Rugby league, bird flu and drones: things you may have missed in the 2026 budget

The federal budget allocates billions of dollars towards fuel resilience, tax cuts, hospital funding and aged care, as well as major measures to reform negative gearing, capital gains tax and family trusts . It also makes room to fund electronic screens at sporting grounds, set new standards for ebikes, impose tax exemptions for the incoming Papua New Guinean team in the National Rugby League and abolish tariffs on air conditioners, margarine and bitumen. Away from the headlines on tax, housing and health, here are some of the things you might have missed in Jim Chalmers’ fifth federal budget . Cervical cancer drugs Keytruda will be listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme to help people with cervical cancer. The drug would cost $15,000 per script without the PBS listing. “In 2025, 946 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed,” the budget states. Airline and cruise prices increasing The government is raising the Passenger Movement Charge, payable by passengers leaving Australia by air or sea, by $10 from January 2027. The charge, which is included on airline tickets, will go from $70 to $80. Abolishing nearly 500 ‘nuisance tariffs’ In a measure meant to boost productivity and reduce red tape, 497 tariffs on various items will be cancelled. …