The Albanese Labor Government is delivering real change for Australians, with a suite of cost-of-living measures starting on 1 July 2026, including more tax cuts, a full six months of Paid Parental leave, strengthening Medicare and more hospital funding.
Starting 1 July 2026, the Albanese Labor Government is:
- Giving every taxpayer another tax cut, as part of our plan to deliver a series of five tax cuts and ultimately save the average worker up to $2800 a year.
- Expanding Paid Parental Leave to a full six months, helping new parents spend more time at home with their newest family member.
- Backing minimum wage and award wages increases, to boost the pay of 3 million workers.
- Permanently extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business.
- Banning supermarket price gouging with a new mandatory Food and Grocery Code that prohibits very large retailers from charging prices that are significantly excessive.
- Making Medicare Urgent Care Clinics a permanent part of Australia's health system, to help deliver patients the best care and take pressure off hospitals.
- Injecting an additional $25 billion into public hospitals, to help states deliver care.
- Expanding services at our Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics to include menopause and perimenopause.
- Improving patient outcomes by requiring pathology and diagnostic imaging providers to upload test results to My Health Record.
- Opening a new National Environmental Protection Agency, the first in Australia's history.
- Setting up a new Veteran Wellbeing Agency, to improve outcomes, access and wellbeing.
- Introducing payday super, so workers start earning returns sooner and reducing the chances super will go unpaid.
The Albanese Labor Government will keep working to deliver more cost-of-living help and build a more productive economy, a better tax system, and a fairer housing market to help Australians.
Quotes attributable to the Prime Minister:
"My Government is focused on delivering real change for Australians - that means a full six months paid parental leave for new parents, making it easier for first home buyers to get into a home, and major investments in Medicare including making Urgent Care Clinics permanent.
"From 1 July we're cutting taxes again for over 14 million taxpayers, and our combined tax cuts mean an Australian worker on average earnings will be up to $2,800 better off every year.
"We've also backed in a pay rise for 3 million minimum and award wage workers - because we know every bit of help matters."
Quotes attributable to the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers:
"We're delivering cost of living relief and we're delivering real change in the tax system to help first home buyers.
"We are cutting taxes five times in three ways, helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn.
"Whether it's tax cuts for every taxpayer, higher wages for workers or support for small businesses through the instant asset write off, we're delivering more help that will make a meaningful difference to people under cost of living pressure."
Quotes attributable to the Health Minister, Mark Butler:
"Our initiatives to strengthen Medicare are changing the face of frontline care delivery and helping keep costs down for Australians - good for their health and good for their hip pockets.
"From July 1 under our Government, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are here to stay, women have greater access to Menopause and Perimenopause support, and Australian patients can more freely access their pathology results, through My Health Record.
"We haven't just stopped the Medicare freefall under the previous government, we have reversed it and strengthened it - dramatically."
Quotes Attributable to Amanda Rishworth, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations:
"From today, millions of Australian workers will see a real boost to their pay with the minimum wage rising above $1,000 a week for the first time.
"We backed a real wage increase because we are focused on supporting working people and easing cost‑of‑living pressures.
"Labor is delivering higher wages, tax cuts for every taxpayer, and stronger workplace protections, because we want workers to earn more and keep more of what they earn."
Quotes attributable to the Social Services Minister, Tanya Plibersek:
"Labor's changes to Paid Parental Leave mean working parents get more time off and more money when they welcome a new arrival into their family.
"It was a Labor Government that introduced Paid Parental Leave in this country, and now it's the Albanese Labor Government expanding it to a full six months of leave.
"Labor will keep delivering real change that helps Australian families."
