In brief
- From strawberry levies to wine glass tariffs, the budget contains some unusual policy details.
- Solar panel recycling, PNG NRL tax breaks and nuisance tariffs feature in the federal budget.
Every year the federal budget lays down some hard truths and careful economic forecasts —anticipating potential gloom and providing pages full of figures and policies.
But it also contains some random and interesting bits of detail about the functions and priorities of the government — from particular fruits getting some extra attention to things you just didn't quite expect.
The 12 May budget is no different, with an assortment of interesting changes. Here's a list of things that were largely overlooked in mainstream coverage.
Wine glasses with too much tax
Did you know there's a bunch of tariffs of such "nuisance" they needed to be urgently addressed in the budget? Specifically on wine glasses, tyres, air conditioners, margarine and bitumen?
The Department of Home Affairs is making it one of its priorities in the budget — removing a tranche of 497 nuisance tariffs from 1 July 2026.
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Apparently, this is going to help streamline around $23 billion worth of trade and save businesses $157 million in compliance costs each year, according to the department.
The humble strawberry gets a special mention
First we need to explain what a strawberry runner is...
They're the leafless stalks that strawberry plants create with a little plant at its end that produces new plants — basically a propagation tool for commercial growers.
A levy on strawberry runners is imposed on commercial producers — and, stay with us — is paid to the Department of Agriculture at a rate of $8.00 per 1,000 runners rounded up to the next 1,000 for each sale or purchase.
Now that we've cleared that up, the government wants to clarify a few things. From 1 July, the government will set up a biosecurity part of the levy to be 19 cents per 1,000 strawberry runners. But this new levy will be offset by a cut to the research and development part of the levy — so the overall cost of the levy won't change. Sweet as.
PNG's NRL team gets a tax-free perk
Papua New Guinea's new National Rugby League team has got a tax sweetener in the budget.
Players and staff of the PNG Chiefs, which will enter the competition in 2028, will get income tax exemptions — which will hit the budget by $5.4 million over four years.
It's part of a broader diplomatic push between the two governments.
Solar panels need recycling
As the growth in Australia's rooftop solar drive continues, there have been sounds of alarm over photovoltaic waste.
According to researchers at the University of New South Wales, it's predicted to reach 100,000 tonnes annually by 2030.
In a bid to address this, the government is giving some money in the budget to help recycle solar panels, about $24.7 million for a national pilot for a scheme to set up 100 pilot collection sites across the country.
It's hoped the minerals will be reused to support the energy transition.
E-bike regulations
With the market saturated with e-bikes and amid its huge consumer uptake in recent years — including among children — safety concerns have risen with a number of deaths and serious cases of injury from e-bike accidents in recent months.
The budget has confirmed $6.6 million in funding to strengthen national safety standards, including by improving product recalls and advancing online marketplace reforms.
It's also part of a broader move to introduce standards for e‑bikes and nationally consistent requirements for all e‑micromobility devices.
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