The federal government has handed down its pre-election budget, outlining its plans to boost the economy and relieve cost of living pressures. Here’s a breakdown of what’s in store for you.
The Treasurer revealed a $78 billion deficit (3.4 per cent of GDP), down from a $79.8 billion deficit the year before.
“Over the next 3 years, this will more than halve to 1.6 per cent,” Josh Frydenberg said.
He confirmed that net debt as a share of the economy will peak at 33.1 per cent at 30 June 2026, significantly lower than forecast last year.
Cost of living pressures
In a bid to relieve cost of living pressures for millions of Aussies and potentially secure their vote ahead of the May election, the government pledged to temporarily reduce the 44.2 cents a litre fuel excise.
The tax cut is set to remain in place for six months.
Petrol stations are now supposed to pass the tax cut on to motorists.
The budget also contains a one-off cash payment for millions of Australians to further alleviate the rising cost of living, which, coupled with the current low- and middle-income offset (LMITO) means Aussies are set to benefit from a tax cut of up to $1,500 in the current financial year.
The one-off ‘Cost of Living Tax Offset’ is worth $420 and is set to benefit 10 million working Australians in the form of a more generous LMITO.
LMITO will, however, end in the 2022 financial year.
The LMITO was a one-off tax offset worth up to $1,080 available to those earning from $48,000 to $126,000 a year.
The government decided to scrap the costly measure ahead of the election.
LMITO has been extended twice, first in 2020 and again in 2021 at a cost of $7.8 billion.
The one-off $1500 tax cut will be available from 1 July when individuals lodge their taxes for the 2021/22 financial year.
Jobs
The government has forecast a 3.75 per cent unemployment rate before the end of September – a “historically” low rate set to remain over the four-year forward estimates period.
This is predicted to see wages growth pick up to their strongest in a decade.
Treasurer Frydenberg on Tuesday, unveiled a series of measures to further encourage jobs growth and ensure the government’s target is met.
The government is set to provide $153.5 million over 5 years from 2021-22 to address workforce shortages, support job seekers to find employment, and make it easier for vulnerable Australians to participate in the workforce.
Funding includes:
- $52.8 million over 5 years from 2021-22 to deliver the new ReBoot initiative and support Workforce Australia to support up to 5,000 disadvantaged young Australians to develop employability skills, providing a pathway to employment services and training opportunities
- $49.5 million over 2 years from 2022-23 to provide an additional 15,000 low and fee-free training places in aged care courses under the JobTrainer Fund
- $44.6 million over 2 years from 2022-23 to continue support for businesses who employ mature-aged Disability Employment Services program participants through the Restart Wage Subsidy
- $1.5 million in 2022-23 to extend the trial of career coaching for job seekers of all ages participating in Digital Services under Workforce Australia. The trial will provide career coaching to digitally serviced job seekers, to help them secure employment
The government is also backing Australia’s future tradies, plumbers, tilers and chefs with a $365.3 million investment that will support an extra 35,000 apprentices and trainees get into a job.
The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy offers employers up to 50 per cent of gross wages paid to an eligible and registered Australian apprentice to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter, for a maximum period of 12 months from commencement or recommencement.
Applications for the scheme were set to close on 31 March, but will now run until the end of the current financial year.
Moreover, the government is reconfiguring the employee share scheme rules making it easier for Aussie tech firms to attract talent.
Funding for mental health
$547 million in funding will be directed towards mental health and suicide prevention activities and initiatives over the next five years on top of the $2.3 billion announced in last year’s budget.
“Mental illness can be completely debilitating for patients and their families. Too many people are living lives of quiet desperation.” Mr Frydenberg said.
Women’s safety
The government has earmarked $1.3 billion towards ending violence against women in children which will include the provision of “more frontline services, emergency accommodation, and support to access legal and health services” according to the Treasurer.
This funding will be directed towards strengthening initiatives to prevent gendered violence and to extend and establish programs aimed at the early intervention and prevention of family, domestic and sexual violence.
Programs for women and children who are experiencing or who have experienced family, domestic and sexual violence will also receive additional funding.
Making homes accessible
The government is doubling the home guarantee scheme to 50,000 places a year.
Under the home guarantee scheme, buyers can secure a home with a deposit as little as 5 per cent of the funds required.
The expanded program will include 35,000 places per year for first home buyers from 1 July this year, while an additional 5,000 places per year will be made available for single parents from 1 July to 30 June 2025 allowing them to tap into the market with a 2 per cent deposit.
Regional Australians will also be able to access 10,000 regional home guarantees each year from October 2022 to July 2025.
According to Treasurer Frydenberg, the scheme has particularly supported women and frontline workers, with one in five guarantees issued to essential workers, almost 35 per cent of which were nurses and 34 per cent were teachers.
Halving of super drawdowns extended
The federal government is extending the 50 per cent reduction to minimum superannuation drawdown requirements for retirees into the next financial year.
Originally announced in March 2020 as part of the government’s response to the pandemic, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the reduction would now remain in place until 30 June 2023.
Around 1.8 million super accounts are currently subject to the minimum drawdown requirements that apply to account-based pensions and similar products.
Under the reduced minimum drawdown rates, self-funded retirees aged between 65 and 74 must withdraw 2.5 per cent of their account balance each year to be eligible for tax-free status on their earnings.
The minimum drawdown rate is currently 3 per cent for ages 75 to 79; 3.5 per cent for ages 80 to 84; 4.5 per cent for ages 85 to 89; 5.5 per cent for ages 90 to 94; and 7 per cent for ages 95 and above, while a rate of 2 per cent applies to those under 65.
Digital economy
The Digital Economy Strategy is back featuring investments and incentives to develop digital skills, artificial intelligence and cyber security.
Last year, the government placed $1.2 billion towards the creation of Australia’s digital future. It wants Australia to be a “leading digital economy and society” by 2030.
On Tuesday, the government vowed to provide $130.1 million over 4 years from 2022‑23 to continue implementation of the Digital Economy Strategy and drive digital transformation. Funding includes:
- $38.4 million over 3 years from 2022‑23, and $12.6 million per year ongoing from 2025‑26 to implement the government’s response to the Inquiry into the Future Directions for the Consumer Data Right
- $30.2 million to extend the whole of government cyber hubs pilot, including the establishment of a fourth Cyber Hub Pilot in the Australian Taxation Office
- $18.6 million over 4 years from 2022‑23 (and $3.2 million per year ongoing) to shape global critical and emerging technology standards
- $13.6 million over 4 years from 2022‑23 to continue the Office of Future Transport Technology and support the digitalisation of the transport sector
- $6.2 million over 2 years from 2022‑23 to position Australia as a world leader in regulating the Digital Economy and new technologies and the development of a Digital Age Policy
- $4.8 million to continue the Digital Technology Taskforce for a further 2 years
- $3.9 million over 2 years from 2022‑23 to support women to pursue career opportunities in Australia’s growing tech workforce
- $1.8 million in 2022‑23 to the Digital Transformation Agency to further support the development of the Digital Identity system, including the governance, regulatory frameworks and funding arrangements associated with the Digital Identity legislation.
Infrastructure boost
The government has committed $17.9 billion towards new and existing infrastructure projects in the infrastructure pipeline.
Key new commitments funded in the 2022–23 budget include:
- $3.1 billion in new commitments to deliver the $3.6 billion Melbourne Intermodal Terminal Package (VIC)
- $1 billion for the Sydney to Newcastle – (Tuggerah to Wyong) faster rail upgrade (NSW)
- $1.6 billion for the Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast (Beerwah‑Maroochydore) rail extension (QLD)
- $1.121 billion for the Brisbane to the Gold Coast (Kuraby – Beenleigh) faster rail upgrade (QLD)
- 678 million for Outback Way (NT, WA, QLD)
- $336 million for the Pacific Highway – Wyong Town Centre (NSW)
- $336 million for the Tasmanian Roads Package – Northern Roads Package – Stage 2 (TAS)
- $200 million for the Marion Road – Anzac Highway to Cross Road (SA)
- $145 million for the Thomas Road – Dual Carriageway – South Western Highway to Tonkin Highway and interchange at Tonkin Highway (WA)
- $140 million for Regional Road Safety upgrades (WA)
- $132 million for Central Australian Tourism Roads (NT)
- $120 million for the Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package (SA)
- $46.7 million towards the Athllon Drive Duplication (ACT)
The budget also includes additional funding for existing projects and Roads of Strategic Importance corridors.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said infrastructure is a key pillar of the economic plan to grow the economy, with the measures in this budget set to create an additional 40,000 jobs across Australia.