Full coverage: Federal Budget 2016
Treasurer Scott Morrison has handed down his first federal budget.
Budget 2016
Morrison uses MYEFO to renew push for company tax cuts
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Treasurer Scott Morrison says yesterday's budget update bolsters the Government's case for the corporate tax rate to be cut to 25 per cent, but the Opposition says it will stand firm against the proposal saying they "simply can't be afforded".
Topics: budget, federal-government, scott-morrison, chris-bowen, tax, australia
Australia scrapes a pass from ratings agencies in latest budget test
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The Turnbull Government's latest budget update keeps the nation's AAA credit rating intact, but the agencies warn it may be gone by May if further action is not forthcoming.
Topics: budget, federal-government, economic-trends, australia
Verrender: MYEFO shows these aren't ordinary times
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The good news from the MYEFO is Treasurer Scott Morrison appears to have achieved an improvement in the current year compared to the May budget — the bad news is the forecasts for next year and beyond look shocking, writes Ian Verrender.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, economic-trends, money-and-monetary-policy, budget, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia
What are credit ratings and should we care if Australia is downgraded?
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While Australia has maintained its AAA credit rating for now, the ABC's business editor says the coveted rating is doomed. If you're not sure why that would matter, read on.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, budget, federal-government, money-and-monetary-policy, australia
Deficit to increase by $10 billion, MYEFO shows
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Federal budget deficits will increase by more than $10 billion in coming years as the Government battles low wage growth and falling company profits, but it insists it will still return a surplus in 2020/21.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, economic-trends, money-and-monetary-policy, budget, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia
Why Australia's AAA credit rating is doomed Analysis
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When Treasurer Scott Morrison unveils his second Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, it will be in the knowledge that the "coveted" AAA credit rating is doomed.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, money-and-monetary-policy, government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, australia
Government prepares for lacklustre economic outlook
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The Federal Government lays down the groundwork for a lacklustre mid-year budget update on Monday, warning that a rise in commodity prices may not be enough to counter a decline in economic growth.
Topics: budget, federal-government, economic-trends, markets, money-and-monetary-policy, australia
Commodity price rise unlikely to stem budget deterioration
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While a surprise surge in key commodity prices is a welcome boost for the Federal Government, analysts say it is unlikely to halt a deterioration in the budget position.
Topics: budget, federal-government, coal, iron-ore, economic-trends, australia
'Reasonably high' chance AAA rating will be lost before Christmas
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Australia has almost a one-in-two chance of being downgraded next week, following the Federal Government's mid-year budget update, according to a leading bond trader.
Topics: budget, federal-government, economic-trends, markets, money-and-monetary-policy, australia
Government can't keep using 'borrowed money', Abbott says
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Former prime minister Tony Abbott is calling for a "big new push" on budget repair and has suggested the Government revisit some of the measures he announced in 2014.
Topics: abbott-tony, budget, federal-parliament, money-and-monetary-policy, government-and-politics, australia
Government passes super changes saving budget nearly $3 billion
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The Federal Government has passed its changes to the superannuation system claiming it will save nearly $3 billion and future proof it for decades to come.
Topics: superannuation, government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, federal-parliament, australia
Business Council says Australian credit rating needs to remain near AAA
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Australia needs to retain its AAA rating or something "not much less than that", warns newly-appointed Business Council president Grant King.
Topics: budget, federal-government, economic-trends, business-economics-and-finance, australia
Standard & Poor's reiterates Australian credit rating warning
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Ratings agency Standard & Poor's reiterates its warning that Australia's AAA sovereign credit rating is under imminent threat without more budget savings or revenue measures.
Topics: budget, federal-government, tax, economic-trends, australia
Federal Government budget deficits to rise, leading economist warns
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A leading economic forecaster predicts the Federal Government's budget deficit will blow out by a further $3.4 billion, and the Treasurer agrees that a recent jump in commodity prices will not fix the bottom line.
Topics: budget, federal-government, economic-trends, australia
Xenophon team throws paid parental leave changes into doubt
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The Federal Government's planned changes to paid parental leave are thrown into doubt as the Nick Xenophon Team confirms it will not support the proposal in its current form.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, parenting, budget, australia
Indigenous family violence services receiving $25 million in federal funding
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is pledging to tackle family violence affecting Indigenous Australians with a $25 million allocation to services.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, domestic-violence, australia
Balancing the budget is important, but spending isn't always bad Analysis
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Loosening the purse strings does not come naturally to the Coalition, but investing for the future at a time of record-low interest rates and low national income is vital, writes Ian Verrender.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, transport, housing-industry, business-economics-and-finance, australia
Government's $350m painting should be sold to reduce debt: senator (photos)
Posted
Australian Government-owned iconic Jackson Pollock painting Blue Poles, estimated to be worth $350 million, should be sold off to help pay down the national debt, Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson says.
Topics: painting, federal-government, budget, government-and-politics, library-museum-and-gallery, canberra-2600, act
Gonski unmasked: What's happening to Australian schools?
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The highly charged school funding debate is back on the national agenda as the Turnbull Government seeks a new deal. Brush up on the key issues here.
Topics: federal---state-issues, federal-government, government-and-politics, education, schools, budget, australia
Hanson backs four-week wait for the dole
Posted
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson says her party will support a change that would see unemployed people aged under 25 wait four weeks before being eligible for the dole.
Topics: welfare, federal-government, federal-parliament, unemployment, social-policy, budget, government-and-politics, pauline-hanson, australia
Morrison reminds everyone Porter is walking in his steps Opinion
Posted
If Christian Porter were still in state politics he'd probably be Western Australian premier by now.
No wonder his natural rival Treasurer Scott Morrison was anxious to grab some ownership of the "investment approach" welfare initiative.
Topics: federal-government, scott-morrison, welfare, budget, australia, wa
Senate passes budget savings in the dead of night
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Close to the stroke of midnight the Senate finally passed the Government's omnibus budget savings bill, allowing the Coalition to pocket more than $6 billion in budget savings.
Topics: federal-parliament, parliament, government-and-politics, laws, budget, parliament-house-2600, act, australia
Superannuation backdown a 'cave-in to the super rich'
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Critics slam the Government's backdown on superannuation as a "cave-in to the super rich" that undermines efforts to make the retirement savings system more equitable.
Topics: superannuation, budget, federal-government, australia
Government accused of 'massive capitulation' over super backflip
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Cabinet buckles to intense backbench pressure and dumps many unpopular elements of its superannuation policy, in a move Labor says is the latest in a "long line of policy disasters on superannuation from the Government".
Topics: federal-government, budget, superannuation, australia
Government warned of 'significant' budget risks
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The Finance Department issues a fresh warning about the state of the budget to the Federal Government, saying the NDIS and the cost of recovering from natural disasters are casting renewed doubt over the chances of getting the budget out of the red.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, business-economics-and-finance, australia
Backpacker tax deterring holiday workers, experts warns
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Experts in Queensland's tourism and agriculture sectors say uncertainty around the proposed backpacker tax is scaring off the working holiday-makers they need to survive.
Topics: tax, travel-and-tourism, federal-parliament, budget, rockhampton-4700
Budget repair bill includes welfare cut Labor previously opposed
Posted
The Federal Government ratchets up pressure on Labor to quickly pass a package of $6.1 billion of savings over four years, publicly releasing all details of its omnibus bill ahead of Parliament's return.
Topics: federal-parliament, federal-government, welfare, budget, alp, australia
Turnbull stresses the 'moral challenge' of budget repair
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull doubles down on his economic message ahead of the return of Parliament, describing budget repair as a "fundamental moral challenge".
Topics: federal-government, federal-parliament, turnbull-malcolm, budget, australia
Turnbull urges Labor to meet in 'sensible centre' over budget repair
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urges the Federal Opposition to meet him in the "sensible centre" to fix the budget deficit and avoid angering the Australian public.
Topics: government-and-politics, turnbull-malcolm, budget, scott-morrison, federal-government, brisbane-4000, australia
NBN leak: Bernardi seeks advice about parliamentary privilege
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Government senator Cory Bernardi questions whether emails held on the parliamentary server in relation to the NBN investigation should be made public
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, bill-shorten, police, budget, act
Scott Morrison issues tax warning to handout generation
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Treasurer Scott Morrison warns of a new divide between "the taxed and taxed nots", saying Australia has a generation growing up expecting Government handouts.
Topics: government-and-politics, budget, scott-morrison, federal-government, australia
Morrison to warn of 'earnings problem' in economic speech
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Treasurer Scott Morrison will today declare Australia has an "earnings problem", in a major economic speech ahead of Parliament's return next week.
Topics: budget, federal-government, scott-morrison, australia
'Have the courage to lead': Shorten challenges PM on cuts
Posted
Bill Shorten will use a major speech to the National Press Club today to challenge Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to support $8 billion in "fair dinkum" budget repair measures proposed by Labor.
Topics: bill-shorten, turnbull-malcolm, federal-parliament, federal-government, budget, government-and-politics, australia
'Will he be like jelly?': Cormann pressures Shorten to back cuts
Posted
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann ramps up the pressure on Labor, questioning whether Bill Shorten will "wibble wobble" like jelly over budget savings when parliament resumes next week.
Topics: budget, government-and-politics, federal-government, federal-parliament, parliament, australia
Malcolm Turnbull challenges Labor to back $6.5b budget cuts
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull uses his first keynote speech since the election to promise to "work constructively" with Labor and the crossbenchers to get more than $6.5 billion in budget savings through the Senate.
Topics: turnbull-malcolm, federal-government, budget, melbourne-3000, australia
Spending cuts to fix budget must be Government priority: KPMG
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Accounting giant KPMG is urging the Federal Government to cut some areas of health, aged care, welfare, education and super to return the budget to balance.
Topics: economic-trends, federal-government, budget, australia
Standard & Poor's says election gridlock behind ratings action
Posted
Ratings agency Standard & Poor's says Australia's parliamentary gridlock is behind its decision to downgrade the country's credit rating outlook.
Topics: economic-trends, federal-government, federal-election, budget, federal-elections, australia
Australia's AAA credit rating on negative watch from S&P
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Standard & Poor's lowers Australia's credit rating outlook from stable to negative, triggering a similar move on the ratings of the major banks.
Topics: economic-trends, federal-government, federal-elections, federal-election, budget, australia
Both Labor and Coalition have only made budget worse: Ken Henry
Posted
Former treasury secretary Ken Henry slams both Labor and Coalition governments for contributing to the worsening budget situation, and for failing to deal with the immediate challenges facing the nation.
Topics: federal-government, budget, liberals, alp, australia
Where did it go wrong for Turnbull? The budget Opinion
Posted
It's hard to deny the Coalition's weak election outcome was partly the result of a strategic miscalculation; in particular, the budget failed to give the Turnbull Government's economic story the depth it needed.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, federal-election, budget
Major parties are debating funding of the Parkes dish
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Labor says if elected, shoring up the future of Parkes' radio telescope will be at the forefront of major investments in science infrastructure.
Topics: astronomy-space, federal-government, government-and-politics, budget, science-and-technology, federal-elections, parkes-2870
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen announces Labor's new savings measures Video
Video
Posted
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen announces Labor’s 11 new savings measures to raise $6.1 billion over the decade.
Topics: elections, government-and-politics, federal-government, federal-elections, federal-election, budget, australia
Prepare yourself, 10-year budgeting is now A Thing Opinion
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Isn't it ironic that as the average life expectancy of Australian prime ministers and treasurers gets shorter, the deadlines they set themselves to fix everything get longer and longer?
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, budget, federal-election
Going for growth: A battle between old and new methods Opinion
Posted
The reality is neither Labor nor the Liberals have policies that are hostile to economic growth, but even the OECD now recognises there's more ways to grow the pie than just cutting company taxes.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, budget
Corporate tax cuts to cost $3b more than flagged: PBO
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The Coalition's 10-year corporate tax cut plan will cost about $3 billion more than the $48 billion flagged by the Government, according to new analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Topics: federal-elections, federal-government, government-and-politics, tax, budget, australia
ACCI warns Australia's living standards are in jeopardy without budget repair
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Major business lobby group the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry warns living standards in Australia are in jeopardy without significant budget repair.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, building-and-construction, elections, budget, federal-government, australia
Black holes and the 'big, fat lie': Day 16 on the campaign trail Video
Video
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An underlying election struggle for economic credibility has erupted into a multi-billion-dollar argument over budget costings. The Government's pulled together figures it claims reveal a $67 billion "black hole" in Labor's promises, which the Opposition says is a "big, fat lie".
Topics: elections, government-and-politics, political-parties, elections, federal-government, federal-elections, federal-parliament, budget, australia
Shorten vows Labor will not raise cost of PBS prescriptions
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The Opposition Leader promises Labor will not impose extra costs on medicines that come under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme — a move which would cost close to $1 billion.
Topics: government-and-politics, budget, federal-government, elections, federal-elections, health-policy, sydney-2000, australia
PEFO leaves budget numbers unchanged
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Treasury and the Department of Finance stick by their budget forecasts, leaving the key numbers and assumptions unchanged.
Topics: economic-trends, federal-government, budget, australia
Budget changes still leave most super accounts untaxed, says accountant
Posted
A partner with one of Australia's leading accounting firms says most super accounts do not pay any tax, and the budget changes are unlikely to alter that situation.
Topics: superannuation, federal-government, budget, australia
We're being sold the trickle-down economics con Opinion
Posted
Kelly O'Dwyer's considered response on Q&A to questions about the rich v poor divide neatly illustrates what this election, in economic terms, is really all about.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, budget
Australian motorcycle riders crowdfunding to pay competition expenses
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A national motorcycle trials champion has started a crowdfunding campaign to pay for competition expenses after federal budget cuts.
Topics: motor-sports, budget, federal-government, sport, international-competitions, newcastle-2300, eleebana-2282, australia
Consumer confidence jumps, but Westpac credits rate cut over budget
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Consumer confidence jumps in the week after the budget, but Westpac says the result is more likely to be driven by the rate cut on budget day.
Topics: economic-trends, money-and-monetary-policy, retail, budget, federal-government, australia
National Press Club: Chris Bowen Video
Video
Posted
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen gives his budget reply address at the National Press Club in Canberra.
Topics: budget, federal-government, federal-parliament, australia, canberra-2600, act
What do the budget changes to super mean for you? Analysis
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The Government's budget changes to super contributions will hurt higher income earners who left it late to top up their retirement savings, but most of us will not be affected.
Topics: superannuation, budget, federal-government, australia
The ghosts of deficits past, present and future haunt this election Opinion
Posted
The budget deficit will be the unspoken theme of the election campaign - always there, never really acknowledged. After all, both parties have wrestled with it recently and neither is confident it has a solution.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, federal-election, budget
Wine tax changes have small winemakers reaching for the bottle
Posted
The Federal Government says if winemakers "have skin in the game" they won't be shut out of the industry's generous tax arrangements.
Topics: viticulture, agricultural-policy, food-and-beverage, tax, budget, federal-government, melbourne-3000, sydney-2000, adelaide-5000, perth-6000, brisbane-4000, darwin-0800, hobart-7000
Coalition claims Labor's budget reply brings $100b in taxes
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Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison rubbishes Labor's budget reply speech for laying out $100 billion in additional taxes.
Topics: federal-parliament, federal-government, federal-election, budget, turnbull-malcolm, australia
Stick around, and we might just see some policies delivered Opinion
Posted
Labor's really taken to this 10-year budget accounting thing, and why not? Bill Shorten has defied recent benchmarks to remain Labor Leader for a whole term, and shown how stability can help policy formation.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, budget
Treasury slaps $50b price tag on Coalition's budget tax cuts
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Treasury officials reveal the Government's plan to cut the company tax rate to 25 per cent will cost nearly $50 billion over 10 years, after PM Malcolm Turnbull yesterday repeatedly refused to reveal the cost of the budget centrepiece policy.
Topics: tax, budget, federal-parliament, federal-government, federal-elections, turnbull-malcolm
'Optimistic' commodity price forecasts throw doubt on budget predictions
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The budget's projected return to surplus in 2021 is based on a set of economic forecasts that are on the optimistic end of plausibility.
Topics: budget, economic-trends, federal-government, australia, china
Shorten lays out $71b savings plan
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Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten pledges a Labor government would claw back $71 billion in additional budget savings over the next decade, labelling this week's budget a boon for "Malcolm's millionaires".
Topics: budget, federal-government, government-and-politics, bill-shorten, australia
Analysis: How wrong are treasurers' budget forecasts?
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Over the past decade, treasurers' forecasts have been consistently, drastically, and optimistically wrong. How wrong? Well if the forecasts in Tuesday's budget are similarly poor, Australia's budget deficit will be bigger in 2019-20 than it is today.
Topics: budget, federal-government, australia
Government spends $500m reducing carbon emissions
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The Government funds projects to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to the tune of half-a-billion dollars in the latest round of the Direct Action auctions.
Topics: climate-change, environment, federal-government, budget, government-and-politics, australia
Tourism industry backs fee proposal for airport queue fast-track
Posted
A proposal to allow airline passengers to pay a fee to pass through Australia's Immigration and Customs queues more quickly is backed by the tourism industry.
Topics: budget, government-and-politics, travel-and-tourism, federal-parliament, federal-government, lifestyle-and-leisure, australia, melbourne-3000
Industry and analyst view on iron ore price assumptions in budget Audio
Audio
Posted
Dr Lee Smales, Curtin School of Economics, says high iron ore price set in budget could mean an eventual $8 billion hole. Daniel Hynes, ANZ, agrees price too high but other measures may keep budget balanced. Brendan Pearson, Minerals Council, supports high price assumption on back of ongoing Chinese demand.
Topics: mining-rural, iron-ore, tax, federal-government, federal-elections, budget, mining-industry, perth-6000
Unrealistic iron ore price assumption in federal budget say market specialists
Posted
Setting iron ore at $US55 tonne in budget could mean the federal government finds itself $8 billion out of pocket.
Topics: mining-rural, business-economics-and-finance, tax, coal, iron-ore, federal-parliament, federal-elections, budget, mining-industry, perth-6000
Budget tax break for small spirit producers welcomed
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The growing number of small rural distillers welcome a small tax break in the federal budget.
Topics: budget, federal-government, community-development, beverages, tax, melbourne-3000, sydney-2000, adelaide-5000, perth-6000, brisbane-4000, darwin-0800, hobart-7000
Turnbull refuses to outline cost of 10-year corporate tax plan
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The Federal Opposition uses the final Question Time before the election to continue its assault on the Government about the cost of its plan to cut company tax, which Malcolm Turnbull repeatedly refuses to confirm.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, tax, turnbull-malcolm, australia
Youth employment plan not voluntary, Employment Minister says
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Michaelia Cash says the first stage of the Government's new youth employment plan will be compulsory after five months of a job-seeker receiving welfare payments.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-parliament, federal-government, social-policy, budget, australia
Investment in resource exploration will not immediately help geoscientists
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A federal budget allocation of $100 million to revitalise declining investment in resource exploration is met with positivity and caution.
Topics: mining-rural, federal-government, budget, alice-springs-0870
Hope remains for Hann Highway funding
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A north-west Queensland development group says it is confident the Federal Government will help develop the Hann Highway, despite leaving it out of this week's budget.
Topics: regional-development, budget, federal-government, programs-and-initiatives, mount-isa-4825, longreach-4730
Budget reply brings curtain down on 44th parliament
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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten takes aim at "Malcolm's millionaires" in his budget reply speech, pledging billions of dollars in savings by cracking down on loans in the education sector.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, australia
Shorten to make Labor's case for election in budget reply
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The Opposition Leader will re-commit to tens of billions of dollars in taxes and savings measures to fund spending on Labor's priorities like health, education, renewable energy and housing affordability.
Topics: budget, government-and-politics, parliament, federal-elections, federal-parliament, elections, australia
WA misses out on billions in federal infrastructure funding
Posted
Western Australia loses the opportunity to apply for billions of dollars of Commonwealth infrastructure funding after an incentive fund was axed in the federal budget.
Topics: budget, privatisation-and-deregulation, government-and-politics, federal-government, federal-parliament, wa
Corporate tax cut plan to cost $16.5b in 10 years' time: PBO analysis
Posted
The Federal Government's plan to cut the company tax rate to 25 per cent in 2026-27 will cost $16.5 billion a year in 10 years' time, Parliamentary Budget Office estimates show.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, tax, australia
Budget sets stage for election focus on backpacker tax, inland rail
Posted
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce defends the lack of action on backpacker taxes in the 2016 budget, saying the Government is "negotiating a solution".
Topics: rail-transport, regional-development, regional, budget, federal-elections, federal-government, tax, agricultural-subsidies, agricultural-policy, dams-and-reservoirs, water-management, farm-labour, community-development, parliament-house-2600
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce defends 2016 budget Audio
Audio
Posted
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has defended his government's lack of action on backpacker tax rates in the 2016 budget, and scoffed at suggestions the Coalition hasn't done enough to build an inland rail network between Melbourne and Brisbane. Mr Joyce spoke with ABC Rural's Parliament House reporter Anna Vidot on the morning after the budget.
Topics: rail-transport, regional-development, regional, budget, federal-elections, federal-government, tax, agribusiness, agricultural-subsidies, fruit, vegetables, agricultural-policy, dams-and-reservoirs, water, water-supply, water-management, farm-labour, community-development, beef-cattle, livestock, parliament-house-2600
Labor's Joel Fitzgibbon responds to budget 2016 Audio
Audio
Posted
Labor's shadow agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon has criticised the government for its planned backpacker tax hikes, but will not rule out introducing the changes himself. Mr Joyce also took a swipe at the Coalition over its handling of the Kidman sale, saying it's interventions have been "purely political".
Topics: rail-transport, regional-development, regional, budget, federal-elections, federal-government, tax, agribusiness, agricultural-subsidies, fruit, vegetables, agricultural-policy, dams-and-reservoirs, water, water-supply, water-management, farm-labour, community-development, beef-cattle, livestock, parliament-house-2600
Adam Giles disappointed with plan to close Darwin detention centre
Posted
The NT's Chief Minister wants the Wickham Point Detention Centre to remain open, despite asylum seeker advocates applauding the Federal Government's plan to close the facility by November.
Topics: immigration, community-and-society, government-and-politics, federal-government, budget, darwin-0800
Brendan Pearson, Minerals Council, says $100 million for Geoscience Aus will help find mines and gas projects of the future Audio
Audio
Posted
Brendan Pearson, CEO of Minerals Council Australia, says $100 million for Geoscience Australia, needed to help look deep under-cover for deposit to find mine, oil and gas projects of the future.
Topics: mining-rural, mining-industry, federal-parliament, budget, perth-6000
Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan says the budget offers plenty for Queenslanders Audio
Audio
Posted
The Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan argues the budget does provide for regional Queensland, particularly when it comes to infrastructure investment. However, he acknowledged farm lobby group concerns over the continued uncertainty on the future of the so-called backpacker tax.
Topics: agricultural-policy, budget, federal-government, rockhampton-4700
QFF chief executive Ruth Wade says the Government's backpacker tax will become a key election issue Audio
Audio
Posted
The Queensland Farmers' Federation chief executive Ruth Wade has welcomed infrastructure spending in the Federal budget, but warned uncertainty over the Government's backpacker tax will become a key election issue for her members.
Topics: agricultural-policy, budget, federal-government, brisbane-4000
Budget 2016 a 'fizzer' for regional Queensland
Posted
A northern Queensland economist says there are few sweeteners in the 2016 federal budget for northern Queensland.
Topics: budget, federal-elections, federal-government, federal-parliament, townsville-4810, cairns-4870, mackay-4740, mount-isa-4825
Wine tax reform long overdue after some exploited scheme, Riverland producers say
Posted
Small wine producers in South Australia's Riverland welcome the Federal Government's plans to reform the controversial Wine Equalisation Tax, but say the changes were needed a long time ago.
Topics: budget, federal-parliament, federal-government, states-and-territories, renmark-5341, berri-5343, loxton-5333, sa
South Australia's wine industry supports additional Federal Government funding, wants further tax reforms
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South Australian wine industry welcomes Federal Government funding and but lobbying for further tax reforms.
Topics: viticulture, agricultural-policy, agribusiness, agricultural-prices, federal-government, budget, adelaide-5000, clare-5453, coonawarra-5263, renmark-5341
Backpacker tax still under consideration, Morrison says
Posted
The Treasurer says it is yet to be determined if a plan to scrap the tax-free threshold for people on working holiday visas is "good policy".
Topics: government-and-politics, budget, federal---state-issues, federal-government, tax, rural, agribusiness, farm-labour, tourism, industry, business-economics-and-finance, australia
Gonski reforms need to be fully funded, NSW Education Minister says
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NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli says he will keep pushing the Commonwealth to fully fund the Gonski plan, describing the education reforms as crucial to ensuring all children receive a fair go at school.
Topics: federal-government, budget, education, sydney-2000
Funding hole may leave Direct Action centrepiece out of money: think tank
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A think tank specialising in climate change is warning the Coalition may be left without a functioning climate policy by the end of the year after no new funding was announced for one its flagship policies in the budget.
Topics: budget, climate-change, environment, federal-government, federal-parliament, federal-elections, government-and-politics, australia
Mixed reaction in NT to federal budget
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The federal budget draws applause from the business community, criticism from farmers, and the NT Government defends the lack of big-ticket items, in spite of rhetoric about developing the north.
Topics: budget, federal-government, darwin-0800
Budget 2016: Scientists live to fight another year Opinion
Posted
Scientists around Australia breathed a sigh of relief after the budget, safe in the knowledge that while money isn't exactly flooding in there is at least funding for the coming year.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, business-economics-and-finance, budget, science-and-technology
North Qld MP still confident about Walkerston bypass funding
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The Member for Dawson says he is confident specific funding for the Walkerston bypass, in Mackay in north Queensland, could be announced in the coming weeks.
Topics: budget, federal-government, urban-development-and-planning, dams-and-reservoirs, water-management, walkerston-4751, mackay-4740
Child care groups 'extremely disappointed' by subsidies delay
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Child care groups say families will lose $30 a week as a result of the Federal Government's decision to delay its promised overhaul of subsidies.
Topics: child-care, children, budget, federal-government, australia
Far north Qld criticism levelled at federal budget
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Far north Queensland leaders say the federal budget has been a letdown.
Topics: budget, federal-government, cairns-4870
Minerals Council welcomes company tax reduction announced in budget
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The Minerals Council of Australia welcomes a company tax rate reduction in the federal budget despite the decade-long phase-in period.
Topics: mining-rural, manufacturing, tax, government-and-politics, federal-parliament, budget, mining-industry, perth-6000
CEO of Minerals Council, Brendan Pearson, on tax cut and greater mineral exports announced in budget Audio
Audio
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CEO of Minerals Council, Brendan Pearson, says company tax cuts and greater mineral export figures announced in budget will support greater investment and confidence in sector.
Topics: mining-rural, mining-industry, coal, iron-ore, tax, federal-parliament, federal-government, budget, perth-6000
Budget is gift for billionaires, 'unfair at its heart': Labor
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The Federal Opposition has slammed the budget as a gift for billionaires which is "unfair at its heart" — here is a brief breakdown of where Labor stands on some of the Government's major announcements.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, parliament, budget, australia
Families, small business owners divided on Morrison's budget plan
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From small business owners to families and parents, ABC reporters head across the country to ask how the federal budget will affect the lives of everyday voters.
Topics: budget, federal-election, family, federal-parliament, federal-government, australia, tamworth-2340, broome-6725, surrey-hills-3127, cambridge-park-2747
Support workers concerned about lack of homeless funding certainty
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Crisis support workers call for funding certainty beyond 2017 for a homelessness program to ensure those at risk, including family violence victims, are not left without support.
Topics: budget, homelessness, federal-government, domestic-violence, nsw
Funding hope remains for central Qld water projects
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A central Queensland MP says she is still hoping major dam projects will be funded, after last night's federal budget.
Topics: budget, federal-government, dams-and-reservoirs, water-management, water, water-supply, rockhampton-4700, mackay-4740
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