KEY POINTS:
- Jim Chalmers will hand down his second budget tomorrow.
- The treasurer says cost of living relief is on the way.
- Significant changes to health care and tobacco laws have been confirmed.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is promising relief for millions of Australians suffering through a cost of living crisis when he hands down the federal budget on Tuesday.
But Labor insists it's treading a fine line, wary of fuelling an .
Measures to ease anxiety over energy and , while significant changes to health and support for single parents have already been confirmed.
With details continuing to emerge, here's what we know so far.
Cost of living
* EXPECTED: Mr Chalmers says around 5.5 million households will receive in energy relief, with one million small businesses also set to benefit. It's speculated the figure could be around $500, but is expected to vary depending on where the household is located.
Housing
* CONFIRMED: A scheme allowing couples to buy a house with just a 5 per cent deposit will be expanded. Any "two individuals" - including siblings and friends - , rather than just married and de facto couples.
* EXPECTED: Labor has flagged relief for renters, but it's not clear exactly what shape that'll take. Reports have suggested the Commonwealth's rental assistance package is in line for a boost.
Health and aged care
* CONFIRMED: A . Non-prescription and single-use vapes will be banned, and those that remain will require pharmaceutical-like packaging. The tobacco tax is also set for a 5 per cent hike over three years
* CONFIRMED: Workers in the beleaguered aged care sector will receive a 15 per cent pay rise from July, one of Labor's key pre-election promises.
* CONFIRMED: Cheaper medication for Australians living with chronic illnesses, who will be able to buy in a single pharmacy visit, rather than two separate trips.
Welfare support
* EXPECTED: There is a growing expectation that JobSeeker will receive a boost across the board, after initial reports a rise would be . Recipients could be in line for a $20 weekly increase.
A rise to the JobSeeker payment is being mooted. Source: AFP
Parents
* CONFIRMED: The single parent payment will be expanded from September. Provided it passes parliament, parents will receive the payment until their child is 14, rather than eight. That means they'll no longer have to transfer to the lower JobSeeker rate.
* EXPECTED: The budget is likely to include an increase in spending on childcare subsidies.
Climate change and energy
* CONFIRMED: A new national Net Zero Authority will be created, to help steer the Australian economy away from fossil fuels.
* CONFIRMED: Tax concessions for big gas companies will be capped, and they'll also face tougher tax compliance measures.
Mr Chalmers says energy relief is on the way. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett
Defence
* CONFIRMED: Responding to for a root-and-branch overhaul, a huge $19 billion will be allocated over the forward estimates. But the government says it's saving $7.8 billion of that by scrapping or winding back around 30 projects, which it argues are not value for money.
Disaster relief
* CONFIRMED: People who speak English as a second language , and first responders will be given coverage to communicate over state lines during a crisis.
Other
* CONFIRMED: Labor will spend $240 million on a new stadium in Hobart, the largest ever Commonwealth outlay on a stadium.
