It’s been a busy week across Australian Parliaments with the Victorian, Northern Territory, Western Australian and Federal 2026-27 Budgets handed down. Each recognises the significant economic challenges arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict, with new spending kept to conservative levels given the uncertain times. However, health remains a key priority area across the four Budgets.
The Federal Budget Budget 2026-27 is focused on ensuring economic resilience and securing savings through tax reforms and the NDIS. In health, while record spending is allocated to public hospitals, additions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Urgent Care Clinics, there is a significant lack of targeted investment in rural health.
The Victorian Budget also provides a record $3.9 billion in new investments allocated to the health system, with priorities including hospital upgrades, out-of-hospital services such as Virtual Emergency Departments, Urgent Care Clinics and Chemist Care Now, women’s health, and mental health. Budget papers | Victorian Budget 26/27
The Northen Territory Budget allocates a record $2.6 billion over the coming year to address health and hospital pressures, including a 32-bed multipurpose ward at the Royal Darwin Hospital and expansion of road ambulance services.
The Western Australian Budget, in a strong economic position projecting an eighth consecutive annual surplus, allocates a record $9.1 billion in new spending for health and mental health, including $6.5 billion for frontline hospital services and $1.5 billion investment in the Building Hospitals Fund to deliver new health infrastructure.
The Policy Team has prepared a brief summary with further information on each of these Budgets, available to members here. We will continue to advocate for more targeted rural health funding, and investments in the rural health workforce to support infrastructure investments and ensure services can be delivered across Australia. We’d love to hear from you with any thoughts or questions policy@acrrm.org.au.
The Federal Budget Budget 2026-27 is focused on ensuring economic resilience and securing savings through tax reforms and the NDIS. In health, while record spending is allocated to public hospitals, additions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Urgent Care Clinics, there is a significant lack of targeted investment in rural health.
The Victorian Budget also provides a record $3.9 billion in new investments allocated to the health system, with priorities including hospital upgrades, out-of-hospital services such as Virtual Emergency Departments, Urgent Care Clinics and Chemist Care Now, women’s health, and mental health. Budget papers | Victorian Budget 26/27
The Northen Territory Budget allocates a record $2.6 billion over the coming year to address health and hospital pressures, including a 32-bed multipurpose ward at the Royal Darwin Hospital and expansion of road ambulance services.
The Western Australian Budget, in a strong economic position projecting an eighth consecutive annual surplus, allocates a record $9.1 billion in new spending for health and mental health, including $6.5 billion for frontline hospital services and $1.5 billion investment in the Building Hospitals Fund to deliver new health infrastructure.
The Policy Team has prepared a brief summary with further information on each of these Budgets, available to members here. We will continue to advocate for more targeted rural health funding, and investments in the rural health workforce to support infrastructure investments and ensure services can be delivered across Australia. We’d love to hear from you with any thoughts or questions policy@acrrm.org.au.