Fast-tracked passports, cyclone memorial: What you might have missed in the budget
A federal budget is made up of many very long documents, and there is plenty that gets missed in the coverage of the big-ticket revelations.
Some of the line items tucked away in the endless numbers might raise an eyebrow, others provide an illuminating look at how your tax dollars are spent.
Here's what you might have missed in tonight's budget.
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Key figures in the federal budget. Graphic: Polly Hanning
Fast-tracked passports
If you're in a hurry for a holiday, Australia will have a new fast-track passport process in place from July 1.
For an extra $100, applications will be processed in five business days.
The government anticipates raking in $27.4 million in five years from it.
National Firearms Register
The register with be developed in the four years from 2024-25 with $161.3 million in support from the government.
"Once established, police will know where firearms are, who owns them, and what other risks to the community and police may exist," the budget paper reads.
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The maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance will rise by 10 per cent. Graphic: Polly Hanning
Costly clearing for Service Australia backlogs
The government has committed $1.8 billion over three years for extra Services Australia frontline staff.
They will help "stabilise" claims backlogs and service standards, as well as improve cybersecurity.
It's the largest chunk of $2.8 billion the government has salted away to upgrade the service in mulitple areas.
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Australian support in Ukraine
The budget papers broke down how the $144.3 million donated to Ukraine in the two years from 2023-24 had been spent.
$100 million has gone to help Ukraine buy military equipment including drones, generators, and boats, as it battled the Russian invasion.
$43.5 million was spent on short-range air defence systems.
And $800,000 provided Ukraine's military with three medically-rated oxygen generators.
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Households will receive $300 and small businesses $325 in energy bill relief. Graphic: Polly Hanning
myGov maintenance
The national online government portal will need $508.3 million across four years (and $139.6 million annually ongoing) to remain "sustained".
The funding will also be used to develop its capability, and maintain an independent board to advise on myGov enhancements until 2027-28.
Australia Day funding
The debate around January 26 gets hotter every year, but the government has pressed on in support.
It will provide $16.2 million to the National Australia Day Council over four years, including $10 million supporting community Australia Day events.
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Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers the budget. Nine
Uruguay team up
A sum of $23.1 million over four years will go towards a bilateral social security agreement with the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
Social security agreements allow Australia to share the costs of providing retirement income support to people who have split their working life between countries.
Australia has 32 other social security agreements currently in operation.
Storm's monument
Fifty years ago, Cyclone Tracy shattered Darwin in December, 1974.
Now, the Northern Territory capital has been granted $600,000 to raise a monument to the victims of the storm.
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Loan to a neighbour
The government provided a $600 million loan to the government of Papua New Guinea.
The loan was requested by the PNG prime minister after an estimated 2023 budget shortfall.
Rise of the machines
A $39.9 million fund will see Australia seek "safe and responsible" ways to adopt AI technology.
This will include a new advisory body and blocking national security risks.
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