From an expansion to the government's income tax cuts to $150 energy rebates, there was a key focus on cost-of-living relief and cheaper healthcare in this year's federal budget.
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Here's a breakdown of this year's winners and losers.
Winners
Taxpayers
In a surprise move from the government, all taxpayers will take more of their pay home on top of the previously announced revamp to the stage three income tax cuts.
Combined with previous tax cuts, the changes mean a worker on the average income of $79,000 will receive a tax cut of $1922 in 2026-27, or, about $37 a week.
From 2027-28 onwards, an average taxpayer will get $2190 per year which adds up about $42.
Patients
People will get cheaper visits to the GP with $7.9 billion for Medicare to expand eligibility for bulk-billing incentives.
The budget also contained a $698 million pledge to make the maximum cost of a majority of medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme $25.
If Labor is re-elected, it has also pledged $644 million for 50 new urgent care clinics across Australia.
Households
Households are big beneficiaries of this year's budget, with $1.8 billion already announced to extend the energy bill rebate for 10 million homes and about 1 million small businesses.
Energy rebates worth $150 will be applied across quarterly instalments in the second half of this year.
The proposed relief comes on top of previous rebates announced in advance of the budget's release.
Tradies
From July 2025, eligible apprentices will receive up to $10,000 in incentive payments under a program aimed to ease nationwide shortages of construction workers.
The government has also extended a $5000 payment to employers of apprentices in priority occupations until the end of 2025.
A national licensing scheme will also be rolled out to allow electricians to work across borders without reapplying for a separate licence or paying extra fees.
Students
If re-elected, the government has pledged to reduce student debt by 20 per cent, which would remove $16 billion in HECS loans from university students' bottom lines.
Labor has plans to introduce legislation after the election.
Breweries
The government will freeze the alcohol excise for two years from August 2025.
A pause on the "beer tax" will benefit alcohol companies and breweries far more than beer drinkers, as the price of all alcohol lifts marginally twice a year.
MORE BUDGET 2025:
Losers
Jobseekers
Despite a long-urged push to raise the rate of Jobseeker, there will be no further increases to the unemployment payment or the carer assistance payment.
The government has cited inflationary pressure as a reason behind its decision to hold off on a greater boost to income assistance.
Consultants
Consultants are the biggest losers of the government's war on external labour hire.
The government will save a further $720 million this year by cutting its spending on consultants, contractors and labour hire.
This brings Labor's total cuts to external labour to more than $4.7 billion since it was elected in mid-2022.
Foreign homeowners
Homebuyers from overseas countries will be banned from purchasing existing properties for a two-year period starting in April 1, 2025.
The Australian Taxation Office has been provided $5.7 million to enforce the ban.
Clingy bosses
The government plans to abolish a loophole allowing employers to take legal action against staff moving to a competing employer or starting a competing business.
A ban on non-compete clauses for workers earning less than $175,000 is expected to take effect in 2027, depending on whether legislation passes.
More than 3 million low and middle-income workers in Australia are on non-competes.
The government said it will also ban the use of "no-poach" agreements in workplaces, which block staff from being hired by competitors.
Eleanor Campbell
Eleanor Campbell covers federal politics and the public service. Reach her securely on Signal @eleanorcampbell.25.
