Jim Chalmers, determined not to miss his reform moment more than four years into government, has backed the largest change to Australia’s sclerotic tax system since the Howard era
-
Federal budget 2026 LIVE updates: Australia government budget announcement and speech – latest news
-
Explore all of our 2026 Australia federal budget coverage
-
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
By his own assessment, Jim Chalmers’ fifth federal budget is the most important and most ambitious from an Australian government in decades.
Buffeted by the global energy shock, the treasurer describes Tuesday night’s spending package as five budgets in one.