The article summarizes the Australian Labor Party's key promises from the 2025 federal election and their planned implementation timelines. The promises span various sectors, including tax cuts, healthcare, housing, renewable energy, environmental protection, defense, and immigration.
Labor pledged tax cuts of $268 next year, increasing to $536 annually thereafter, along with a $1000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses. The tax cuts are expected in July 2026, with the deduction available for the 2026-2027 tax return.
An $8.5 billion boost to Medicare aims to extend bulk-billing bonuses to all adults and expand telehealth services. Bulk-billing expansion is scheduled for November 2025, while the telehealth hotline is planned for January 2026.
Labor committed to building 100,000 homes for first-home buyers and allowing a 5% deposit scheme. The first homes are expected from 2027, with the 5% deposit scheme starting in January 2026.
The government aims for 82% renewable electricity by 2030, offering a 30% discount on home batteries with rooftop solar panels starting July 1, 2025.
A federal environmental protection agency is planned for this parliamentary term, though its form may differ from initial proposals.
Defense spending will rise to 2.3% of GDP by the early 2030s. The government also plans to address the lease of the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company.
Net overseas migration is projected to slow to 260,000 next financial year (2025-2026), accompanied by a $400 increase in international student fees.
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Anthony Albanese and Labor have swept to a second term in government with a big majority and an even bigger mandate.
That means that every pledge the prime minister, his frontbenchers and Labor’s newest members in the House of Representatives made during the budget and the campaign can be considered a deliverable.
We have recapped everything Albanese and Labor promised you in the lead-up to the May 3 election, and when you can expect some of the key pledges to be delivered.
Follow live coverage of the 2025 federal election here.
Labor will introduce tax cuts worth $268 next year, and $536 for every year after that, in a bid to deliver cost-of-living relief to more than 12 million workers. The cuts, announced in the March budget, give households extra relief on top of the changes to the stage 3 tax cuts announced early in 2024. Taxpayers will also be allowed to claim an instant $1000 tax deduction for work-related expenses.
When? July 2026 for the tax cuts, 2026-2027 tax return for the deduction.
An $8.5 billion boost to Medicare aims to extend bulk-billing bonuses to all adults, give clinics that bulk-bill all patients extra funding and boost the GP workforce. There will also be a major expansion of telehealth services through creation of a Medicare hotline. A further 50 urgent care clinics will be built.
When? November 2025 (bulk-billing), January 2026 (telehealth hotline).
Labor is promising $10 billion to build 100,000 homes exclusively for first home buyers. It will also allow all first-time buyers to purchase property with just a 5 per cent deposit, with the government to guarantee the rest of a typical 20 per cent deposit.
When? The first of the 100,000 homes will be ready from 2027. Expanded 5 per cent deposits scheme, January 2026.
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The Albanese government wants 82 per cent of Australia’s electricity to come from renewable sources – solar, wind, hydro – and has a series of funds and projects to get there. Households installing home electric batteries with rooftop solar panels will get a 30 per cent discount, subject to a series of terms and eligibility rules
When? Renewables goal by 2030. Battery plan starting on July 1, 2025, through to 2030.
Labor has vowed to introduce a federal environmental protection agency to take on companies and people who breach the law and damage the natural world. Albanese put the EPA on ice during his first term after an industry backlash and has said the agency would take a different form.
When? This term of parliament.
Labor will increase Defence spending from 2 per cent of gross domestic product to 2.3 per cent. It will also work to have the Port of Darwin sold to an Australian owner – it is leased to Chinese-owned company Landbridge Group – and could put it in government hands if that fails.
When? Defence spending will increase by the early 2030s. No timeline for port plan.
Labor has forecast net overseas migration will slow to 260,000 people next financial year. It failed to legislate student caps in 2024 and introduced administrative changes to reduce migration instead. The party will raise already expensive international student fees by $400.
When? 2025-2026.
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