The Albanese Government’s 2026 Federal Budget is being hailed by local Labor MPs as a major step towards easing cost-of-living pressures, improving housing affordability and strengthening healthcare services across South-West Sydney.

Federal Member for Macarthur Mike Freelander said the Budget delivers “the most significant tax and housing reform packages since the early 2000s,” with new measures aimed at helping workers, first-home buyers and small businesses.

Among the headline measures is a new $1,000 instant tax deduction for workers, alongside permanent $20,000 instant asset write-offs for small businesses from July 2026.

The Budget also introduces major housing reforms, including restricting negative gearing to newly built homes from July 2027 and replacing the capital gains tax discount with a new inflation-indexed model for future investments. Existing investments will remain under current rules.

Dr Freelander said the changes were long overdue.

“For too long, Australians of all ages have been affected by the unfair housing market, the complicated tax system and underfunded healthcare services of governments past.”

Locally, more than 500 new social and affordable homes are already being built across Macarthur, while more than 10,500 residents are receiving increased Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

Healthcare investment also features heavily in the Budget, with $64 billion committed to NSW hospitals over five years, including support for hospitals in Campbelltown, Camden and Liverpool.

The Government has also confirmed Medicare Urgent Care Clinics — including the Campbelltown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic — will become permanent. The Campbelltown clinic has already recorded more than 31,100 visits since opening in late 2023.

Dr Freelander said the Budget would help create “better healthcare services, a fairer tax system and long-term infrastructure investments that will benefit our region and people for generations to come.”

Meanwhile, Hughes MP David Moncrieff said the Budget would help workers and businesses through global economic uncertainty while supporting long-term growth.

“We are delivering more tax relief for 13.3 million workers, helping more people realise the dream of home ownership and creating a fairer and more sustainable tax system for all Australians,” he said.