UK and Australia face fiscal strain as tax hikes and debt grow amid spending pressures.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces backlash over a budget raising £26 billion in new taxes, including frozen income tax brackets and pension contribution caps, as criticism grows over burdening ordinary workers. Victoria, Australia, projects net debt of $194 billion by 2028–29 due to persistent overspending, with Premier Jacinta Allan pushing land tax hikes and superannuation access for infrastructure despite rising public sector costs of $111 billion annually. Both nations confront fiscal strain from debt, welfare demands, and unsustainable spending, raising concerns about long-term economic stability and political fallout.