prepares to hand down its 2023/24 budget, which is expected to tackle record debt.
Businesses, landlords slugged to claw back Vic debt
A tax will be levied on big business and landlords under a $31.5 billion state budget plan but there are fears it will flow through to ordinary Victorians.
Victoria swings axe to fell native logging industry
The Victorian government will phase out native timber logging in 2024 and has announced a transition package in the state budget.
Business SA backs tax cut for regional companies
South Australia's peak business group has called for regional companies to get a payroll tax discount in the upcoming state budget.
WA budget billions to fund cost-of-living measures
The WA government has unveiled a $4.2b budget surplus on the back of solid economic growth, with cost-of-living relief and health key budget priorities.
Chalmers defends budget criticism of not enough support
Jim Chalmers says his budget provided targeted cost of living relief to the most vulnerable, fending off attacks that not enough was done for middle Australia.
Treasurer seeks to soothe budget relief inflation worry
Jim Chalmers says his budget will not fan inflation or lead to more interest rate rises but some leading economic experts are not convinced.
Environment groups blast ‘timid’ biodiversity funding
Australia's shocking loss of nature will not be fixed under a federal budget like the one delivered on Tuesday, conservation groups say.
NT budget locks in roads and ports for mining future
The Northern Territory is on track to return to surplus by 2026-27 as mining royalties and a greater share of GST boosts the coffers, Treasurer Eva Lawler says.
Workers on track for fastest wage growth in decades
Fierce competition for workers and government wage polices are expected to underpin strong wage growth in 2024, the federal budget papers confirm.
Higher coal royalties could net Qld an extra $5b
Queensland's coal royalty scheme targeting high global prices could add an extra $5 billion to the state budget's bottom line, the industry says.
Premier flags cost-of-living focus in Queensland budget
A rebate to offset the rising cost of energy will likely form part of the state government's plan to tackle cost of living pressures in next month's budget.
Budget black hole prompts line by line review
The NSW treasurer says he will be going through the budget "line by line" after departmental papers revealed a $7 billion black hole in the state's finances.
Queensland moves to slow pace of residential rent hikes
The Queensland government's move to reduce the frequency of rent increases has been welcomed by social service advocates but panned by the real estate sector.
Treasurer tips slimmer commodity budget boost in May
The treasurer has outlined eight areas of "heavy lifting" for the budget, including responsible cost of living relief and funding defence priorities.
Victorians facing energy price hikes of 30 per cent
Victoria's Essential Services Commission has proposed annual power bill increases of $426 a year for residential electricity customers on default offers.
Demand for urgent change to GST ‘atrocity’ rebuffed
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has rejected a call from his Victorian counterpart to urgently reassess the GST system amid claims it favours Western Australia.
Liberals ‘must do better’ bringing in women: Perrottet
The NSW premier says the Liberal Party needs to do better bringing women into its ranks, after falling short of its own target of 40 per cent representation.
Interest rate rises to delay Vic, NSW surplus returns
Higher borrowing costs would slow budgets returning to surplus in Australia's two most populous states, an independent credit agency has warned.
NSW rivals flex their economic muscle in western Sydney
The premier and the man who wants his job both insist they are the best qualified to handle the NSW budget in a pitch to voters in Sydney's west.
More than 200 cars deregistered over EV road user tax
The Victorian government has cancelled registrations for more than 200 vehicles as part of its low-emission vehicle road user charge being fought in court.
Battleground set for changes to superannuation tax
The treasurer says a change to super tax concessions above $3 million is a modest budget repair measure amid opposition attacks over the higher rate.
BHP urged to support coal communities as they exit
BHP's decision to sell two Queensland coal mines has riled unions and renewed calls from the resource industry for a review of the state's royalty rates.
Complete Gabba rebuild in $7b Brisbane Olympics deal
A complete rebuild of Brisbane's Gabba stadium and a new 17,000 seat arena in the city will form the cornerstone's of Queensland's Olympic infrastructure.
Minns cycles on as NSW Liberal campaign gets wobbles
NSW finance minister Damien Tudehope has quit his portfolio over a share scandal and another MP has been demoted while a Labor election hopeful has withdrawn.
NSW premier and treasurer at odds over ‘black hole’
Premier Dominic Perrottet insists the Warragamba Dam wall will be raised in the next four years, despite no funding being allocated in the NSW budget.
Future of Victorian electric vehicle tax up in the air
The High Court is set to rule on whether Victoria's electric vehicle tax is constitutional in a case that could decide what levies states can impose.
NSW treasurer created ‘big black hole’ in budget: Labor
The NSW treasurer and his challenger have traded barbs over privatisation, energy bills and infrastructure projects, in the lead up to next month's election.
Mining, migration make Qld the top economy
The Sunshine State is the country's best-performing state economy for the first time in more than a decade of CommSec rankings.
Star seeks ‘urgent engagement’ with NSW
The casino company says it wasn't consulted about a tax-hike plan on its business that NSW Treasurer Matt Kean talked up over the weekend.