Tax push renders budget surplus forecasts ‘unrealistic’

16 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]

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

14 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

14 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 focuses on power bills, tax cuts and healthcare

27 March

FEDERAL BUDGET AT A GLANCE * Budget deficit of $27.6 billion this financial year * Commonwealth gross debt to rise to $940 billion (33.7 per cent of GDP) in 2024/25 before cracking $1 trillion the year after * Net debt to rise to $556 billion in...[Read More]

Budget fundamentals smashed as storms cloud outlook

27 March

Australia is on track for structural deficits as far as the government can see, clouding the economy’s final approach to a soft landing. Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ federal budget unveiled on Tuesday night locks in underlying deficits until 2035/36...[Read More]