This included a proposed dramatic downsizing of government bureaucracy, and contained significant changes to welfare, new initiatives for a medical research fund and spending on roads.

[3] The austere budget faced widespread criticism and was overwhelmingly rejected by the Australian public as reflected in all opinion polls after its release.

policy package from the 1993 election occurred with proposals to defer unemployment benefits for six months for under 30s and the removal of GP bulk billing.

[13] In August 2013, in a budget update before the forthcoming federal election, the Australian Treasurer under the Second Rudd government forecast a $30.1 billion deficit for 2013–14.

[1] The budget introduced a "deficit levy" of 2% on personal incomes over $180,000,[17] which was expected to raise around $2.5 billion a year over its duration.

In April 2014, Joe Hockey made it clear the budget would see a significant tightening of federal government expenditure which would be felt by all sectors of the community.

[24] A number of federal government services and approvals will increase in price and new fees will apply including some provided by Austrade and Geoscience Australia.

[34] Documents revealed in 2018 showed that the government was considering a social security measure for this budget which would cut off income support entirely for people under 30.

There was also funding for two major road projects in South East Queensland – the final section of the upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway and the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

[43] Before the budget was released the Abbott government announced Australia's biggest ever military purchase of 58 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II which were to be delivered in 2018.

[44] A controversial $7 co-payment to see a bulk billing doctor, receive x-rays and get a blood test was proposed to save $3.4 billion over five years, however $5 of it will go toward medical research.

The Green Army aims to provide training and experience in the environmental and heritage conservation fields for the unemployed aged 17–24 years.

[53] Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is to see its budget cut by $AU114 million, forcing the closure of two historic radio telescopes.

[55] Both the ALP and the Australian Greens opposed the move to a deregulated fee structure for university degrees on the basis that the quality of education will likely shift towards a person's capacity to pay.

[39] Jenny Macklin criticised changes to welfare for the unemployed saying that "The Prime Minister has completely deserted young Australians looking for work".

[56] Clive Palmer dismissed the government's stated concern over sovereign debt claiming the budget was "based on lies".

[59] Following the second rejection of the budget measures by the Senate, Abbott has been challenged by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Clive Palmer to act upon a double dissolution trigger and request Governor-General Peter Cosgrove to dissolve both houses of Parliament or bring in a mini-budget.

[60] Even before the budget was delivered the Reserve Bank of Australia warned that a tightening of fiscal policy combined with a decline in resources construction projects would lead to an increase in the unemployment rate.

[32] Further analysis by the Treasury indicated that the budget would have disproportionately negative impact on low income households compared to wealthier ones.

[68] Post-budget polls revealed a large decline in support for the government, with the opposition opening up various leads on the primary and two-party vote, better prime minister, and net satisfaction ratings.

[69][70] A protest march organised by the Victorian Trades Hall Council attracted around 10,000 union members nearly a month after the budget was delivered.