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

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

Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

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.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

$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.

Continue reading…

About Author