Updated December 12, 2014 16:37:27
The nation's top earners - those on $180,000 or more a year - started paying an extra 2 per cent tax on July 1.
A $7 fee on visits to the doctor, X-rays and blood tests proposed in the budget has given way to a revised plan due to begin in July 2015.
The Government's plan to cut public funding for courses by 20 per cent, deregulate fees, introduce a broad scholarship program and extend government loans to TAFE students is stalled in the Parliament.
The budget outlined a plan to increase the co-payment on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines by $5 for general patients and 80 cents for concession card holders from January 1.
Billions of dollars in changes to government payments were stalled, until the Coalition opted to split its plan and accept Labor's support for some of the measures.
The budget cut Australia's foreign aid by $7.6 billion over five years, a change which did not need parliamentary approval.
Fleshing out the Government's "learn or earn" rule for young Australians, the budget announced tougher restrictions on unemployment benefits.
The Government's direct action policy passed parliament in October but with some changes negotiated by Clive Palmer.
The budget outlined a plan to increase the fuel excise twice a year in line with the rate of inflation.
On budget night, Treasurer Joe Hockey outlined a $11.6 billion road, rail and port "growth package" that he said would boost jobs.
Topics: budget, federal-government, federal-parliament, australia
First posted December 12, 2014 08:57:01
If you have inside knowledge of a topic in the news, contact the ABC.
In quotes: Wendy Whiteley on her 'secret garden'
For more than 20 years, Wendy Whiteley has been creating a public garden on Sydney Harbour. Now supporters are calling for it to be preserved.
2015 Birdsville Races
By Blythe Moore and Brendan Mounter
Here are some of the people who joined more than 10,000 others for this year's Birdsville Races in far south-west Queensland.
Leaders whip up foreigner fear
Tony Abbott has more to lose from the Canning by-election outcome than Bill Shorten, but both men have stooped to either whipping up foreigner-anxiety or appeasing xenophobia in order to maximise their party's vote.
Jordan helps 600,000 Syrians
By Middle East correspondent Sophie McNeill
Jordan is giving refuge to more than 600,000 Syrians but life there is difficult and many are looking for better opportunities.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
