>
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand over the Albanian Labor government’s first budget on October 25.
Budget deficits forecast for the next four years
2021/22 budget improved from previous forecasts to reach $32 billion shortfall
Debt continues to grow, reaching $892.3 billion as of October 14
The net impact of Labor’s four-year election pledges at the time of the election, as assessed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, was a $6.9 billion deficit increase
Additional $10.4 Billion Receipts Above Future Estimates
Additional $15.8 Billion Payments Above Future Estimates
Commodity price forecasts are expected to show a decline in revenue from the previous year
Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured in May with wife Laura) will deliver his first Budget on Tuesday
Spending is expected to be higher, with pensions and other social benefits rising due to indexation
Other key spending areas are NDIS, health, aged care and defence
The cost of paying off public debt is expected to increase by 14 percent per year over the next four years, NDIS spending by 12.1 percent, health care by 6.1 percent and defense by 4.4 percent
The government will gradually increase paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks in 2026
Cheaper childcare package announced ahead of election costs $5.1 billion above projected estimates
Elderly care reforms will cost $2.5 billion
Lowering PBS’s overall out-of-pocket contribution to $30 will cost $104.3 million in 2022/23 or nearly $770 million over four years
$2.4 billion equity investment in NBN over four years to extend fiber broadband access to 1.5 million buildings by 2025
The discount on electric cars will cost $54.3 million in 2022/23
Four major pledges will not be in the underlying cash balance (they will be in the total cash balance and will cost approximately $40.5 billion in total): Powering Australia – Rewiring the Nation, Help to Buy, National Reconstruction Fund and Housing Australia Future Fund
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) is pictured with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher
Another 20,000 college places will cost $96.1 million by 2022/23
Contribution of $150 million to Cairns Naval District, with the other half funded by the Queensland Government
$15 million for free mental health and financial support for small businesses
Disaster-ready fund to cost $29.4 million in 2022/23
Boosting Medicare GP Scholarships Will Cost $198 Million By 2022/23
$96.4 million additional aid for the Pacific is promised for 2022/23
$100 million pledged to restore homeland funding, Indigenous spending, plus $22.9 million for Indigenous health by 2022/23
An additional $20.9 million in 2022/23 is marked for the ABC
$144 million pledged for 2022/23 schools upgrade fund
The free TAFE policy will cost $112 million in 2022/23
Student wellbeing boost measures $201.5 million in 2022/23
Expanding and strengthening existing ATO programs will result in a $3.1 billion improvement over future estimates (PBO)
Plans to ensure multinationals pay their fair share of taxes will result in a $1.9 billion improvement over forward estimates
$88.5 million to be returned from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation before 2022/23
An additional $204 million for the Great Barrier Reef to address gaps in the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan and accelerate reef conservation activities
Savings from reducing public service spending on contractors, consultants and employment agencies would reduce payments by $3 billion from forward estimates. Treasury Secretary Katy Gallagher has also highlighted the creation of an internal advisory model for the APS to reduce reliance on private consultancies and increase public service capacity.
There will be $204 million for the Great Barrier Reef in the budget to address gaps in the Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan and accelerate reef protection activities
Road and rail infrastructure will be given a new priority from the March budget provided by the Morrison government
The government will stop spending $3 billion on gasoline tax cuts in six months now that full tax is reintroduced
Abolition of the cashless debit card has an unknown impact on the budget due to commercial in confidence
Reducing uncommitted funding in the Community Development Grants program and eliminating the Regionalization Fund is expected to save $750 million over future estimates
Abolishing the ABCC to Save $140 Million Over Future Estimates
Savings on advertising, travel and legal costs are expected to total $570 million above forward estimates
An audit found $6.4 billion in additional spending over four years due to unfunded coalition government health and aged care programs, capital destruction and “zombie” measures that are unlikely to ever be enacted into law.
$900 million over four years to support the Pacific region and a new Pacific Engagement Visa to permanently migrate up to 3,000 Pacific Islands and East Timor countries to Australia
Add $470 Million in Aid to Southeast Asia and an Economic Strategy for the Region
$50 million three-year grants to support critical early-stage mineral projects
Changes to the third tax cuts in the federal budget are excluded. The cuts are legislated for implementation in 2024, taxing all income between $45,000 and $200,000 at 30 percent. The tax cuts are expected to cost $243.5 billion over 10 years.
Source: Based on Labor election promises and pre-budget announcements.