However, when we examine what the 2026 National Budget offers the labour sector, it is clear that much more is needed to match the realities workers face every day. The increase in the income tax threshold from $130,000 to $140,000 is a positive step, but for many workers it offers only modest relief. Yet temporary assistance cannot replace the need for steady wage growth, secure jobs, and fair working conditions. Workers need policies that allow them to plan for the future with confidence, not just survive from one relief measure to the next. The 2026 Budget offers some relief, but it also represents a missed opportunity to truly uplift the working class.