What we already know about the budget

Treasurer Joe Hockey will release the Abbott government's second budget on Tuesday night, but we already know many of the things that will be included.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT TUESDAY'S BUDGET

* Economists predicting MYEFO forecast of $31.2 billion for 2015/16 deficit to blow out to upwards of $40 billion.

* Treasurer Joe Hockey promising "quality trajectory back to surplus". But no surplus likely in the forward estimates.

* Fall in iron ore prices to impact on tax receipts for 2015/16

* Record infrastructure spend, as states take advantage of asset recycling scheme bonus payments

* Crackdown on welfare cheats through better data matching to identify fraud, and $1 billion Centrelink computer upgrade to help with crackdown.

* Major $3.5 billion reform to child care, with single payment paid directly to childcare centres to reduce parents' upfront costs. Stay-at-home parents with a family income more than $65,000 will no longer secure childcare subsidies.

* Income-tested hourly subsidy for nannies for 10,000 shift worker families in a two-year trial costing $246 million.

* Loophole that allows new parents to claim paid parental leave payments from both the federal government and their employer will be closed, saving nearly $1 billion a year.

* Plans for a $20 billion medical research fund to go ahead

* Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme changes to save about $3 billion over four years. Comes via removing subsidies from a raft of over-the-counter medicines. Health savings likely to total $7 billion over forward estimates.

* Government to fund $1.3 billion worth of new generation cancer drugs over four years through listing on the PBS.

* $6 bonus for doctors to prompt parents to immunise their children will be doubled to $12. Objectors to immunisation will not be eligible for welfare and childcare benefits.

* Almost $300 million for mental health services

* $200 million for dental health care

* No changes to superannuation this term

* Tighter access to age pension. Part-pension assets test (excludes family home) will be cut to $820,000 for couples.

* $128 million over four years for a financial crimes task force

* Global companies to face tighter laws on shifting profits to foreign tax havens. First tranche of this is expected to reap money in forward estimates.

* Tax cuts for business. 1.5 per cent for small business.

* Drought package including $250 million for the drought concessional loan scheme in 2015-16, and $35 million to boost economic activity in badly hit towns and regions.

* An extra $40 million to upgrade airstrips and boost air services for remote communities.


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Source: AAP


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