Budget 2026

This Budget is an important one – delivering more tax cuts, a fair go at buying your own home, and strengthening Medicare for all.

I know things are tough for many people right now, as conflict overseas pushes up prices here at home. We’ve already done a lot of work to help ease the pressure on people in Queensland, and with this Budget, we’re taking the next steps.

Cost of living help

Urgent Care Clinics

Labor has opened 137 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, with more to come. These clinics provide free, urgent care so that you don't have to wait in emergency. And now, we're making them a permanent part of Medicare. In Griffith this includes:

Carina/Carindale Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
805 Old Cleveland Road, Carina
P: (07) 3156 0550
Open 7 days - 8am to 10pm

Coorparoo Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
332 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo
P: (07) 3557 7815
Open 7 days - 8am to 10pm

South Brisbane Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
Level 4/20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba
P: (07) 3346 1315
Open 7 days - 8am to 10pm

Cheaper Medicines

Labor is making prescription medicines even cheaper. We've cut the maximum cost of a prescription on the PBS to just $25 or $7.70 for concession card holders.

Mental Health

We're opening 92 Medicare Mental Health Centres for free, walk-in, face to face care. And with the Medicare Mental Health Check-In you can access free mental health therapy from your own home.

Bulk billing

With our massive boost to bulk billing, more Australians can now see a GP for free. There are almost 3800 fully bulk billing practices across the country.

Tax cuts

We've already rolled out tax cuts for every taxpayer. With this Budget, we're delivering more tax cuts.

Free TAFE

We've made Free TAFE permanent.

Supporting students

We've wiped 20% off everyone's student debt. We've introduced paid prac for students studying to be teachers, social workers, nurses and midwives. Because you shouldn't have to worry about whether you can afford to do placements. And we're supporting the next generation of tradies with a $10,000 payment to help construction and clean-energy apprentices finish their studies.

Cheaper childcare

We want every child to get the best start in life, without costs getting in the way. That's why we made child care cheaper, saving families thousands of dollars a year. We've also guaranteed three days of child care subsidy for children who need it.

Support for parents

We're delivering more support, financial security and flexibility for parents by extending paid parental leave to 6 months. We've also added super to government paid parental leave.

Social security

We've increased Rent Assistance by more than 50 per cent, increased working age and student payments - including JobSeeker - and expanded eligibility for the Single Parenting Payment.

Pay rises

We’ve consistently advocated for 3 million of our lowest paid workers to get a real pay rise, above inflation - and the Fair Work Commission has delivered.

The National Environmental Protection Agency

Australia's new independent National Environmental Protection Agency will launch into action on 1 July, beginning a new era of protection for Australia's natural environment.

The National EPA, the first in Australia’s history, underpins the Albanese Government’s landmark environmental law reforms, which were passed in December last year.

It is a key plank in the reforms' promise to strengthen environmental protections and speed up the approval of critical housing, energy and minerals projects.

In just over six months, the National EPA has gone from a long-held ambition to a reality supported by more than $250 million in funding over the next two years.

From July 1, the National EPA will be a modern and effective regulator that helps people understand Australia’s environmental laws and makes sure those laws are followed.

These include the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and laws regulating sea dumping, ozone protection and synthetic greenhouse gas management, hazardous waste, product emissions standards, recycling and waste reduction and underwater cultural heritage.

The role of the National EPA will include issuing permits and licences, environmental assessments and approvals, compliance and enforcement activities and the assurance, monitoring and auditing of the operation of accreditations, bilateral agreements and bioregional plans under the EPBC Act.

It will also improve the consistency, transparency, and integrity of environmental decision-making at the national level. 

A Fair Go For First Home Buyers

Making it easier to buy

When you work hard and save, you should be able to buy your own home.

We’ve already delivered 5% deposits for first home buyers, and we’re building 100,000 homes set aside just for them.

But right now, first home buyers are being priced out by property investors backed by tax breaks like negative gearing.

That’s why we’re giving young people a fairer go at owning their own home by fixing the tax system.

Our changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax will give more young Australians a fair go at their own home. Read about the Negative Gearing & Capital Gains Tax Reforms.

Making it better to rent

When you’re renting, you should be able to do the things that turn a house into a home.

We've been working with the states to make renting fairer. As a result, most states have now banned ‘no grounds’ evictions, limited rent increases to once per year and set minimum rental standards. And we’ve introduced incentives to create more long-term leases.

We’ve also increased Rent Assistance by more than 50%.

Building more houses

To make housing more affordable, we need to build more homes.

That’s why we’re starting Australia’s biggest ever housing build: 1.2 million homes, including 55,000 social and affordable homes through initiatives like our Housing Australia Future Fund.

To get it done, we’re helping to fund the infrastructure needed to get them built, like water, power and roads. We’re also training more tradies with free TAFE and supporting apprentices to build houses with a new $10,000 incentive.

More Tax Cuts for Working Australians

We know conflict overseas is pushing up prices here at home, from the servo to the supermarket. That’s why we’re doing more to help you keep more of what you earn.

From 1 July this year, we’re delivering more tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer to help with the cost of living. This means the average worker will benefit by nearly $3000.

We’ve been working since the day we came into government to help with the cost of living. Already, we’ve delivered three rounds of tax cuts, more bulk billing, cheaper medicines, free TAFE, cheaper childcare, free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, and more support for parents.

No matter what’s happening in the world, we’re focused on helping people here at home.

There’s more to do, and we’re getting on with it.

Working Australian Tax Offset

The Albanese Government will deliver new tax cuts for every working Australian taxpayer by introducing a $250 Working Australians Tax Offset (WATO).

Over 13 million Australian workers will benefit from the WATO for income earned from 1 July 2027. This is on top of the first round of tax cuts that were rolled out in 2024 and two further tax cuts already coming into effect over the next two years.

The WATO will provide a permanent annual tax offset of up to $250 for income earned by Australian workers from 1 July 2027, increasing the effective tax-free threshold for workers by nearly $1,800.

This is the largest permanent increase in the effective tax-free threshold since 2012–13. The WATO will reduce tax on income from work, helping workers keep more of what they earn.

A $1,000 Instant Tax Deduction, No Receipts Needed

The Albanese Government is also introducing a $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses to offset employment income. The instant tax deduction will make tax time simpler and deliver more cost-of-living relief for workers from the 2026–27 income year. Around 6.2 million workers.

The instant tax deduction allows Australian workers to reduce their taxable income by up to $1,000 without keeping receipts when they lodge their tax return.

Health

Labor is strengthening Medicare. Whether your family needs urgent or ongoing health care, with Labor, every Australian will have access to free healthcare with their Medicare card.

Urgent Care Clinics

Labor has opened 137 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, with more to come. These clinics provide free, urgent care so that you don't have to wait in emergency. And now, we're making them a permanent part of Medicare, investing almost $600 million a year. Already almost 600,000 bulk billed visits have been delivered across Queensland. Find your local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic here.

Mental Health

Labor has invested more than $1 billion so that you can access mental health care backed by Medicare. We're opening 92 Medicare Mental Health Centres for free, walk-in, face to face care. And with the Medicare Mental Health Check-In you can access free mental health therapy from your own home.

Hospital Funding

Labor is delivering an extra $25 billion of funding for our public hospitals. This funding will help improve hospital waiting times, reduce emergency department crowding, and free up hospital beds. So that you can get the care you need.

Cheaper Medicines

Labor is making prescription medicines even cheaper. We've cut the maximum cost of a prescription on the PBS to just $25 or $7.70 for concession card holders.

Bulk Billing

Labor has delivered the largest investment in Medicare ever, so you can see a GP for free. We’ve expanded bulk billing incentives and boosted payments to GPs and practices that bulk bill every patient. And now there are almost 3,800 fully bulk billing GPs and practices around Australia, with almost 700 in Queensland.

Women's Health

Labor is taking women's health seriously. We have delivered 33 Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across Australia and have made contraceptives and menopause treatments cheaper.

More Secure Fuel and a More Resilient Economy

Right now, the world feels uncertain. Conflicts overseas, disruptions to global supply chains, and rising energy costs are affecting Australians every day.

And I know fuel security is front of mind for many people in Queensland.

That's why the Albanese Labor Government is taking action to secure Australia's fuel supply for the long term.

Buying More Fuel

We're growing our national reserves of jet fuel and diesel to 50 days, so Australia is better prepared for future shocks. No matter what’s happening in the world, we’re focused on helping Australians at home.

Refining More Fuel in Australia

We're investing in domestic refining capacity and storage, so we're not as dependent on what happens overseas. Making sure we're more resilient and more prepared.

Keeping More Fuel Here

We're requiring gas companies to reserve 20% of their exports for Australia, so our energy needs come first. Keeping our supply secure and guaranteeing affordability.