AUSTRALIA 
The Budget - winners and losers
Tuesday, 13 May, 2008
This year's budget has delivered a mixed bag of good fortune for low income workers and means-tested benefits for big earners, as well as the loss of 1,200 public service jobs.
Have Your Say: Is this year's Budget 'tough but fair'?
Winners
- Low to middle income earners - tax cuts totalling $47 billion over four years.
- Families with young children - baby bonus to rise, child care tax rebate up.
- Families with kids at school - refunds on education expenses, new computers.
- Australians of the future - major funds set up to fund infrastructure, education and health.
- Public health - extra $3.2 billion over five years.
- First home buyers - new saver accounts.
- Seniors - lump sum payments, higher allowances.
- Carers - more money for those with disabled children.
- Clean coal - fast tracked ahead of renewable energy.
Losers
- Families on more than $150,000 a year - family tax benefit and baby bonus to be means-tested.
- Fringe benefits tax claimants - rules to be tightened.
- People who like luxury cars and ready-to-drink alcohol - tax rates to rise.
- Public service - 1,200 jobs to go.
Source: SBS
Have Your Say: Is this year's Budget 'tough but fair'?
Winners
- Low to middle income earners - tax cuts totalling $47 billion over four years.
- Families with young children - baby bonus to rise, child care tax rebate up.
- Families with kids at school - refunds on education expenses, new computers.
- Australians of the future - major funds set up to fund infrastructure, education and health.
- Public health - extra $3.2 billion over five years.
- First home buyers - new saver accounts.
- Seniors - lump sum payments, higher allowances.
- Carers - more money for those with disabled children.
- Clean coal - fast tracked ahead of renewable energy.
Losers
- Families on more than $150,000 a year - family tax benefit and baby bonus to be means-tested.
- Fringe benefits tax claimants - rules to be tightened.
- People who like luxury cars and ready-to-drink alcohol - tax rates to rise.
- Public service - 1,200 jobs to go.
Source: SBS
