Billions were expected to be saved from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – but surprisingly the budget only outlines $252 million in savings.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The big surprise about this year’s health budget was what wasn’t there – billions of dollars in expected savings from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
As expected, part-pensioners will be most affected by budget changes.
AAP Image/Melanie Foster
Part-pensioner couples who own their own home and assets worth more than about A$800,000 are expected to lose their part-pension altogether, under proposals in the federal budget.
This means the mooted 1.5% cut for small businesses won’t make it to sole traders.
AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
Budget night included a few surprises for small business owners, including sole traders. The government will provide a 5% tax discount, up to $1000, for unincorporated small businesses.
Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann speak to media during the 2015 budget lockup.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
The impact of 2015 budget measures delivered by the government pale into insignificance when compared with the external factors hurting the budget bottom line.
Treasurer Joe Hockey’s politically cautious second budget talks up business confidence.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Treasurer Joe Hockey has unveiled a A$5.5 billion jobs and small business package to kick start confidence, in a second Coalition budget that strategically retreats from the harshest measures of its predecessor.
Treasurer Joe Hockey tells small business it’s time to have a go.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Charis Palmer, The Conversation e Emil Jeyaratnam, The Conversation
Your simple guide to the budget deficit, how the money will be spent and the savings measures we can expect in the years ahead.
‘What’s in it for me?’ is a common question today, but not one that necessarily produces the best answers for collective wellbeing.
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The concept of the greater good has made a comeback in Europe in an era of budget austerity, but in Australia too few of us are alive to its meaning – and to its vulnerability.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said metadata is essential to most counter-terrorism investigations.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The government will provide telecommunications companies with $131 million in the budget to help with the costs of retaining metadata, as part of further measures to strengthen intelligence capabilities and counter extremist messaging.
Crossbenchers Jacqui Lambie, Ricky Muir and Dio Wang are far from aligned.
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As we head into the federal budget tonight, all eyes will be on how the Coalition government might tackle some challenging economic data affecting Australia’s economy.
The government has already made a number of policy announcements about taxes and transfers.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Amid a rash of leaks and pre-budget announcements, here’s what we know about what’s in and what’s not when it comes to taxes and transfers.
Australian aid can make a difference to the lives of millions – but there are few votes and little media interest in it, so it’s an easy target for budget cuts.
John Bransby/Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign aid will fall to close to 90 cents in every A$100 of federal government spending in the 2015 budget – its lowest level ever.
Social Services Minister Scott Morrison announces that a A$3.5 billion child-care subsidy will begin from July 1 2017 if the Senate passes previously rejected Family Tax Benefit savings.
AAP/Paul Miller
Lost in the political debate about subsidising child care is the fact that universal free preschool care has been abandoned as a goal of good social policy.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has a lot of skin in the game coming into his second budget.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann promised on budget eve that the government remains committed to the package of changes to higher education reforms announced by Education Minister Christopher Pyne…
Treasurer Joe Hockey has announced a budget crackdown on tax avoidance by multinational companies.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The budget will toughen anti-avoidance measures to crack down on the profit-shifting being undertaken by 30 multinational companies that have been identified by the Taxation Office.
Australians will have to opt out of the new system.
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Despite A$485 million of rescue funding, there is no guarantee health professionals will participate in the e-health scheme, nor that the information supplied will be complete.
Without the contributions of its army of volunteers – six million of them in all – Australia would be a profoundly different place.
AAP/David Crosling
It’s National Volunteer Week, which celebrates the contributions of one in four Australians. Vounteering has 10 core features that should be considered to understand this integral part of our society.
Treasurer Joe Hockey may have welcomed this month’s interest rate cut, but it’s now up to the government to boost confidence.
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