This Budget is an important one – delivering more tax cuts, a fair go at buying your own home, and strengthening Medicare for all.
I know things are tough for many people right now, as conflict overseas pushes up prices here at home. We’ve already done a lot of work to help ease the pressure on people in Queensland, and with this Budget, we’re taking the next steps.
Labor has opened 135 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, with more to come. These clinics provide free, urgent care so that you don't have to wait in emergency. And now, we're making them a permanent part of Medicare.
Labor is making prescription medicines even cheaper. We've cut the maximum cost of a prescription on the PBS to just $25 or $7.70 for concession card holders.
We're opening 92 Medicare Mental Health Centres for free, walk-in, face to face care. And with the Medicare Mental Health Check-In you can access free mental health therapy from your own home.
With our massive boost to bulk billing, more Australians can now see a GP for free. There are almost 3800 fully bulk billing practices across the country.
We've already rolled out tax cuts for every taxpayer. With this Budget, we're delivering more tax cuts.
We've made Free TAFE permanent.
We've wiped 20% off everyone's student debt. We've introduced paid prac for students studying to be teachers, social workers, nurses and midwives. Because you shouldn't have to worry about whether you can afford to do placements. And we're supporting the next generation of tradies with a $10,000 payment to help construction and clean-energy apprentices finish their studies.
We want every child to get the best start in life, without costs getting in the way. That's why we made child care cheaper, saving families thousands of dollars a year. We've also guaranteed three days of child care subsidy for children who need it.
We're delivering more support, financial security and flexibility for parents by extending paid parental leave to 6 months. We've also added super to government paid parental leave.
We've increased Rent Assistance by more than 50 per cent, increased working age and student payments - including JobSeeker - and expanded eligibility for the Single Parenting Payment.
We’ve consistently advocated for 3 million of our lowest paid workers to get a real pay rise, above inflation - and the Fair Work Commission has delivered.
When you work hard and save, you should be able to buy your own home.
We’ve already delivered 5% deposits for first home buyers, and we’re building 100,000 homes set aside just for them.
But right now, first home buyers are being priced out by property investors backed by tax breaks like negative gearing.
That’s why we’re giving young people a fairer go at owning their own home by fixing the tax system.
Our changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax will give more young Australians a fair go at their own home. Read about the Negative Gearing & Capital Gains Tax Reforms.
When you’re renting, you should be able to do the things that turn a house into a home.
We've been working with the states to make renting fairer. As a result, most states have now banned ‘no grounds’ evictions, limited rent increases to once per year and set minimum rental standards. And we’ve introduced incentives to create more long-term leases.
We’ve also increased Rent Assistance by more than 50%.
To make housing more affordable, we need to build more homes.
That’s why we’re starting Australia’s biggest ever housing build: 1.2 million homes, including 55,000 social and affordable homes through initiatives like our Housing Australia Future Fund.
To get it done, we’re helping to fund the infrastructure needed to get them built, like water, power and roads. We’re also training more tradies with free TAFE and supporting apprentices to build houses with a new $10,000 incentive.
We know conflict overseas is pushing up prices here at home, from the servo to the supermarket. That’s why we’re doing more to help you keep more of what you earn.
That's why we’re delivering more tax cuts from 1 July this year for every Australian taxpayer to help with the cost of living.
All of this means the average worker will benefit by nearly $3000. And that’s on top of cutting fuel taxes to save you money when you fill up.
We’ve been working since the day we came into government to help with the cost of living. Already, we’ve delivered three rounds of tax cuts, more bulk billing, cheaper medicines, free TAFE, cheaper childcare, free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, and more support for parents.
No matter what’s happening in the world, we’re focused on helping people here at home.
There’s more to do, and we’re getting on with it.
The Albanese Government will deliver new tax cuts for every working Australian taxpayer by introducing a $250 Working Australians Tax Offset (WATO).
Over 13 million Australian workers will benefit from the WATO for income earned from 1 July 2027. This is on top of the first round of tax cuts that were rolled out in 2024 and two further tax cuts already coming into effect over the next two years.
The WATO will provide a permanent annual tax offset of up to $250 for income earned by Australian workers from 1 July 2027, increasing the effective tax-free threshold for workers by nearly $1,800.
This is the largest permanent increase in the effective tax-free threshold since 2012–13. The WATO will reduce tax on income from work, helping workers keep more of what they earn
The Albanese Government is also introducing a $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses to offset employment income. The instant tax deduction will make tax time simpler and deliver more cost-of-living relief for workers from the 2026–27 income year. Around 6.2 million workers.
The instant tax deduction allows Australian workers to reduce their taxable income by up to $1,000 without keeping receipts when they lodge their tax return.
Labor is strengthening Medicare. Whether your family needs urgent or ongoing health care, with Labor, every Australian will have access to free healthcare with their Medicare card.
Labor has opened 135 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, with more to come. These clinics provide free, urgent care so that you don't have to wait in emergency. And now, we're making them a permanent part of Medicare, investing almost $600 million a year. Already almost 600,000 bulk billed visits have been delivered across Queensland. Find your local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic here.
Labor has invested more than $1 billion so that you can access mental health care backed by Medicare. We're opening 92 Medicare Mental Health Centres for free, walk-in, face to face care. And with the Medicare Mental Health Check-In you can access free mental health therapy from your own home.
Labor is delivering an extra $25 billion of funding for our public hospitals. This funding will help improve hospital waiting times, reduce emergency department crowding, and free up hospital beds. So that you can get the care you need.
Labor is making prescription medicines even cheaper. We've cut the maximum cost of a prescription on the PBS to just $25 or $7.70 for concession card holders.
Labor has delivered the largest investment in Medicare ever, so you can see a GP for free. We’ve expanded bulk billing incentives and boosted payments to GPs and practices that bulk bill every patient. And now there are almost 3,800 fully bulk billing GPs and practices around Australia, with almost 700 in Queensland.
Labor is taking women's health seriously. We have delivered 33 Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across Australia and have made contraceptives and menopause treatments cheaper.
Right now, the world feels uncertain. Conflicts overseas, disruptions to global supply chains, and rising energy costs are affecting Australians every day.
And I know fuel security is front of mind for many people in Queensland.
That's why the Albanese Labor Government is taking action to secure Australia's fuel supply for the long term.
We're growing our national reserves of jet fuel and diesel to 50 days, so Australia is better prepared for future shocks. No matter what’s happening in the world, we’re focused on helping Australians at home.
We're investing in domestic refining capacity and storage, so we're not as dependent on what happens overseas. Making sure we're more resilient and more prepared.
We're requiring gas companies to reserve 20% of their exports for Australia, so our energy needs come first. Keeping our supply secure and guaranteeing affordability.
This Budget is an important one, and I want to hear from you on how it will impact you and your family.
It delivers more tax cuts, a fair go at buying your own home and strengthens Medicare.
To help with the cost of living, we're delivering more tax cuts from 1 July this year for every Australian taxpayer, an extra $250 off working Australians’ tax bills permanently, and a $1000 instant tax deduction without receipts.
That’s on top of cutting fuel taxes.
We’re doing more to level the playing field for first home buyers with a fairer tax system. Because too many people are being priced out by property investors backed by big tax breaks.
We’re making free Urgent Care Clinics a permanent part of Medicare, so you can get the care you need without worrying about the cost.
And we’re making more medicines cheaper.
At the same time, we’re doing more to build a resilient economy into the future. Because we want to be a country where hard work pays off and everyone has the opportunity to get ahead.
