Federal budget 2025: Winners and Losers revealed

Every Federal budget has its share of winners and losers across Australia. See where you stand, vote and have your say.

Federal Budgets aren’t Magic Puddings. While there are popular measures like tax cuts and cheaper medicines, like all Budgets, this one has its share of winners and losers.

Find out where you stand with this handy guide.

WINNERS

TAXPAYERS

All taxpayers are getting two tax cuts – one in 2026 and one in 2027. The average earner will have an extra $536 in their pockets each year after the cuts.

Parents are winners as more families will be able to access three days of subsidised child care per week. Picture: iStock

PARENTS

More families will be able to access three days of subsidised child care per week, starting 1 January 2026.

HEALTH CONSUMERS

Many medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will become cheaper, slashed from $31.50 to $25. The cost will stay the same for pensioners.

The government is also determined to make bulk-billing the standard practice for Australian GPs; new incentives should see the creation of 18 million more bulk-billed sessions.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

The public service is set to grow by about 3400 full time staff during 2025/26, according to the Budget papers. The National Disability Insurance Agency will gain 1066 workers, bringing it to 10,022, while the aged care watchdog will add 320, taking it to 1918. Meanwhile the ranks of the Australian Federal Police will swell by 195, up to 8151 people.

Three million Aussies will see 20 per cent wiped from their student loans. Picture: Supplied

STUDENTS

Three million people carrying student debt will see 20 per cent wiped from their loans from July 1.

AGED CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WORKERS

$2.6b has been allocated for increased wages for aged care workers, set to be backdated to March 1. It means they will earn around $22,000 more a year than they were in 2022.

And $3.6b has been set aside for workers in early childhood education and care.

REX AIRLINES

The Budget allocates $130m in secured loans to keep Rex Airlines in the skies up until the end of its voluntary administration period on June 30, 2025.

HOUSING HOPEFULS

New income and property price caps will be applied to the government’s Help to Buy housing scheme, helping 40,000 people/couples over the next four years to buy a house.

The government’s Help to Buy housing scheme will help 40,000 people/couples to buy a home. Picture: iStock

FURTHER EDUCATION SECTOR

Fee-free TAFE to be made permanent from 2027.

APPRENTICES

A new $10,000 payment is being introduced to incentivise trainees to complete their apprenticeships. The introduction of a national licensing scheme for electricians will also enable them to work across all states and territories.

LOSERS

ENERGY CONSUMERS

The federal government will spin its $150 energy bill rebate as one of the great wins for working families in the 2025/26 Budget, but analysis of power prices shows they are set to increase by much more. Households face paying an average of $328 more in NSW, $162 extra in Victoria, an additional $264 in South Australia and $1287 more in Queensland.

The government will spin its $150 energy bill rebate as one of the great wins for working families in the Budget, but analysis of power prices shows they are set to increase by much more. Picture: Supplied

CONSULTANTS

For the second consecutive year, the federal government is cutting back on consultants. This year the APS will be spending $720m less on work provided to external contractors.

EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS

By abolishing non-compete clauses for most Australian workers, a lucrative vein of work for employment lawyers is set to dry up. “People shouldn’t need to hire a lawyer to take the next step in their career,” Dr Chalmers said in his Budget speech.

FOREIGN PROPERTY BUYERS

Foreign buyers will be banned from purchasing Australian property for two years from April 1.

SUPERMARKETS

The budget promises tough action on supermarkets, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission given an extra $38m to crack down on deceptive pricing practices in the supermarket and retail sectors. Another $240m has been allocated to work with states and territories on planning issues to entice new players into the supermarket sector.

The ACCC has been given an extra $38m to crack down on deceptive pricing practices in supermarkets. Photo: John Gass

SELLERS OF ILLEGAL CIGARETTES

Nearly $50m has been allocated for the AFP to pursue the trade in illegal tobacco.

IMPORTERS

It’s not a tariff, but the $20m spent encouraging us to ‘Buy Australian’ is likely to cut into the earnings of foreign companies selling their products in Australia.

AGENCIES GETTING A HAIRCUT

A few government agencies are having their staffing levels trimmed as part of the Budget. The Human Rights Commission is losing 31 staff, bringing it down to 165, the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water will lose 142 people, taking it down to 4589, and the Bureau of Meteorology is shedding 22 staff, taking it to 1802.

While the government says it will strengthen renters’ rights, this does not protect millions of Aussie who don’t receive welfare benefits but continue to see uncapped price hikes. Picture: iStock

RENTERS

The Albanese Government says it will strengthen renters’ rights across Australia, including a framework on genuine reasonable grounds for eviction and moving towards limiting rental increases to once a year. It also continues to promote the ‘build to rent’ scheme to provide greater stability for long-term renters, while increasing the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance. However, this does not protect millions of Australians who do not receive welfare benefits but continue to see unprecedented, and uncapped price hikes.

THE OLDER INFIRM

There’s no new money to help reduce the waiting lists for the 80,000 older Australians needing support in the home.

WEALTHY FAMILIES

Earn more than half a million bucks a year? Sorry, you won’t be able to access the three days of free childcare offered in this Budget.