ABC to receive $83m boost in funding amid Labor’s midyear economic update

5 days ago 12

Review to reveal $14.6bn in savings and $16.3bn for payments and programs, including pensions and childcare subsidies

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation will receive a two-year $83m funding boost in Labor’s midyear economic update, which will bank $14.6bn of additional savings and rack up $8.8bn of “unavoidable spending”.

The update, to be delivered on Wednesday, will also reveal an increase of $16.3bn in payments and programs, with billions more spent due to pension indexation, extra childcare subsidies and school support for children with disability.

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$2.5bn in new and amended Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listings;

$871m to extend terminating programs in the health and aged care portfolio;

$719m to address “unavoidable cost pressures” from projects in the infrastructure investment program;

$647m to extend terminating funding for the NDIS; and;

$249m to prepare and protect the nation against avian influenza.

$1.8bn in additional payments to veterans;

$3.6bn for indexation of the aged pension;

$3.1bn in additional childcare subsidy payments to assist families with the cost of childcare and support an extra 200,000 children to receive early education;

$2.6bn in additional funding flowing to schools in response to increased enrolments and additional support to students with a disability;

$2.3bn in additional support through Medicare and the PBS; and

$1.8bn in additional recovery funding for disaster-affected communities.

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