Help with the cost of living

Lower taxes

We’re delivering more tax cuts for every working Australian to help with the cost of living:

1. More tax cuts rolling out now.
2. An extra $250 off working Australians' tax bills permanently.
3. A new $1,000 instant tax deduction without receipts.

That’s on top of cutting fuel taxes to save you money when you fill up. 

Stronger Medicare

Getting the healthcare you need shouldn’t depend on what’s in your bank account.

That’s why we’re making our free Urgent Care Clinics a permanent part of Medicare.

And with the biggest ever boost to bulk billing, we’re helping more Australians see a general practitioner (GP)  for free.

We’re also delivering a record investment in public hospitals, and making more life-changing medicines cheaper by putting them on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Free TAFE

A good, secure job can change your life. And free TAFE is giving more Australians that opportunity.

More than 740,000 Australians have enrolled in courses from aged care to agriculture.

We’ve made free TAFE permanent, so even more Australians can get the skills they need.

And we’re backing new construction apprentices with a $10,000 cash bonus, helping more future tradies finish their training.

Support for students

You shouldn’t have to choose between getting a degree and paying the bills.

That’s why we’ve introduced paid prac for student teachers, nurses, social workers and midwives.

We’ve cut student debt by 20%. And we’ve changed the rules so you can earn more before you have to start paying it back.

Better pay for workers

Hard work should pay off.

Since we were elected, the minimum wage has gone up by more than $9,000 a year. We’re backing another real pay rise this year.

And unfair junior pay rates are being scrapped, giving young adult workers in retail, fast food and pharmacy a pay rise.

Cheaper childcare

We want every child to get the best start in life, without costs getting in the way.

We made childcare more affordable. We’ve guaranteed 3 days of subsidised care for families who need it.

And we’ll build new centres where they’re needed most, not to make profit, but so you can get affordable childcare in our suburbs and regions.

Support for parents

We’re making sure parents have the support they need, right when it matters most.

From July 2026, paid parental leave will be a full 6 months. Families can share it however works best for them.

And we’ve added superannuation to that leave, so taking time off to raise a family doesn’t set you back in retirement.

Banning price gouging and card surcharges

Supermarkets taking advantage of Australians is just not on.

We’re helping you get a better deal at the checkout, making supermarket price gouging illegal from July.

And we’ve passed new laws to crack down on petrol price gouging.

From October 2026, card surcharges will be banned for good, so the price you see is the price you pay.