From David Smith MP - May/June eNews

Winter has arrived. When temperatures drop in Canberra my thoughts turn to those in our community who don’t have a home. During June, I will be doing my 12th Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

We saw some welcome news for workers on the minimum wage and award wages, who will receive a 4.75 per cent pay increase from 1 July 2026. The National Minimum Wage is now over $1,000 a week or $26.44 per hour.

The Treasurer delivered the 2026 Federal Budget in May. The Budget’s focus is on addressing intergenerational inequality in the tax and housing system, providing more cost of living relief and continuing to invest in aged care, Medicare and our health system.

This is a Budget that I am proud of. It will make Australia a fairer place where all Australians can aspire to a better life. I got into politics to make a difference, especially for future generations and I believe this Budget will make a difference to young Australians and future generations. Recent Treasury modelling of the Budget shows that 90 per cent of young Australians will be better off under the Budget changes.

This is a very ambitious Budget that contains a lot of reform. Unfortunately there has been misinformation about some of the Budget. Below, I have outlined the key parts of the Budget across: tax cuts, housing, health and aged care and what the Budget means for Canberra.