An independent look at Australian federal spending · Prototype · 3 Nov 2026
01 / YOUR BUDGET
Your budget. Your call.
The Commonwealth has already decided what it spent. Now it's your turn. Fund, reduce, remove or increase spending, one category at a time.
Start simple, go deeper if you like. The categories below match the published government expense classifications. Open any of the 17 categories to adjust official sub-functions individually. You can also spend more than the original amount.
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Actual Commonwealth expenses · AUD
Actual government expenses
$822.1b
What was reported
Your proposed expenses
$822.1b
Based on your choices
Change from actual
−$0m
Less spending than actual (gross scenario)
How your budget compares100% of actual expenditure
Illustrative spending model, not a forecast of achievable savings. Increases above 100% are shown in the figures, even when the bar is full.
Choose what stays and what goes
Make the calls.
Keep it, cut it or spend more.
Select Partially or Increase to reveal a slider. Tap Break down in any category to adjust its published sub-functions; tap What's included for more context. Use Explain this amount to open the separate cost decoder page.
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Administration
General public services
$35.2b
Core administration, fiscal affairs, research, foreign affairs and overseas aid.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Legislative and executive affairs: A$1,994m
Financial and fiscal affairs: A$10,107m
Foreign affairs and economic aid: A$9,264m
General research: A$4,281m
General services: A$2,932m
Government superannuation benefits: A$5,942m
Core services
Defence
$55.2b
Australian Defence Force and defence-related functions.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Defence — published undivided function: A$54,130m
Core services
Public order and safety
$9.6b
Federal policing, courts and legal and public safety services.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Courts and legal services: A$2,104m
Other public order and safety: A$7,298m
Core services
Education
$65.1b
Schools, higher education, vocational training and student assistance.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Higher education: A$11,951m
Vocational and other education: A$2,632m
Non-government schools: A$20,453m
Government schools: A$12,434m
School education – specific funding: A$925m
Student assistance: A$15,839m
General administration: A$350m
Core services
Health
$131.5b
Medicare-related services, hospitals, pharmaceuticals and other health programs.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Medical services and benefits: A$45,091m
Pharmaceutical benefits and services: A$23,143m
Assistance to the states for public hospitals: A$33,951m
Hospital services: A$1,173m
Health services: A$17,841m
General administration: A$5,427m
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: A$1,412m
Social support
Social security and welfare
$298.1b
Age care, disability, family, unemployment, veterans and other welfare programs. Expand to edit subfunctions.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Assistance to the aged: A$107,968m
Assistance to veterans and dependants: A$15,684m
Assistance to people with disabilities: A$92,867m
Assistance to families with children: A$48,861m
Assistance to the unemployed and the sick: A$17,852m
Other welfare programs: A$1,779m
Assistance for Indigenous Australians nec: A$3,546m
General administration: A$5,826m
Economy & community
Housing and community amenities
$7.9b
Housing, regional development and environmental protection.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Housing: A$3,839m
Urban and regional development: A$1,611m
Environment protection: A$2,176m
Economy & community
Recreation and culture
$6.1b
Broadcasting, arts, cultural heritage, sport, parks and national estate.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Broadcasting: A$1,842m
Arts and cultural heritage: A$2,305m
Sport and recreation: A$876m
National estate and parks: A$928m
Economy & community
Fuel and energy
$16.9b
Fuel and energy programs with multiple purposes, some climate-related.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Fuel and energy — published undivided function: A$20,248m
Economy & community
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
$4.1b
Industry support, natural resources, rural assistance and administration.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Wool industry: A$54m
Grains industry: A$288m
Dairy industry: A$59m
Cattle, sheep and pig industry: A$291m
Fishing, horticulture and other agriculture: A$508m
General assistance not allocated to specific industries: A$52m
Rural assistance: A$307m
Natural resources development: A$1,011m
General administration: A$1,454m
Economy & community
Mining, manufacturing and construction
$3.7b
Sector-specific economic services and industry programs.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Mining, manufacturing and construction — published undivided function: A$3,690m
Economy & community
Transport and communication
$17.5b
Roads, rail, air, sea transport and communications infrastructure.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Communication: A$1,158m
Rail transport: A$5,434m
Air transport: A$467m
Road transport: A$9,897m
Sea transport: A$618m
Other transport and communication: A$328m
Economy & community
Other economic affairs
$14.1b
Immigration, labour market programs, training and economic services.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Tourism and area promotion: A$193m
Vocational and industry training: A$2,303m
Labour market assistance to job seekers and industry: A$2,448m
Industrial relations: A$1,115m
Immigration: A$4,312m
Other economic affairs nec: A$3,763m
Financial obligations
Public debt interest
$28.9b
Interest on public debt; not readily removable without changing debt obligations.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Public debt interest — published undivided function: A$27,716m
Financial obligations
Nominal superannuation interest
$15.1b
Accounting interest expense on government superannuation liabilities.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Nominal superannuation interest — published undivided function: A$14,807m
Financial obligations
General purpose payments to states
$109.8b
General transfers to state governments, including GST distribution.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
General purpose inter-government transactions — published undivided function: A$107,717m
Core services
Natural disaster relief
$3.2b
Disaster relief expenses; spending can fluctuate sharply from month to month.
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View official 2025–26 sub-functions (read-only preview)
Natural disaster relief — published undivided function: A$3,245m
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This tool compares reported federal expenditure against your proposed allocation. A lower spending figure is a modelled gross reduction, not a verified saving: contracts, ongoing liabilities, delivery costs and knock-on effects may still matter. You can export your selections for discussion.