Proof Australians are drowning in taxes
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If you want proof that Australia has become a taxing and spending economy, look no further than the latest taxation data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), compiled by The Australian Newspaper.

Chart from Shane Oliver (AMP)
The combined tax revenue of the nation’s federal, state and local governments has risen to $893 billion a year, up 61% since the onset of the pandemic, with 7% growth in 2025-26. Over the same period, Australia has recorded nominal GDP growth of 47%.

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About the author

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness.
Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.
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