'Back in the black': Government doubles tax relief and splashes the cash in pre-election budget

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has more than doubled the Coalition’s tax reform package in a pre-election budget the government hopes will turn around its electoral fortunes.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handing down his first Federal Budget in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP

Key points from Budget 2019-20:

• The government will deliver Australia’s first surplus in 12 years
• Tax offsets for low and middle-income earners doubled to up to $1,080 a year
• Christmas Island detention centre to close by July, four months after it was reopened
• A clampdown on welfare to save $2.1 billion over four years
• Refugee support services take $77.9 million hit

The Coalition government is banking on a generous income tax package and a massive infrastructure cash splash to turn around its electoral fortunes.

 

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