As Treasurer Jim Chalmers prepares to deliver his fourth Federal Budget, the television networks are gearing up to launch a full-scale cross-platform news and analysis rollout.
Here’s what they’ve got planned for Tuesday, the 25th of March:
Seven
Coverage kicks off with the 7NEWS bulletin at 6.00pm AEDT, setting the tone with fast analysis on what the Budget means for everyday Australians. With the Budget handed down from 7.30pm, Seven will deliver breaking updates throughout the night across both broadcast and 7plus – offering real-time reactions from Canberra and beyond.
At 9.30pm, a dedicated 7NEWS Budget special – hosted by Michael Usher – will provide deeper analysis. He’ll be joined by chief political editor Mark Riley, national business editor Amelia Brace and BetaShares chief economist David Bassanese. The panel will unpack what the numbers really mean for mortgage holders, families and businesses.
“This is the most important of Jim Chalmers’ four Budgets so far – a chance for the government to set the economic agenda and springboard itself into the election campaign,” said Riley. “Our experienced Canberra team will be looking at every line, every detail to determine what this Budget means for our viewers and their families.”
On Wednesday 26 March, Sunrise will pick up the baton from 5.30am with Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington breaking down the budget’s winners and losers.
7NEWS will also activate its Election Needle – a proprietary tool that provides instant reaction from the electorate.
Nine
Budget day will be covered from every angle on Nine, with the coverage led by federal political editor Charles Croucher, national affairs editor Andrew Probyn, money editor Effie Zahos, and finance editor Chris Kohler.
They’ll be joined by political reporters Liz Daniels, Claudia Vrdoljak and Amanda Copp to provide rolling updates and context throughout the day – beginning with Today live from Canberra and continuing across bulletins at 11.30am, 4.00pm and 6.00pm.
The cornerstone of Nine’s Budget programming will be the 9News Budget Special at 10.00pm, hosted by Peter Overton. The hour-long broadcast will feature analysis from Croucher, Probyn, Zahos and Kohler.
Exclusive interviews with Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor will anchor the special, with additional industry reaction from Copp rounding out the night’s reporting.
The morning after the Budget, the 9News team will continue decoding the numbers – offering deeper analysis, audience reactions, and takeaways.
Ten
Ten is throwing its weight behind a Late News: Federal Budget Special Edition, set to air at 10pm AEDT on Tuesday 25 March across 10 and 10 Play.
Hosted by Ursula Heger, the one-hour special will unpack the 2025 Federal Budget as it lands, with live reports and reactions tailored to speak directly to Australians concerned about cost-of-living pressures, economic recovery, and future stability.
Political editor Ashleigh Raper and national affairs editor Hugh Riminton will report live from Parliament House in Canberra, providing in-depth commentary on the government’s fiscal strategy and how it plays with voters, households, and businesses alike. Their analysis will include reactions from both Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor.
10’s Late News coverage will zero in on what matters most to viewers: the real-world consequences of government spending, tax reform, and policy changes. With cost-of-living stress at the forefront and an election looming, the bulletin will explore how the budget plays into broader political storytelling – and how it may reshape the national mood.
Available both on linear TV and via 10 Play, the special edition is part of Network 10’s broader strategy to deliver live, relevant news programming across platforms.
ABC
Kicking off at 7pm AEDT, ABC NEWS will feature a national Budget preview led by Jeremy Fernandez, simulcast across the 7pm news bulletins in select markets. The real action begins once Treasurer Jim Chalmers steps up in Parliament, with the ABC ramping up its coverage across all major platforms.
Immediately following the speech, 7.30 will air a special Budget edition hosted by Sarah Ferguson. Treasurer Chalmers and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor will go head-to-head in exclusive interviews, alongside expert commentary from 7.30 political editor Laura Tingle and political reporter Tom Crowley.
At 8:30pm, Insiders goes prime time for the night, with David Speers anchoring a live special from inside Parliament House, offering a high-level political breakdown of the Budget and its broader implications.
From 9:30pm, the focus shifts more squarely to the business and economic landscape. The Business airs a special edition on the ABC NEWS channel, bringing in big-name business leaders and top economists for in-depth analysis. Expect trade implications, investment impacts, and key insights into how the Budget will affect Australia’s economic engine.
On the audio front, ABC Radio will carry the Treasurer’s address live from 7:30pm, followed by Budget analysis until 9pm with a focus on how fiscal decisions will hit households, businesses and markets.
ABC NEWS Digital will be running a real-time live blog packed with reaction, key takeaways and analysis from political and business heavyweights including Annabel Crabb, Ian Verrender and Jacob Greber. Special explainers will break down the Budget’s winners and losers, and dedicated content will roll out across the ABC’s social media platforms.
And finally, the Opposition’s counterpunch: Peter Dutton’s Budget Reply will air live at 7:30pm on Thursday 27 March.
Sky News Australia
Coverage begins Tuesday 25 March at 4:30pm with a special edition of Business Now, where business editor Ross Greenwood and reporter Ed Boyd will break down what to expect from the evening ahead. At 5:00pm, The Kenny Report with Chris Kenny will explore the policy battlegrounds and potential political flashpoints inside the budget papers.
At 6:00pm, Peta Credlin takes the reins with a 90-minute budget edition of Credlin, placing Budget 2025 in the broader context of the federal election. Then at 7:30pm, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver the Albanese Government’s budget speech live from Parliament House.
Immediately following the speech at 8:00pm, chief news anchor Kieran Gilbert will lead a panel of political and business insiders, including political editor Andrew Clennell, Ross Greenwood, and Sharri Markson. Contributions will also come from Laura Jayes, Chris Uhlmann, and former Labor minister Stephen Conroy, with analysis focused on the political and economic impact of the government’s pre-election budget.
At 9:00pm, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor will provide the Coalition’s live response, joined by Independents Zali Steggall and Dai Le, Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather, and Senator Jacqui Lambie. Commentary from The Bolt Report’s Andrew Bolt and Labor veteran Graham Richardson will add further insight.
Paul Murray will follow at 9:30pm with a 90-minute special edition of Paul Murray Live, offering a breakdown of what Budget 2025 means for Australian households, businesses, and voters. Wrapping up the night at 11:00pm is The Late Debate, with James Macpherson, Liz Storer and Caleb Bond providing their reactions, and the first look at how the front pages are shaping the post-budget narrative.
On Wednesday 26 March at 12:30pm, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will return to the spotlight with a live address at the National Press Club, offering further clarity on the government’s economic strategy.
Then, on Thursday 27 March at 7:30pm, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will deliver his official Budget Reply, outlining the Coalition’s alternative vision for Australia’s fiscal future.