Victorian motorists to get rego rebate in pre-election budget sweetener
Kelly Burke
Motorists in Victoria could save almost $400 a year on their driving costs under a cost-of-living rebate in the Allan Labor government’s 2026/27 budget.
In a move designed to buffer the impact of soaring fuel prices linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Premier Jacinta Allan has announced a 20% rebate on light vehicle registration.
With annual registration fees for standard vehicles costing as much as $930.70, a single-car owner stands to receive $186, while a two-car family could see up to $372 returned to their pocket.
The scheme only applies to personal-use vehicles under 4.5 tonnes, including cars and utes. The rebate will be backdated to cover registration payments made for the 2025/26 period, but Victorians will only have a two-month window from 1 June to 31 July to apply.
Car owners can only claim the rebate for a maximum of two vehicles registered under their name
The state government estimates the scheme will cost $750m, with Allan saying the state would absorb the cost but still maintain a budget surplus.
Victorians have already seen the announcement of free and half-price public transport schemes, and the announcement of the rego discount is expected to ignite fresh criticism against the NSW premier, Chris Minns, from his state’s opposition, which is calling on him to cut to the fuel excise and provide free public transport over long weekends to ease the pain at NSW bowsers.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog today. I’m Luca Ittimani and I’ll be taking you through Sunday’s breaking stories. Angus Taylor, the federal opposition leader, will be up on the ABC’s Insiders soon as well.
Let’s get stuck in.
Victorian motorists to get rego rebate in pre-election budget sweetener
Kelly Burke
Motorists in Victoria could save almost $400 a year on their driving costs under a cost-of-living rebate in the Allan Labor government’s 2026/27 budget.
In a move designed to buffer the impact of soaring fuel prices linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Premier Jacinta Allan has announced a 20% rebate on light vehicle registration.
With annual registration fees for standard vehicles costing as much as $930.70, a single-car owner stands to receive $186, while a two-car family could see up to $372 returned to their pocket.
The scheme only applies to personal-use vehicles under 4.5 tonnes, including cars and utes. The rebate will be backdated to cover registration payments made for the 2025/26 period, but Victorians will only have a two-month window from 1 June to 31 July to apply.
Car owners can only claim the rebate for a maximum of two vehicles registered under their name
The state government estimates the scheme will cost $750m, with Allan saying the state would absorb the cost but still maintain a budget surplus.
Victorians have already seen the announcement of free and half-price public transport schemes, and the announcement of the rego discount is expected to ignite fresh criticism against the NSW premier, Chris Minns, from his state’s opposition, which is calling on him to cut to the fuel excise and provide free public transport over long weekends to ease the pain at NSW bowsers.
Shadow treasurer says welcome to country hecklers ‘unworthy of the Anzac legacy’
The shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, has condemned the booing of welcome of country remarks at Anzac Day events on Saturday.
Wilson offered some of the strongest criticism of the hecklers to be delivered by a Coalition frontbencher. In a post on X yesterday, he wrote:
Thank you to all our veterans who fought for our country. ANZAC Day is a a day to honour all those who fought and died for our country. Booing any Australian who served or their story is unacceptable, disrespectful and unworthy of the ANZAC legacy.
The story of this land began thousands of years ago. Project Australia is a continuing story of one land, one people with one destiny. Let us be worthy of our full inheritance, and those that sacrificed for respect based on our common humanity & the equal dignity of all people.
Liberal frontbenchers James Paterson and Jonno Duniam have called the booing “inappropriate” and said those opposed to welcome to country should express their views at places other than an Anzac service. Paterson told Sky News:
It is incredibly disappointing and completely inappropriate to boo at an Anzac Day service. Whatever your views on a welcome to country, ANZAC Day is our most sacred day … If you have strong views about that, there are many other ways in a free country that you have an opportunity to express your views.
