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The headlines say it all! Read and decide for yourself if this is the Budget to save our nation!

Highlights for Taxpayers and Small Business include:

New Tax cuts for every Australian Taxpayer:

The Government will deliver more tax cuts to all Australian taxpayers, to be delivered over the next two years.  

• From 1 July 2026, the 16 per cent tax rate, which applies to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000, will be reduced to 15 per cent. 

• From 1 July 2027, this tax rate will be reduced further to 14 per cent. 

Supporting Small Businesses 

Easing the pressure on small Business:  

• The Government is extending energy bill relief for six months to the end of 2025. Around one million eligible small businesses will receive up to $150 in rebates directly off their bills.  

• The Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises program is providing $56.7 million in grants of up to $25,000 to over 2,400 businesses, funding a range of energy upgrades, such as replacing inefficient appliances and improving heating systems. 

• The Government is supporting the hospitality sector and alcohol producers, by pausing indexation on draught beer excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates and by support available under the existing Excise remission scheme for manufacturers of alcoholic beverages and Wine Equalisation Tax Producer rebate.  

• In addition, the Government expects around 1.5 million sole traders to benefit from the Government’s tax cuts for every taxpayer. 

Levelling the playing field: 

• The Government will work with states and territories on extending Unfair Trading Practices protections to small businesses. 

• The Government is providing $7.1 million over two years to strengthen the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s enforcement of the Franchising Code. The Government will extend protections from Unfair Contract Terms and Unfair Trading Practices to businesses regulated by the Franchising Code, subject to consultation. 

Digital and Cyber security supports:

Since the 2023–24 Budget, the Government has committed more than $60 million to help small businesses uplift their digital and cyber security capabilities through the: 

• Digital Solutions program 

• Cyber Wardens program 

• Small Business Cyber Resilience Service 

• Cyber Health Check. 

These programs help small businesses adopt digital tools and grasp the opportunities that going online offers and prevent and bounce‑back from cyber‑attacks. 

Banning non‑compete clauses for low‑ and middle‑income workers: 

• The Government will ban non‑compete clauses for low‑ and middle‑income workers. This will free many Australian workers to move to more productive, higher‑paying jobs and start their own business. 

• The Government will also close loopholes in competition law that allow businesses to make arrangements that cap workers’ pay and conditions without the knowledge and agreement of affected workers, or block staff from being hired by competitors. 

Reforming occupational licensing: 

• The Government will work with the states and territories, unions and employers, on a national occupational licence for electrical trades to allow electricians to move where they are needed most. 

Building a Future Made in Australia: 

• This Budget builds on the Government’s existing $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia agenda. 

Front Door for Investors: 

• The Government is establishing a new Front Door for investors with major transformational proposals to make it simpler to invest in Australia and attract more global and domestic capital.  

• From September 2025, the Front Door will begin to act as a single‑entry point for investors, providing priority projects with coordinated facilitation services, guided by an Investor Council. 

Supporting Australian Businesses: 

• This Budget provides $20 million to support Australian producers through the Buy Australian Campaign, aiming to encourage consumers to buy Australian‑made products. 

• The Government has exceeded its small‑ and medium‑size enterprise (SME) procurement target of 35 per cent of contracts by value from SMEs, for contracts with a value of up to $20 million, through the success of recent initiatives such as the Buy Australian Plan. It will also drive industry investment and innovation in more sustainable goods and services by applying the Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy to a further $4.5 billion of public procurement. 

• The Government is also supporting businesses through its trade diversification agenda. This Budget provides $16 million for a new Australia–India Trade and Investment Accelerator Fund. 

For the full budget report go to,https://budget.gov.au/content/06-economy.htm