Media releases

The Government will increase the luxury car tax rate from 25 per cent to 33 per cent from 1 July 2008. There will be no changes to the luxury car tax threshold (currently $57,123).

As part of our ongoing efforts to tackle binge-drinking, particularly among young people, the Rudd Government has reversed a decision of the previous government which allowed 'alcopops' or 'ready-t

The Rudd Government will deliver enhanced First Home Saver Accounts, with improvements arising from the consultation process to make the accounts simpler and fairer.

Australian working families are set to benefit from the Rudd Government's decision to create a new Education Tax Refund, to help with the costs of education.

As part of its commitment to working families, the Rudd Government will make major changes to the Medicare levy surcharge (MLS) thresholds to help ease cost of living pressures for families on mode

The Australian Government will establish the COAG Reform Fund to help deliver on a new era of Commonwealth-State relations.

In recognition of the financial pressures on many Australian families, tonight the Budget delivers tax relief worth $46.7 billion over the next four years.

The Rudd Government has framed the 2008-09 Budget so that it delivers for working families under cost-of-living pressures.

The Rudd Government is proud to deliver the 2008-09 Budget, which honours its commitments to the Australian people.

The 2008-09 Budget has been developed at a challenging time, with the Australian economy facing powerful countervailing forces.

I am pleased to announce Ms Jillian Broadbent AO has been re-appointed to the Reserve Bank Board, for a further five year term, from 7 May 2008 to 6 May 2013.

The Government will seek to amend the tax law to overcome an anomaly limiting the scope of the restriction on refunds to taxpayers if GST is overpaid.

Treasury analysis of the Government's income tax cuts estimates an unambiguously positive impact on participation. 

Under the banner of Project Wickenby, Australian and international agencies have today conducted operations across three countries to attack abusive tax haven schemes linked to Vanuatu.

Today's inflation figure is a stark reminder of the price pressures Australian families face.

The Treasurer will deliver the 2008-09 Budget on Tuesday 13 May 2008, with his Budget Speech beginning in the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament at 7.30pm (AEST).

I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Mr Gary Banks as Chairman and Commissioner of the Productivity Commission from 20 May 2008 up to and including 19 May 2013.

Today in Washington DC, I represented Australia's constituency at the meeting of the World Bank Development Committee (DC) — a joint ministerial committee of the World Bank and International Moneta

Today in Washington DC, I represented Australia's constituency at the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) — the Ministerial policy committee of the IMF, comprising

Today in Washington D.C., I met with US Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, and Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, as a part of a comprehensive day of meetings on the economic and