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2023 Federal Budget: Stronger foundations for a better future

‘Seeing our people through the hard times – and setting our country up for a better future’ “While Australia may have a lot coming at us – we have a lot going for us too” – Dr Jim Chalmers, 2023-2024 Federal Budget Speech.

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Summary

  • Superannuation
  • Taxation
  • Individuals living with disability and senior Australians
  • Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme modifications

 

Summary

This year, four central themes have emerged in The federal Government’s 2023-24 Budget

  • responsible cost of living relief,
  • further support to Medicare and the care sector more broadly,
  • building a framework to address the dual challenges of funding clean energy programmes whilst reinforcing areas associated with economic innovation and new skills acquisition; and
  • leveraging the forecast Budget surplus to strengthen the Australian economy and lay a foundation to weather expected weakness in global growth in the coming years.

The 2023 Federal Budget seeks to respond to the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous issues facing the world today.  It looks to be a Budget that emphasises the fundamental importance of fiscal responsibility in the domestic context.

Funding for vulnerable Australians will be directed towards boosting assistance with:

  • utility and medical costs,
  • furthering of affordable housing schemes,
  • enhanced access to welfare measures targeting the older unemployed, and single parents, and
  • increasing the wages of aged care workers.

To further sustainable jobs growth, 300,000 free TAFE places will be created to invest in the training of Australians in key occupations and up-and-coming sectors.

 

Superannuation

‘Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions’

The generous tax concessions available to superannuation fund members will be oriented towards those with more modest account balances.

This will be implemented by individuals being subject to a 15% tax on the corresponding earnings of their total superannuation fund balance that exceeds $3 million. This measure is anticipated to commence on 1 July 2025. It will not be retrospective in nature. And, earnings associated with fund balances below $3 million will carry on being taxed at a maximum of 15% in accumulation phase, and have zero tax continuing to apply to retirement phase income streams.

Defined benefit scheme interests will have aligned treatment under this measure.

Greater equity for Superannuation Guarantee recipients

From 1 July 2026, the payment of Superannuation Guarantee (‘SG’) entitlements will be brought into line with an employee’s salary (or wages) cycle. Currently, SG is only required to be paid quarterly, which can create opacity surrounding the correctness of entitlements paid within any particular timeframe, especially for those in part-time or casual roles. Furthermore, increasing the regularity of payments into superannuation is intended to assist in enhancing retirement balance outcomes for all Australians – irrespective of the nature or type of work undertaken.  

 

Taxation

Revenue protection

Ensuring taxpayers meet their correct personal income tax obligations is an ongoing priority of the Federal Government. Additional funding will be provided to the Australian Taxation Office and Treasury to allow them to proactively develop and implement appropriate revenue protection strategies. Such a move is intended to specifically address known areas of revenue risk, such as the availability of tax deductions for short-term rental properties. 

Small business support

From 1 July 2023, the instant asset write-off threshold will be temporarily increased to $20,000, with small businesses having aggregated turnover under $10 million able to obtain an immediate tax deduction for a single asset or multiple assets acquired up to this threshold, which are installed or ready for use by 30 June 2024.

 

Individuals living with disability and senior Australians

Implementing Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

The Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was tabled in 2021, and outlined a number of recommendations to improve the aged care system. In this Federal Budget, the Government has proposed to allocate substantial funding to implement some of those recommendations, specifically aimed at:

•     Ensuring stronger regulation for the aged care sector and putting measures in place to improve the health and safety of older Australians in care

•     Increasing pay for aged care workers by 15% from 30 June 2023

•     Revamping the in-home aged care system, including increasing accessibility to Home Care Packages, establishing a single aged care assessment system and enabling the creation of a new consolidated Support at Home Program. The Support at Home Program will commence on 1 July 2025 following feedback from the sector, and

•     Enhancing the delivery of aged care services, including extending the Disability Support for Older Australians Program, incentivising the continuation of primary care in residential aged care, improving the viability of the aged care sector more generally as well as creating placement systems to allow the selection of an aged care provider.  

One-off Work Bonus Credit for Pensioners

Age and Veteran Age pensioners will receive a one-off $4,000 credit to their Work Bonus, and their maximum Work Bonus income bank will be temporarily increased to $11,800 until 31 December 2023.

This measure should benefit clients who are receiving the Centrelink or Veteran’s Age pension, and wish to either start work or increase their work hours without jeopardising their entitlements.

 

Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme modifications

Increase of Medicare low-income thresholds

The Medicare levy low-income threshold for singles, families, seniors and pensioners will modestly increase from 1 July 2022, making this measure applicable for the current financial year. The increase in these thresholds is intended to address cost-of-living concerns following the recent uplifts in the Consumer Price Index, and enable low-income individuals to remain exempt from paying the Medicare levy.

Improved access to medical care

Accessibility of medical care will be extended in several ways, including funding:

  • that provides bulk-billing incentives to General Practitioners for Commonwealth concession card holders and those aged under 16
  • enabling further access to after-hours medical care services, and
  • which improves the ability of frequent hospital patients to access multidisciplinary care services, especially for those living with chronic health conditions or in remote communities.
 
 
 
 
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David Forrest Download David's Advisor Profile

David Forrest

Director
BEc (Acc), MBA, CPA, FFin

David has been in the Financial Services Industry for nearly 30 years. He was one of the founding Directors of the successful Financial Planning and Stockbroking Practice, Henderson Gregory Forrest, for a decade. Prior to that, he held senior roles in companies such as ING, KPMG Accountants and AMP. David was previously Chairman of OAMPS Superannuation Trustee Board and currently serves as an independent Board Director for several companies.

David’s extensive experience in all forms of superannuation, including Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF), Defined Benefit Funds, retirement funding through Account Based Pensions, stockbroking with a focus on Direct Share Investment, Taxation/Remuneration Planning, Centrelink, Aged Care and business management, equip him to advise expertly on all aspects of Financial Advice.

Those with a particular interest in superannuation/SMSFs, direct share investment, salary packaging or applying for the Centrelink Pension will find his knowledge and ability in formulating and implementing creative, logical and simple wealth creation strategies a valuable asset.

David maintains a strong personalised client service focus, providing tailored solutions for clients.

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David Forrest is an Authorised Representative of Integrity Financial (SA) Pty Ltd ABN 16 133 921 187 — AFSL No 334846

Michelle Forrest

Michelle Forrest

Business Finance Manager
B Bus (Acc), CPA

Michelle’s career has spanned across the Financial Services, Retirement Living and Aged Care industries working in the private sector, not for profit and more recently with the state government for over 20 years. Her experience extends to many facets of the financial services industry, having worked in superannuation administration, technical support and financial planning practice administration.

Commencing with AMP and subsequently working in commerce and accounting roles with companies such as Brambles, Adelaide Bank Retirement Services, ECH Inc and SA Health and Wellbeing, Michelle returns to financial services after working in practice financial management at Henderson Gregory Forrest. This wide range of experience from senior accounting and management roles has provided Michelle with a strong background in business administration.

With an astute financial acumen and keen interest in business improvement strategies, Michelle ensures the smooth running of the Integrity Financial Advisory practice providing valued management support to our personalised client service focus.

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Jasmine Smith

Jasmine Smith

Client Service Manager

Jasmine has worked in the financial services industry for over 12 years in all areas of client administration, working with David since 2013.

Jasmine has extensive knowledge and experience in client service including implementation of advice, portfolio reporting, assisting with the establishment of Self Managed Super Funds (SMSFs), term deposit management and a long history of helping clients with their enquiries.

Jasmine’s attention to detail, yet gentle approach, means she is able to solve the trickiest of questions for our client community.

Jasmine has gained her Certificate III in Financial Services qualification.

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Merrilyn Smith

Merrilyn Smith

Senior Client Service Manager

Merrilyn has worked in the financial services industry for over 11 years in all areas of client administration, and is a new addition to our client services team, returning from Melbourne to join the team in June 2019.

Merrilyn has extensive knowledge and experience in client service including implementation of advice, managed fund administration, assisting with the establishment of Self Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) and process improvement for the previous practices she has worked with. Merrilyn’s experience with direct shares constitutes the other part of our administrative support for direct equity investments.

Merrilyn’s warm and caring nature continues to endear her to our clients and she has already established herself as a valued member of our team.

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