Treasurer Jim Chalmers has handed down the 2026-27 Federal Budget, revealing a deficit of $31.5 billion as the government grapples with rising global instability, fuel shocks and mounting cost-of-living pressures.
While health, housing, tax reform and defence spending dominated the Treasurer’s speech, the Budget papers reveal a raft of smaller measures spanning everything from overseas travel and online gambling to tax fraud, child protection and Pacific diplomacy.
Here are some of the biggest announcements buried deeper in the Budget papers.
Overseas travel is getting more expensive
Australians travelling overseas will soon pay more to leave the country, with the Passenger Movement Charge increasing by $10 from January 2027. The charge, applied to passengers departing Australia by air or sea, will rise from $70 to $80 per traveller. The government says the measure will return an estimated $755 million to the Budget over five years from 2025-26. A six-month transition period will apply for airlines and carriers where tickets have already been sold.
Tax fraud crackdown
The government will spend $86.3 million over four years on phase two of its Counter Fraud Strategy aimed at modernising the prevention and detection of fraud across Australia’s tax and superannuation systems. The package will strengthen the Australian Taxation Office’s ability to detect fraud in real time, expand fraud protections for taxpayers and improve protections around superannuation systems. Under the changes, the ATO will also receive powers to pause debt recovery for taxpayers impacted by fraud committed by tax agents and waive debts in appropriate circumstances.
Small businesses see tax relief
Millions of businesses feeling the economic pain of the Middle East crisis will get some of their tax back along with extra money to buy equipment to help them weather the storm. Those set to benefit include 2.7 million small businesses, who will be able to access both measures, and almost another 90,000 companies in line for tax refunds. Small business owners turning over less than $10 million will be able to get the $20,000 a year instant asset tax write-off permanently from July 1. The scheme already allows them to buy equipment, furniture or vehicles, and is expected to slash compliance costs such as record keeping by about $32 million a year. The second measure is the reintroduction of a two-year loss carry back for all businesses - including small businesses - turning over up to $1 billion a year. The carry back allows a business to offset earnings losses against the past two years’ profits, giving them a tax refund. The measure is expected to cost $2.3 billion over five years and will become permanent from July 1.
Agriculture and trade
The budget includes $77.1 million over four years for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to continue supporting agricultural exports and trade. The funding will support Australia’s participation in international agricultural forums, maintain export regulatory services and protect access to key global export markets.
Child sexual abuse prevention
The government will provide $12.1 million in 2026-27 to continue initiatives aimed at preventing, disrupting and combating child sexual abuse. Funding will go towards the Attorney-General’s Department, Australian Federal Police, Australian Communications and Media Authority, Australian Institute of Criminology and the National Indigenous Australians Agency, while also maintaining support services for victims and survivors.
Great Barrier Reef and biodiversity
The budget includes $91.8 million over two years to continue protecting and restoring the Great Barrier Reef. That includes $86.8 million for reef protection activities, restoration projects and implementation of the Reef 2050 sustainability plan, alongside $5 million to continue reef monitoring and stewardship programs. A further $110.8 million over two years will support protection of native species and biodiversity, including preparedness measures against High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza.
Pacific partnerships
The government will provide $147.8 million over three years from 2025-26 to strengthen Australia’s relationships with Pacific nations and international trade partners. The funding is linked to Australia’s role in COP31 - a global climate change conference - and includes support for pre-COP events and a Pacific leaders’ summit focused on security, resilience and economic cooperation.
Online gambling reforms
The budget also contains a major package targeting online gambling harms, with $112.7 million committed over five years for consumer protections, support services and awareness campaigns. That includes $39 million over four years to expand financial counselling services for Australians impacted by gambling harm, $28.7 million to strengthen and expand BetStop, $22.6 million over five years for wagering advertising reforms and stronger enforcement against illegal gambling services, and $22.4 million over three years for a national public awareness campaign on gambling harm.
Good Friday Appeal
The government will provide $2 million in 2026-27 to support The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. The funding will support preventative health initiatives, improve paediatric health literacy and strengthen regional paediatric healthcare access.
Disaster preparedness
The budget also includes additional funding aimed at improving Australia’s resilience to natural disasters and emergencies. That includes $6 million for the National Emergency Management Agency to continue work with states and territories on a national high-speed mobile broadband emergency response capability. The funding will also support rollout of a national cell broadcast emergency warning system and strengthen the national aerial firefighting fleet ahead of increasingly severe bushfire and weather seasons.
