- FULL COVERAGE: All our Budget coverage, in one convenient location
- HOUSING: Treasurer assures public relief is at hand
- POLICE: $321.4m recruitment drive for anti-terrorism specialists
- BENEFITS: Pollies’ kids to lose first-class seats
- OPINION: Finally, we could have a budget that will do something
- CARTOONS: The budget as told by cartoonists over the years
Malcolm Turnbull has promised Tuesday's budget will be committed to "fairness, opportunity and security".
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The Prime Minister wants to ensure Australians have the opportunity to get ahead through economic growth that provides a better-paying job, or helps them start and grow a business.
"To realise their dreams," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
Mr Turnbull was touring a forensics complex to announce a $321 million boost for the Australian Federal Police's domestic operations, in a further attempt to beef up national security.
It was the biggest increase in a decade, he said.
Earlier, the Industry Minister, Arthur Sinodinos, announced a $100 million funding package for manufacturing, aimed at Victoria and South Australia which have suffered the brunt of the demise of car-making.
"We are absolutely committed to supporting the Australian manufacturing sector," Mr Turnbull said.
The Prime Minister, who has just returned from the US after his first face-to- face meeting with President Donald Trump, said increased investment in US manufacturing was down to the prospect of lower taxes and affordable energy.
That's why he was taking decisive action to ensure Australia had affordable and adequate gas supplies, and why the government was sticking with 10-year plan to cut company taxes.
The Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, continued Labor's attack over the government's schools funding plan, arguing it was a $22 billion cut over the next 10 years.
"Why does Malcolm Turnbull choose to give $50 billion in tax cuts to wealthy companies but rips off kids and parents? He has got the wrong priorities," he told reporters in Canberra.
Meanwhile, the Treasurer, Scott Morrison, received some blunt advice on the eve of his second budget from Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart - cut spending.
The multi-billionaire mining magnate wants reductions in red tape regulations, compliance burdens and tax rates.
"It's very frustrating that there's wastage going on and that so little attention, real attention, is given to making ourselves attractive for investment," she told News Corp.
AAP
What to expect in tonight’s budget
Universities
Students will have to pay up to $3600 more for a four-year university degree and start paying back their loans once their income reaches $42,000. The most expensive degree, medicine over six years, would cost $71,900, up from $68,000. Universities will be subject to a $2.8 billion efficiency dividend.
Schools
The government will pump an extra $19 billion into schools over the next decade under a plan labelled 'Gonski 2.0'. More than 99 per cent of schools will see a year-on-year increase in funding, and on average per-student funding will grow 4.1 per cent a year over a decade. The budget will also include a funding extension for the guarantee of preschool hours for four-year-old children.
Tax
The two per cent deficit levy on higher income earners, introduced in 2014, will be removed as legislated. The budget will detail how much the tax office is reaping from measures aimed at combating multinational tax avoidance. The advanced manufacturing sector will get an additional $100 million to cushion the demise of car-making in Victoria and South Australia.
Defence
Government to provide $350 million to help defence force veterans battling health conditions.
Infrastructure
The government will use "good" debt to finance a range of infrastructure projects. Top of the list is Sydney's second airport at Badgerys Creek. Government has also agreed to a $2.3 billion road and rail package with Western Australia covering 17 projects. Strong hints of funding for an inland rail freight project linking Melbourne and Brisbane.
Health
Hints the freeze on Medicare rebates that GPs are paid for bulk-billed consultations will end earlier than planned in 2020.
Welfare
New demerit point system aimed at welfare recipients who persistently dodge their job-seeking obligations. Work dodgers will start losing payments when they reach four points, and when they get to seven points will be stripped of payments for eight weeks.
Electricity prices
Aged pensioners and disability support pensioners will get a one-off payment to help with energy bills this winter. Singles will get $75 and couples $125.
Housing
The government has been relatively coy, despite raising expectations of a solution. It has flagged the establishment of a "bond aggregator" as an intermediary to attract greater private sector investment into affordable community housing. As well, there could be incentives to encourage older people to downsize in order to free up family homes. Allowing first home buyers to tap their superannuation for a deposit appears to be a no-go, but a salary-sacrifice style savings account is on the cards.
Urban Rail