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As the Government is accused of class warfare, the Opposition intends to turn tax increases on landlords, the middle class and trust into a major political fight.

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsPremium
analysis
How the Budget is drawing battlelines for the next election

As the Government is accused of class warfare, the Opposition intends to turn tax increases on landlords, the middle class and trust into a major political fight.

Aaron Patrick

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is being accused of introducing a death tax by stealth with Budget proposals on family trusts and investment properties.

Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsHow Labor is introducing a death tax by stealth

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is being accused of introducing a death tax by stealth with Budget proposals on family trusts and investment properties.

Stephen Johnson

Passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius arrive at Bullsbrook Quarantine Centre on Friday. Carwyn Monck

HealthVideoCommentsPremiumHantavirus flight crew could skip quarantine

The Government has revealed that the flight crew who helped transfer the six passengers on a Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship to Australia might not quarantine. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has defended his Federal Budget after claims by the Coalition a minimum 30 per cent tax rate on testamentary trusts was essentially a death tax. 

PoliticsCommentsJim Chalmers’ Budget trust changes a ‘death tax’ by stealth

Under changes hidden in the fine print of Labor’s Budget unveiled on Tuesday night, income generated by discretionary testamentary trusts would be subject to a minimum 30 per cent tax rate.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Boost Juice Founder Janine Allis.

BusinessComments‘Unfair’: Top Aussie entrepreneur slams Albo’s CGT backflip

One of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs has slammed Labor’s budget and said they would never have started a global empire under the new capital gains tax rules.

Fraser Williams

A dedicated, full-time Counter-Terrorism Coordinator has been appointed within the Home Affairs Department as part of the government’s response to the anti-Semitism Royal Commission.

Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsAustralia appoints dedicated Counter-Terrorism Coordinator

A dedicated, full-time Counter-Terrorism Coordinator has been appointed within the Home Affairs Department as part of the government’s response to the anti-Semitism Royal Commission.

Andrew Greene

Senator Canavan said Labor had ‘flown the white flag’ on higher prices and lower wages. NewsWire / Martin Ollman

POLITICSPremiumPauline Hanson cut off in Senate responding to budget

Pauline Hanson has been abruptly silenced while responding to the federal budget, just after the Opposition Leader drew a hard line on immigration.

Nathan Schmidt and Ike Morris

The key is recognising and understanding people are unhappy with the policies of the major parties, they want their views to be heard and their concerns to be addressed.

opinion
opinion
EditorialCommentsPremium
opinion
Taylor needs to win back mainstream Right

The key is recognising and understanding people are unhappy with the policies of the major parties, they want their views to be heard and their concerns to be addressed.

The Liberals have intensified their attacks on Anthony Albanese’s broken promises but Labor has returned fire with a wealth check on Angus Taylor.

PoliticsVideoCommentsTaylor, PM exchange fire on death taxes and broken promises

The Liberals have intensified their attacks on Anthony Albanese’s broken promises but Labor has returned fire with a wealth check on Angus Taylor.

Andrew Greene

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has pledged to end the bracket creep.

Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsAngus Taylor’s bold pledge to ‘end the inflation tax’

In his first formal Budget reply Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will detail the bold and expensive pledge as One Nation claims credit for coalition’s policy of cutting welfare for migrants.

Andrew Greene

Anthony Albanese has been dealt a major blow as One Nation scores big in the first poll since the budget was handed down.

POLITICSPremiumSavage blow to Labor in post-budget poll

Anthony Albanese has been dealt a major blow as One Nation scores big in the first poll since the budget was handed down.

Nathan Schmidt

Six passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship will arrive in Australia on Friday.

AustraliaVideoCommentsWhen passengers from virus-stricken cruise will arrive in WA

Six passengers from the MV Hondius will board a flight bound for Perth, where they will undergo quarantine.

Caitlyn Rintoul

While the policy changes may appear relatively straightforward in isolation, the broader behavioural and economic implications are far less certain and will require careful consideration for individuals and businesses alike.

opinion
opinion
Asset allocationCommentsPremium
opinion
Chalmers just changed middle Australia’s investment equation

The risk is that taxation policy begins influencing investment decisions in ways that may not necessarily produce the best long-term economic outcomes for investors or for capital markets more broadly.

Robert Zammit

Commonwealth Bank’s share price tumble on Wednesday signals a rough year ahead for shares.

analysis
analysis
BankingVideoCommentsPremium
analysis
CBA has worst day on record as CGT fears grow post-Budget

Professional investors suggest growth shares will struggle to find buyers as capital gains could be taxed at more than 40 per cent under Labor’s Budget.

Tom Richardson

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will deliver his budget reply on Thursday.

NewsPremiumCoalition to scrap Albo’s housing fund, cap migration on new homes

The Coalition has issued a blistering response to Anthony Albanese’s staple housing project while proposing to cap net migration numbers.

Nathan Schmidt

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is ready for the ‘liar’ accusations.

Federal PoliticsCommentsChalmers braced for ‘liar’ accusations after budget backflip

Jim Chalmers knew he would be branded a liar as he prepared the budget that he and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have now conceded more than 39 times backflipped on election promises.

Katina Curtis

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 13, 2026: Treasurer Jim Chalmers addresses the National Press Club at Parliament House, delivering his definitive post-budget roadmap. One day after handing down the 2026-27 Federal Budget, Dr Chalmers defended the government's "ambitious but responsible" fiscal settings amidst ongoing global volatility and the "fourth economic shock" of trade tensions. The Treasurerââ¬â¢s address focused on the "Intergenerational Fairness" package, which includes landmark reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT) aimed at rebalancing the housing market for younger Australians. He argued that the $64 billion in total budget savings and the $10 billion fuel security package are critical to building national resilience and sovereignty. The session, which included a robust Q&A with the press gallery, underscored the Treasurerââ¬â¢s commitment to the "Fourth Economy" transitionââ¬âa strategy designed to foster productivity and long-term stability in an increasingly uncertain global environment. NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsAlbanese, Chalmers knew what they were doing with the Budget

Jim Chalmers knew he would be branded a liar as he prepared the budget. He and the Prime Minister conceded 39 times on Wednesday that they backflipped on their election promise.

Katina Curtis

Newton Tran, co-founder of Subiaco-based café and barber shop Revival Studios, said he was not expecting huge things in Tuesday’s Budget.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumSmall businesses ‘never going to be’ Federal Budget focus

A local small business owner says the lack of targeted Federal Budget measures to support firms like his came as no surprise because it was never going to be the priority amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Cheyanne Enciso

Leading public policy think tank the Grattan Institute believes the impact on property prices from the Government’s taxation changes is likely to be muted.

Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsFirst-home buyer woes still not solved despite overhaul

Experts remain cautious over how much controversial Budget tax hikes on investors will do to help younger people buy their first home.

Andrew Greene

Labor’s budget pivots foreign spending away from global organisations to fund more programs in the Pacific.

Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsLabor’s Budget cash splash targets China’s backyard

Australia has pivoted foreign spending away from global organisations to help fund more programs in the Pacific as the competition for strategic influence the region intensifies.

Caitlyn Rintoul

In a bid to rebalance an “out of whack system” Jim Chalmers will curtail perks on investment properties while handing out moderate tax breaks to the average Australian worker, despite soaring inflation.

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsVideoComments
analysis
Chalmers ditches investment promises for $250 tax break

Negative gearing and capital gains backflips brings end of an era for property investors to fund tax break for workers . . . next year

Katina Curtis

Treasurer Jim Chalmers addresses the National Press Club at Parliament House, delivering his definitive post-Budget roadmap.

Federal PoliticsVideoComments‘Worst thing’: Chalmers’ Budget backflip reality

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been grilled over controversial changes in the Federal Budget, revealing the ‘worst thing’ he could have done.

Max Corstorphan

Jim Chalmers’ Budget actually amounts to nothing much other than the official documentation of the most egregious election broken promise we have seen in quite some time. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

opinion
opinion
EditorialsVideoCommentsPremium
opinion
Jim’s Budget of nothing but broken promises

What this Budget actually amounts to is nothing much other than the official documentation of the most egregious election broken promise we have seen in quite some time.

Lewis Wells and Madeleine Kuhl with children Oliver (3) and Maya Wells (18 months) are one of many WA families left underwhelmed by the Federal Budget.

Federal PoliticsCommentsPremiumWA families unimpressed by Fed Budget cost of living moves

WA families have been left feeling underwhelmed by this year’s Federal Budget which Treasurer Jim Chalmers says is centred on ‘taking the pressure off’ Australians.

Oliver Lane