The Budget outlined opportunities to accelerate infrastructure delivery, improve housing supply and strengthen essential services. Investments in transport, water security, digital connectivity and innovative construction methods are aimed at supporting growing communities, enhancing productivity and creating jobs. The government hopes to ensure Australia’s infrastructure keeps pace with demand, while laying the foundations for a more sustainable and accessible built environment. A skilled engineering workforce will be crucial to help implement this. 

Measures include:

• $4.5 billion for states, territories and local governments to address local infrastructure backlogs.
• $17.1 billion over 10 years from 2024–25 for road and rail infrastructure priorities. 
• $87.7 million over three years to deliver new water infrastructure projects, including goals such as achieving‑long-term water security for Cairns and supporting urgent First Nations water infrastructure priorities. 
• $49.6 million for transport priorities, including $32.7 million to support ongoing safety and regulatory services provided by Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
• An equity investment of up to $3 billion over seven years to NBN Co to upgrade the remaining 622,000 National Broadband Network (NBN) premises on the national fibre to the node (FTTN) network with NBN Co also contributing more than $800 million to the project. 
• $58.8 million over five years from 2024–25 to increase support for housing, including: $54 million over four years from 2024–25 to increase the supply and adoption of prefabricated and modular housing construction, which will see $49.3 million earmarked over two years from 2025–26 to support states and territories to scale up existing projects for prefabricated and modular housing construction. 
• $4.7 million is allocated over four years from 2024–25 to develop a voluntary certification and rating scheme for prefabricated and modular housing manufacturers. Costs for the scheme are budgeted to be recovered from industry from 2028–29 onwards. 

Building on the government’s Future Made in Australia agenda, there is the promise of targeted support for the metals industry which is aimed to drive innovation in low-carbon aluminium and green iron production.  Engineers Australia hopes this will create opportunities for engineers to develop and optimise cleaner manufacturing processes. There are also investments in energy efficiency programs which seek to assist businesses in upgrading operations. 

The government will provide $3.2 billion from 2024–25 to invest in the future of Australia’s metals industry. Funding includes: 

• $2 billion over 19 years from 2024–25 for Green Aluminium Production Credits to provide production-based grants to support Australian aluminium smelters switching to renewable electricity before 2036. This would be provided to eligible Australian aluminium production facilities over a period of 10 years. 
• $1 billion over seven years from 2024–25 for the Green Iron Investment Fund which is intended to support producers to establish or transition into low emissions facilities in Australia, including up to $500 million earmarked to transform the Whyalla Steelworks. 
• $56.7 million Energy Efficiency Grants for SME program which will provide up to $25,000 to eligible businesses for a range of energy upgrades.

Investments in fee-free TAFE, apprenticeships in allied professions and trades and university reforms are some of the key measures announced to support a highly skilled workforce. Regional development and inclusion measures also aim to drive a more diverse and equitable workforce and to help address critical workforce shortages. 

Education initiatives target evidence-based teaching, early STEM engagement and industry partnerships to enhance student outcomes and teacher capability, needed to build a strong STEM pipeline and address current challenges in the education system.

These measures include:

• $1.6 billion to make fee-free TAFE permanent from 2027, with 100,000 places every year from 1 January 2027 (subject to passing of legislation).
• $2.5 billion over 11 years from 2024-25 to reform universities, including to support more students from under-represented backgrounds.
• A New Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream as part of the Key Apprenticeship Program, including providing up to $10,000 in financial incentives over the course of their apprenticeships for those eligible.
• $2 million for Regional Australia Institute to continue research, policy and educational activities.
• STEM program investments:
  • $2.2 million to extend the Australian Academy of Science school STEM programs to boost the confidence and capability of STEM teachers and support students studying STEM.
  • $1.5 million to extend The Smith Family’s Let’s Count program to support preschool educators to improve children's maths skills.
  • $1.2 million to extend the CSIRO’s STEM Professionals in Schools program to support partnerships between schools and industry by connecting teachers with STEM professionals, and giving schools, teachers and students insights into contemporary experiences and advancements in STEM.
  • $0.7 million to extend Little Scientists program providing professional learning for early childhood educators in STEM.
  • $0.7 million to extend Curious Minds program promoting female students’ participation in STEM.

The Federal Budget promises to cut red tape through measures which include the national licensing of electrical trades, streamlined commercial planning and zoning and the removal of barriers to modern construction methods, all of this backed by the $900 million National Productivity Fund. Engineers Australia urges additional reforms on professional mobility. Establishing nationally-consistent registration for engineers would reduce red tape, improve workforce mobility and better support industries critical to Australia’s future. Inconsistent state and territory-based registration schemes create administrative burdens for employers and engineers working across jurisdictions.

Investments aimed at enhancing Australia’s national resilience focus on disaster recovery, research and development, sovereign capability and defence. There is funding for disaster response and for strengthening national emergency preparedness. Research funding is allocated to bolster national research institutions and biosecurity, and there is support for start-ups and small business to innovate and to commercialise.

The Budget aims to promote Australian-made products to consumers and to improve small business cyber security capability. In defence, investments in nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS are aimed at reinforcing sovereign capability, and there are commitments to provide regulatory, policy and workforce development support.

Measures include:

• $1.2 billion to accommodate additional expenditure on disaster response payments including following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
• $28.4 million for the next stage of the Seawalls Program to protect vulnerable coastal communities.
• $5.4 million for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to enhance emergency response capabilities through improved mobile broadband communication.
• $20 million in 2025–26 for ‘Buy Australian Campaign’ encouraging consumers to buy Australian-made products.
• More than $60 million to help small businesses uplift their digital and cyber security capabilities.
• $55 million to maintain research capability of the CSIRO.
• $34 million for the National Measurement Institute to address critical remediation works and sustain operations.
• $47.9 million as Australia’s contribution to address funding shortfalls for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.
• $400 million through the Industry Growth Program to help start-ups and small businesses to innovate, commercialise their ideas and grow.

Engineers with a HECS-HELP debt will benefit from the government’s decision to cut student debt by 20 per cent and to reduce the amount graduates repay each year. Other cost of living measures include:

• Every household and around one million small businesses will receive two $75 rebates for their electricity bills through to 31 December 2025.
• Every Australian taxpayer will receive an extra tax cut of up to $268 from 1 July 2026 and up to $536 every year from 1 July 2027 (compared to FY25).
• $7.9 billion on Medicare with a promise to make nine out of every 10 GP visits free by 2030 and there are further investments in urgent care clinics, GP services, medication cost reduction and women’s health.