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Diabolik bookstore owner Scott Jones pictured at the store in Mt Hawthorn

WA BUDGET CommentsSmall businesses react to State Budget with quiet optimism

Small business owners in Western Australia have not had their low expectations surpassed in Thursday’s State Budget, with one saying there was little to write home about.

Oliver Lane

Treasurer Rita Saffioti speaking at the state budget lockup at Dumas House on Thursday afternoon.

analysis
analysis
Ben Harvey CommentsPremium
analysis
Transcribing Saffioti’s State Budget speech

Ben Harvey reveals the truth behind the words of a Budget speech that could send you to sleep.

Ben Harvey

Rita Saffioti delivering the budget at WA Parliament House on Thursday.

WA BUDGETCommentsGST win coming for west as fight looms over lucrative deal

WA will see its GST share lift above the legislated 75 cent floor for the first time in more than a decade the Budget has predicted, as Labor prepares to argue for the deal which has proven an economic boon.

Dylan Caporn

Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti.

analysis
analysis
WA BUDGET
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This is not a sexy Budget, but it delivers the essentials

The cost-of-living crisis is over for some, if not all. But record population growth means the hospital and housing crisis is not yet abating.

Jessica Page

Rita Saffioti said the government were focused on creating housing to match the infrastructure spend. 

WA BUDGETCommentsPremiumRegional projects to run over-budget with housing the focus

Millions of extra funds will be put into a range of regional infrastructure projects to see them completed, the State Budget has revealed.

Oliver Lane

‘We are also unlocking underutilised land for housing development and have led the nation on cutting red tape in the planning system,’ John Carey said.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
$101 million in latest boost to tackle housing supply

Labor will unlock 33,000 residential lots across WA in a $101 million investment in water and power infrastructure in Thursday’s State Budget.

Dylan Caporn and Oliver Lane

Rita Saffioti is pinning her job on creating jobs for WA.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
No sign of rebates as Saffioti prepares to hand down Budget

WA families appear likely to miss out on power bill credits for the first time in five years as Rita Saffioti prepares to hand down her second Budget.

Jessica Page and Dylan Caporn

The NSW budget will include big education spending, including $9 billion on infrastructure. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumSchools, buses headline early budget promises

Public schools and the way kids get there will both receive major funding boosts when the NSW government unveils its budget next week.

Tom Wark

Pacific workers are being encouraged to do the paperwork necessary to claim their superannuation. (University of South Australia/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremium'Many millions' in unclaimed super for Pacific workers

Pacific workers are being hindered in accessing their Australian superannuation by tricky rules, access to technology and language barriers.

Ben McKay

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he wants to push ahead with his plan to increase the tax rate on high-balance superannuation accounts in the form previously proposed.

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
analysis
Everything you need to know about superannuation tax fight

What is the superannuation tax fight all about and will you have to pay it?

Katina Curtis

Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes announced a $2.3b cost-of-living package as part of the budget. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumDebt piles up as public service faces $3b budget cut

Taxpayers are set to foot the bill as interest on debt eats a $29-million-a-day hole in a state budget, despite public service job cuts and higher tax revenue.

Callum Godde

The budget will be focused on working people and families, Premier Jacinta Allan says. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumNet debt, spending, tax: state budget numbers to watch

There will be nowhere for the Victorian government to hide when the state budget lifts the lid on updated net debt, spending and taxation revenue projections.

Callum Godde

Rating agencies want to see discipline in the first state budget of Victoria's new treasurer. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetCredit watchers keep eagle eye on state budget debut

One state's taxpayers could soon be forking out $25 million a day in interest with credit rating agencies looking for fiscal discipline in the upcoming budget.

Callum Godde

The NT's record spend on law and order won't address the causes of crime, the opposition says. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetNT budget a 'missed chance' to tackle causes of crime

The ongoing mass incarceration of youth offenders in a crime-ridden territory will only fuel repeat offending, the opposition says.

Lloyd Jones

Farmers, firefighters and community members want the Victorian government to drop a levy. (Callum Godde/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetFirefighters, farmers in 11th-hour bid to scuttle levy

Protesters have heaped fresh pressure on a state premier and treasurer to dump an expanded emergency services levy ahead of it being put to a final vote.

Callum Godde

The Northern Territory is set to get more police and resources for jails, courts and crime victims. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetLaw and order measures top Northern Territory budget

Measures announced in the Northern Territory budget include a record $1.5 billion spend on law and order.

Lloyd Jones

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulates Premier Roger Cook on his election win

jessica pageCommentsPremiumPoliticians spend without concern when elections are near

While those families on the wrong end of the widening gap between rich and poor are forced to tighten their belts, politicians seem able to rustle up billions in an instant, when votes are on the line. 

Jessica Page

Anthony Albanese and Labor have turned around sliding voter support as the Federal Election hits the first full week, according to a new wave of polling. 

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Federal election 2025Comments
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Budget helps Labor turn poll figures around

Anthony Albanese has jetted into Perth ahead of his first campaign appearance in WA on the back of a wave of improved polls, showing Labor improving its chances of a second term. 

Nicola Smith and Dylan Caporn

WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti announced a June State Budget.

June BudgetCommentsPremiumWelfare agencies plead for more help in June Budget

The newly elected Cook Government will hand down its first post-election Budget in June, as welfare agencies plead for more cost-of-living relief for struggling West Australians.

Joe Spagnolo

Peter Dutton has outlined his big pitch to middle Australia.

Federal PoliticsComments‘Opportunities’: Dutton’s pledge to make Australia greater

With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese poised to call an election as soon as Friday, Mr Dutton said repeatedly the choice ahead of Australians could not be clearer.

Katina Curtis

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor have pledged to repeal Labor’s tax cuts in favour of their own fuel excise.

Federal election 2025CommentsPeter Dutton, Angus Taylor pledge to repeal Labor’s tax cuts

The Coalition has pledged it will repeal Labor’s $5-a-week tax cuts, saying it needs the money to fund its alternative offering of halving the fuel excise for a year.

Katina Curtis

According to ABS, I am far from alone in having a stressful day.

opinion
opinion
OpinionCommentsPremium
opinion
Budget overlooks mental health of our stressed-out nation

The Federal Budget missed an opportunity to help mental health issues for a very stressed-out nation.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

The Opposition Leader has vowed to make relief at the bowser one of his first priorities if he is successful at the May poll.

Federal PoliticsCommentsDutton drives into cost-of-living battle with petrol tax cut

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will halve the petrol excise for a year in his answer to Labor’s $5 a week tax cuts that the Coalition has voted against in the wake of the Budget.

Katina Curtis

Under the “modest and meaningful” reforms, described by Dr Chalmers as a “top up” to previously legislated tax cuts, the average earner will get a $268 break in 2026-27 and $536 the year after. 

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Federal PoliticsComments
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Labor lays tax cut wedge for Coalition ahead of election

The two major parties will go to the election divided over 70c a day, as income tax cuts emerge as a significant policy battleground in the upcoming Federal election. 

Ellen Ransley

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