All the winners and losers from the 2025 federal budget

By Sheree Hoddinett 

When it comes to this year’s federal budget, let’s just say you can definitely tell there is an election coming. Labelled as a “responsible” budget, its aim is to help with the cost of living, while building Australia’s future. There’s some tax cuts that are sure to be winner for a few out there, another rebate on our electricity that will alleviate the cost of living a tiny bit and for those filling a lot of prescriptions, you’ll be forking out a little less with more funding going towards the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). 

Here’s a few of the winners and losers from this year’s budget: 

WINNERS 

Tax payers – There’s new tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. From July 1, 2026, the tax rate on income earned between $18,201 and $45,000 will be cut from 16% to 15% and will reduce even further to 14% from July 2027. 

Electricity bills - The government will extend rebates on electricity bills by six months, providing another $150 cut to power bills for households and small businesses. The rebates will be automatically applied to every household and about one million small businesses from July 1 and applied over two quarterly instalments. 

Women’s health – A total of $793 million will be invested to deliver more choice, lower costs and better care for women. Contraceptive pill Slinda and endometriosis treatment Ryego will both be listed on the PBS from May 1 and IVF treatment Pergoveris will be made accessible for women earlier. A new Medicare rebate will also be created for menopause health assessments and $20.9 million will be spent over three years to expand the number of endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics around the country.  

The PBS - From January 1, 2026, Australians will pay no more than $25 for medicines listed on the PBS at a cost of $689m over four years. Concession card holders and pensioners will continue to pay $7.70 a script. 

Child care – Delivering more affordable and accessible child care by establishing the 3-Day Guarantee so families are eligible for at least three days of subsidised early education and care and building more child care centres across Australia. 

Aged care workers - This government has also invested a total of $17.7 billion to support award wage increases for aged care workers, including $2.6 billion in this budget to deliver another pay rise for aged care nurses. 

Beer brewers - Brewers will enjoy a two year freeze of the alcohol excise for draught beer, which will cut $95m from the budget bottom line in the four years from 2025-26. For those who enjoy a bevy or two, don't expect a freeze on the beer excise to make much difference to the price of a pint — the difference adds up to less than a cent. 

First home buyers - The Help to Buy scheme for first home buyers will be expanded, with $800 million allocated to lift the property price and income caps to make the scheme more accessible. 

Pandas – No, this isn’t a joke. The pandas at Adelaide Zoo, who are on loan from China, are set to benefit from $3.8 million over five years to help with their stay.  

LOSERS 

Big supermarkets – Due to the constant increase in prices, $38.8 million is going towards the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to probe misleading and deceptive pricing practices and unconscionable conduct in the sector. 

Tobacco - The budget will include $156 million to disrupt the illicit tobacco trade. 

Foreign home buyers – As of April 1, a two year ban is in place to stop overseas citizens from buying existing houses. 

Consultants - The government will further cut spending on consultants, contractors and labour hire that supplement the public service, reducing its outsourcing spend by a further $720 million over the forward estimates. 

For a full run down on the budget, visit https://budget.gov.au