Tax push renders budget surplus forecasts ‘unrealistic’

15 July

More tax cuts for workers would keep the budget in deficit beyond the next decade, the agency that assesses the nation’s finances warns. The outlook for the federal budget has improved over the past year, despite economic headwinds from the Middle...[Read More]

Budget spending stokes fears of further rate rise pain

13 May

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is defending an extra $18 billion in government spending next financial year despite warnings it will make the Reserve Bank’s fight against inflation harder. The federal budget on Tuesday revealed government spending will...[Read More]

Labor tucks away $77b war chest for further tax cuts

13 May

Tax changes in the budget give the government scope to direct more relief to workers in future, raising the prospect of a 2028 pre-election sweetener. While higher taxes on assets will be returned to workers via tax cuts in the short term, Treasury...[Read More]

Electric car owners dodge road charge but pay more tax

13 May

Australia’s electric car drivers may escape a road-user charge for another year but will pay more tax under measures revealed in the federal budget. The changes are part of several reforms to support low-emission vehicles in the budget, including...[Read More]

Canberra embraces AI data crunch for medicines to tax

13 May

Artificial intelligence will be deployed across the federal government for everything from evaluating medicines to identifying tax fraud in a bid to boost the nation’s productivity. A long list of AI trials were named in the federal budget on...[Read More]

‘These geniuses’: PM’s generational housing gamble

13 May

Anthony Albanese is playing “gutsy” politics with sweeping changes to tax concessions for landlords but risks offending established investors who may not have expected the overhaul, an expert in politics says. From July 2027, negative gearing...[Read More]

Budget good, but more needed: business

26 October

Peak business groups have hailed the Albanese government’s first budget as careful and cautious, but warn hard work lies ahead to shore up the economy. Business Council chief Jennifer Westacott said the Labor economic blueprint made the...[Read More]