Category: Australian federal budget

Australian Treasurer Expects No Budget Surplus in Several Years Despite Budget Recovering

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned the country is unlikely to see a budget surplus in the next few years despite a recently announced $50 billion (US$32.3 billion) improvement in the government’s bottom line. In the final budget outcome paper for the 2021-2022 financial year, the federal government posted an underlying deficit of $32 billion….


Victoria Labor Announces Payments to Save on Energy Bills

The Victorian Labor Government has announced a new $250 (US$176.4) one-off payment for all Victorian households as part of the new Power Saving Bonus program for energy bills. “This is a great opportunity for Victorians to save money, ease the cost of living, and cut their energy bills,”  the Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said. Under…


Victoria Government Alleges Liberals Failing Victorians Amidst Political Campaign

The Victorian Labor Government has criticised the conservative Opposition for failing Victorians after the Victorian Opposition Leader and his colleagues voted against a motion that the federal government did not deliver for the state in the 2022 federal budget. “Today’s vote shows where Liberal and National MPs stand–on the side of cutting funding to Victorians…


A Budget That Voters Want? We’ll Find Out

The most striking feature of Tuesday’s 2022-23 federal budget is how well the Australian economy is performing. Whereas two years ago we were facing a catastrophe, the outlook now is rosy and enviable. We have passed out of the pandemic storm into calm waters very quickly. The unemployment rate is heading below four percent—its lowest…


Advocates Celebrate PBS Listing of a Rare Breast Cancer Treatment in Federal Budget

The Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is celebrating the listing of Trodelvy, a treatment for a rare form of breast cancer on the Pharmaceutical Budget Listing (PBS) as part of the 2022/23 Federal Budget. “For the first time, this drug gives hope to many young women, extending their life expectancy and providing an opportunity to…


Australians to get Tax Cuts and Cash Handouts to Relieve Cost of Living

Ten million Australians will receive a one-off $420 (US$315) tax offset to assist with the ballooning cost of living, while six million welfare recipients will get a $250 cash payment in the 2022-23 federal budget. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg unveiled the details of the anticipated “temporary, targeted, and responsible” cost of living relief package on Tuesday…


Australia Investing $17.9 Billion Into Infrastructure in Next Federal Budget

The Australian federal government announced a record $17.9 billion (US$13.4 billion) in infrastructure funding for new and existing projects across every jurisdiction in the 2022-23 federal budget. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said infrastructure is a key pillar of the economic growth plan and get more Australians into work. “With the unemployment rate already at an equal…


Australian Treasurer Promises Targeted, Temporary, Proportionate Cost of Living Relief in Budget

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has pledged measures to ease Australia’s rising cost-of-living in Tuesday’s federal budget that don’t add unnecessary upward pressures on inflation and interest rates to be set by the Reserve Bank. Frydenberg indicated that the government’s targeted measures will be “temporary and proportionate,” as has been the government’s “fiscal stimulus” during the worst…


Australia Spends $700 Million to Get Medical Specialists to Rural Areas

Australia is setting aside more than $700 million (US$523 million) to train local doctors in the specialties areas—including dermatology, sport and exercise medicine, and psychiatry—and increase their placement in regional Australia. In the latest federal budget to be released in just under a week, the Australian government has pledged $708.6 million (US$530 million) to run…


Australian Budget Reveals ‘Targeted’ Cost of Living Relief: Treasurer

A little more than week ahead of handing down his 2022 budget, Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the federal government would provide “targeted” cost-of-living relief for Australians while working towards stabilising and reducing debt. “In the budget … there will be further measures to support families to meet the cost of living pressures, in a…