Opinion

May 15, 2026

Australians are working harder than ever, yet too many feel like they are falling further behind.

That is the reality behind this federal budget.

After three years of Labor, families are paying more for groceries, power, insurance, rent and mortgages. Small businesses are under enormous pressure. Young Australians are increasingly wondering whether they will ever own a home of their own.

And yet Labor’s answer to almost every problem remains exactly the same: bigger government, more spending, more regulation and more bureaucracy.

Buried in Budget Paper No.1 is a remarkable figure that tells the real story of this budget.

In 2018–19, Australian Government spending was $478 billion. This year, government spending is expected to reach around $788 billion.

Australians are entitled to ask a simple question: where is the improvement?

Is housing more affordable?

Is energy cheaper?

Are small businesses finding it easier to survive?

Are Australians more optimistic about the future?

This Government talks constantly about growing the economy, yet businesses are drowning in rising costs, workforce shortages and endless regulation.

It talks about cutting “white tape” while spending more than $500 million building new environmental approval systems and green bureaucracy.

Labor’s own Budget admits almost nine out of ten small businesses are already dealing with volatile and uncertain conditions which they can see when they pay their tax.

Yet Labor still thinks the answer is more reporting, more bureaucracy and more pressure on small business cash flow.

At the same time, Labor talks about boosting housing supply while making investment harder through changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax settings.

The Government says it supports skills and productivity, yet apprenticeship incentives are being cut and redesigned again during a workforce shortage.

Australians are tired of governments making life harder for the people who actually keep this country running.

Small business built Australia.

Tradies built Australia.

Farmers, miners, truck drivers, tourism operators and local families built Australia.

Prosperity is not created by Canberra press releases, advisory bodies or endless bureaucracy. It is created by people who take risks, create jobs and back their communities.

The Northern Territory understands this better than most.

For all the rhetoric about Northern Australia and strategic competition, this budget delivered very little for the Territory.

Where is the transformational infrastructure package?

Where is the serious plan for the Port of Darwin after all of Labor’s pre-election rhetoric?

Where is the major investment to unlock Territory gas and strengthen east coast energy security? The Beetaloo Basin is coming online, and the east coast market is crying out for Territory gas. Helping unlock the infrastructure needed to get that gas to market should be a no-brainer.

Where is the long-term economic vision for the north?

Territorians are tired of speeches about Northern Australia while major projects and critical infrastructure continue to be overlooked.

This week in the Territory Parliament, it was revealed the Albanese Labor Government provided “absolutely zero” for maternity upgrades at Royal Darwin Hospital despite more than a year of efforts.

Territory families notice these things.

Because aspiration matters.

The belief that if you work hard, save hard and take responsibility you should be able to get ahead is not outdated. It is the foundation of the Australian promise.

The Territory cannot build its future on government dependency and announcements alone.

We need investment.

We need productivity.

We need apprentices, tradies and skilled workers.

We need affordable and reliable energy.

We need infrastructure that unlocks growth, not more bureaucracy.

And above all else, we need governments that get out of the way and back Territorians to succeed instead of constantly making life harder for the people who create jobs, take risks and keep communities alive.

Small businesses built the Northern Territory.

The pastoral industry built the Northern Territory.

The resources sector helped build the Northern Territory.

Tourism operators, tradies, truck drivers, hospitality workers and local families built the Northern Territory.

What they need now is not more spin from Canberra.

They need a federal government that finally understands the north is not an afterthought.

Because if Australia is serious about its future, then it must be serious about the Northern Territory.