Better budget bottom line, higher inflation on the way

17 December

Treasury has updated its economic and fiscal forecasts for the next four years in its mid-year budget update. BUDGET DEFICITS (PREVIOUS IN BRACKETS): * 2025/26 – $36.8 billion ($42.2b) * 2026/27 – $34.3b ($35.4b) * 2027/28 – $36.2b ($27.1b) *...[Read More]

Budget $5.4b better off as Chalmers tightens the belt

17 December

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will unveil a $5.4 billion improvement in the federal budget this financial year, even as the deficit sinks to its worst level in five years. With judicious use of words such as “sensible” and “restraint”, Dr Chalmers...[Read More]

Chalmers spins battery blowout into budget savings

17 December

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has used a $4.9 billion blowout in home battery subsidies to claim the government saved taxpayers $6.7 billion in the mid-year budget update. The battery subsidy program was initially set to cost taxpayers $2.3 billion but the...[Read More]

Budget takes $8.2b hit thanks to black market tobacco

17 December

Australia’s roaring tobacco black market has blown more holes in the federal budget but Treasurer Jim Chalmers continues to stare down calls to tackle the excise driving the trade. In Dr Chalmers’ mid-year budget update released on Wednesday,...[Read More]

Budget focuses on power bills, tax cuts and healthcare

26 March

FEDERAL BUDGET AT A GLANCE * Budget deficit of $27.6 billion this financial year * Commonwealth gross debt to rise to $940 billion (33.7 per cent of GDP) in 2024/25 before cracking $1 trillion the year after * Net debt to rise to $556 billion in...[Read More]

Budget fundamentals smashed as storms cloud outlook

26 March

Australia is on track for structural deficits as far as the government can see, clouding the economy’s final approach to a soft landing. Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ federal budget unveiled on Tuesday night locks in underlying deficits until 2035/36...[Read More]

Federal Budget at a glance: focus on power bills, medicines and rent relief

15 May

THE BUDGET Budget surplus of $9.3 billion in 2024/25 Commonwealth net debt to rise to $552.5 billion (20 per cent of GDP) in 2024/25 Economic growth to rise to two per cent in 2024/25 Unemployment rate to rise to 4.5 per cent in 2024/25 Inflation...[Read More]

Biggest winners and losers revealed in federal budget

15 May

BUDGET WINNERS AND LOSERS WINNERS Lower income households – more energy bill assistance on the way Small businesses – energy bill rebates and extension of asset write offs Renewable and other energy companies – tax breaks and other incentives...[Read More]

Your Federal Budget summary

11 May

The Federal Budget at a glance Budget deficit of $13.9 billion in 2023/24 Commonwealth net debt to rise to $574.9 billion (22.3 per cent of GDP) in 2023/24 Economic growth to fall to 1.5 per cent in 2023/24 Unemployment rate to rise to 4.25 per...[Read More]