In the course of the detailed budget debate, the National Councilor Today with the budget chapter in the responsibility of Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler, the means of living, media, telecommunications and sport as well as with the budget for art and culture. The subject of the debate in which the Vice -Chancellor, State Secretary Michaela Schmidt, took the budget goals, were the legal basis for the Federal Finance framework 2025 to 2028 and 2026 to 2029 as well as for the Federal input for 2025 and that Year 2026.
Media funding should be geared towards quality
Areas of living, media, telecommunications and sport assigned to Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler are available in 2025 434 million ꞓ and 2026 718 million ꞓ. Against the background of the replacement of responsibilities between the departments, there is no direct comparison to 2024, but additional funds are provided in some areas despite the basic savings course. From 2026, for example, 25 million ꞓ should be spent on a “mine newspaper” subscription for young people and for a new sales promotion for print media. On the other hand, the special benefits for the ORF should be deleted and the grants for the “Wiener Zeitung” are to be reduced.
Michael Schilchegger (FPÖ) criticized the ORF household levy, which resulted in a massive distortion of competition. He spoke in favor of transforming the ORF into a purely state -financed “basic radio” and in this sense brought in his faction.
Media promotion should be bound to the appropriate quality of reporting in the future, Klaus Rare home (SPÖ) stated. The “Mein-Zeitung” media subscription and the funds for media literacy should give young people orientation in a media landscape. Last but not least, this is an investment in the resistance of democracy.
The media location must secure media diversity with private media on the one hand and public service broadcasting on the other, said Kurt Egger (ÖVP). This is an important cornerstone for democracy. The Federal Government’s media package takes care of this. This continues the fight against fake news and echo chambers.
The current media budget takes steps in the right direction and shortly briefly government advertisements, Henrike Brandstötter (NEOS) was pleased. At the same time, there are new approaches, such as promoting sales and an offer for the acquisition of media literacy. Combining funding is the correct access in media policy.
Broadband for rural areas
The budget for media and telecommunications is now also affiliated to broadband funding, for which 2025 61 million ꞓ and 2026 214 million ꞓ are estimated.
The budget for the expansion of the digital infrastructure in Austria was ensured, said Peter Manfred Harrer (SPÖ). However, the funding in this area should become more efficient and ensure that nobody will be left behind.
ÖVP MP Joachim Schnabel was also fundamentally satisfied that the fiber optic expansion could be driven strongly, but saw weaknesses in individual areas. Above all, broadband expansion must also be ensured in rural areas. ÖVP MP Agnes Totter and Lukas Brandweiner also joined this requirement.
Sports budget takes over the daily movement unit
In 2025 and 2026, expenditure of around 202 million ꞓ is budgeted for the area of sports. According to the parliamentary budget service, this corresponds to a decline of 24 million ꞓ or 10.5 % compared to the expenditure of 2024. The savings affect both general and special sports funding. For “general sports funding and services”, 85 million ꞓ are estimated in 2025 and 2026 each, and 110 million ꞓ will be available for “special sports funding”. In 2025 and 2026, 6.7 million ꞓ are planned for Bundesportärungen GmbH.
Agnes Sirkka Prammer (Greens) had no understanding that the funding of the daily movement unit in schools should only be carried out from the sports budget. She therefore hoped that other departments will also make your contribution to this good project in the future.
The daily movement unit undoubtedly had to be expanded, but the countries would also have to make their contribution, said Janos Juvan (Neos).
The ÖVP MP Lukas Brandweiner was also satisfied with the expansion of the daily movement unit. The sport in Austria is very strongly supported by volunteers, reminded his faction colleague Christoph Zarits. For these, essential tax improvements have already been achieved in the last legislative period. Despite the austerity course, it was possible to ensure the financial predictability for the clubs and associations.
Sport is an important employer and ensures high value creation, reminded Markus Leinfellner (FPÖ). The federal government’s austerity course is therefore “saving in the wrong place”. In a motion for a resolution, he called for a change of course and the better promotion of non -profit associations, especially in the sports area.
Undoubtedly, he would have liked a higher sports budget, said Maximilian Köllner (SPÖ). After all, however, the expansion of the daily movement unit had succeeded. He also expects positive effects for the sports clubs. It is gratifying that funds for swimming funding were also intended and the top sport is also promoted in addition to the latitudes.
Schmidt: Could ensure planning security for sport
State Secretary Michaela Schmidt pointed out that despite difficult budgetary framework conditions, it was possible to implement cuts in such a way that the sports clubs and sports associations can still maintain their planning for 2025. In 2026, sports funding will decrease, but should be raised to the earlier level in 2027. The expansion of the daily movement unit could also be implemented.
Art and culture: film funding is restricted
The budget development for art and culture for this year and the coming year shows after a strong increase in recent years against the background of the budget renovation for 2025 only a moderate increase of 12 million ꞓ to 670.7 million ꞓ and in 2026 a decrease of 41 million ꞓ to 629.8 million ꞓ. In comparison, around 658.5 million ꞓ were budgeted for art and culture in 2024. The increase in 2025 results from an increase in the basic compensation for the Federal Museums and the Austrian National Library by 5 million ꞓ and from increasing payments for monument protection by 4 million ꞓ. In return, the payments for art and cultural promotion should decrease by 11 million ꞓ. According to the budget service, a sinking of art and cultural promotion by 38 million ꞓ is then planned in the Federal Ineartions 2026.
The budget for art and culture is “rarely without ambition” Wendelin said Mölzer (FPÖ). A real change of course and an intervention in the “state funding jungle” cannot be seen. The FPÖ MP called for an extended deductibility of private art and cultural sponsorship in a resolution application. Christoph Steiner (FPÖ) spoke out in a motion for a resolution for greater promotion of the brass music bands and music schools.
Despite the need for the budget renovation, the budget ensures the promotion of a diverse art and cultural life, emphasized Katrin Auer (SPÖ). In the question of the relaxation for precarious employees in the art and cultural sector, one will continue to try to solution in favor of this group of people, she assured.
Austria remains an art and cultural land that keeps a wide range of offer for everyone, said Laurenz Pöttinger (ÖVP). Unfortunately, the film funding, which has been highly increased in recent years, must now be reduced or capped what pain. New impulses can be set in art education. Like Pöttinger, ÖVP MP Agnes Totter was satisfied that the support of the cultural diversity and an increase in basic compensation for the federal theater and the Federal Museums could be achieved.
Werner Kogler (Greens) criticized that the Federal Government “managed” to “cause massive economic damage even in culture”. The covering of ÖFI+ is counterproductive because investments in film production would generate high returns.
The cultural budget could also be kept stable in budgetary tense times, stated Gertraud Auinger Oezucher (NEOS). This is a strong signal that should be perceived and its diversity is to be ensured. The budget also secures the cultural participation and the major cultural institutions and creates the frame for the freedom of art.
Schmidt: Art and culture budget ensures diversity and cultural participation
State Secretary Michaela Schmidt said that the budget implemented the federal government’s cultural policy goals of securing creativity and cultural diversity and a nationwide cultural offer. To do this, however, the shorter means would have to be used in a targeted manner. The implementation of the building cultural guidelines on synergies with residential construction and the revitalization of city and town centers. Furthermore, low -threshold access to art and culture should remain guaranteed. The strategy for Fair Pay should be further developed. For the film and music industry, the Federal Government wants to lift new funds through an investment obligation and a streaming tax. The film funding ÖFI+ should also become more accurate.
No state funds for residential construction, but support measures for affordable living
Nina Tomaselli (Greens) criticized that although there was its own Ministry of Residential Call, but no means of residential construction. The MP also critically saw the rental price brake, since in her view, it limits the scope of the non -profit residential buildings. Tomaselli called for a complete financial compensation of the loss of income from non -profit construction associations.
The budgetary situation unfortunately limits the funds for housing subsidies, Elke Hanel-Torsch (SPÖ) held the MPs of the Greens. However, the federal government has already taken a number of accompanying measures to guarantee affordable living space and security for tenants: inside.
Norbert Sieber (ÖVP) was satisfied with the steps reached to a rental price brake and spoke out for a repair of the value safety clause. His parliamentary group is ready for constructive discussions on this question. For affordable living, more flexible buns are also to be considered how they are already used in Germany.
The Federal Government lacks a strategy for affordable living, said Michael Oberlechner (FPÖ). She did not achieve more than a “rental price brake”. The state has the obligation to ensure affordable living space. To do this, both the promotion of ownership and the promotion of non -profit residential construction are needed. (Continued National Council) Sox
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