Top five outcomes of the 2026-2027 Federal Budget for NGOs and businesses in the community sector
Written by Flint Hasemer
In the wake of Labor’s 2026-27 Federal Budget, much has been made of its changes to negative gearing, CGT, housing and more, this blog highlights more significant changes for organisations and businesses engaging with the government on matters of services and the community.
- Nation Disability Insurance Scheme cutbacks
This year’s budget has introduced large-scale changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The government is aiming to reduce its annual growth rate from 10% to 5-6% over the long term. These changes include ceasing support for over 160,000 participants by 2030.
- Commitment to First Nation communities
Under the Closing the Gap agreement, the government has committed $793.7 million to First Nations communities. These measures include doubling the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program to 6,000 places, along with committing $144 million for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services infrastructure. With a further $516 million going towards First Nation support outside of the Closing the Gap agreement.
- Thriving Kids and Aged Care
Despite reining in NDIS spending, the budget has redirected funding into the related Thriving Kids Program and increased aged care funding. Labor has committed $2 billion to establish the Thriving Kids Program to support children with neurodevelopmental conditions,. In the aged care sector, $1.4 billion has been allocated to the Support at Home program, along with $606.5 million to residential aged care subsidies and dementia care expansion.
- Commitments to Ending Gender Based Violence
The government has allocated $717 million to address Gender Based Violence within Australia across the next 4-5 years. This will go towards expanding frontline services for those facing family, domestic and sexual violence.
- Boosting Business and Productivity
The Budget has aimed at boosting productivity for large, medium and small businesses in Australia. Those who comply with regulations will benefit, with the government cutting regulatory costs by $10 billion a year. For small businesses, there’s the introduction of a permanent “loss carry back” reducing taxes, and up to 85,000 companies are expected to benefit.
Budgets are not the end of the conversation for government engagement, they represent the beginning. Whether your organisation stands to gain from new funding or faces the consequences of reform, continued government engagement is the most impactful tool available to ensure that your community sectors needs are supported.
