This Month
- Opinion
- Opinion
The stage three tax cuts exist in a different world from 2019
As bracket creep starts to bite harder, the Albanese government might want to start rethinking where its tax cut focus should be.
- Laura Tingle
‘A milking cow’: states lash Commonwealth over infrastructure funding
Victoria will get just 1.6 per cent of new priority infrastructure spending over five years, and cuts are expected to cause a $1.6 billion hit to NSW’s budget.
- Gus McCubbing and Samantha Hutchinson
Chalmers backs in tax relief for bracket creep
The budget bottom line has been boosted by $39.6 billion over the four-year forward estimates since May, and is back on track for a surplus this financial year.
- Phillip Coorey and Michael Read
Iron ore above $US100 to deliver budget windfall next year
Market pundits say the government’s “too low” iron ore forecast – more than 50 per cent below current levels – will push the budget into a surplus.
- Joanne Tran
- Opinion
- Jim Chalmers
The surplus the treasurer doesn’t want to mention – yet
Both sides have conveniently ignored external calamities in the battle for economic supremacy.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Opinion
Responsible economic management key to Albanese government’s agenda
There’s no shortage of challenges in the budget or the economy, but the mid-year budget update shows we are making encouraging progress.
- Jim Chalmers
Labor hits family-friendly hybrids with luxury car tax
Popular models such as Toyota Klugers will be included in a new definition of fuel efficiency and face a 33 per cent tax.
- Jacob Greber
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
We’re still the iron ore lucky country. It won’t last forever
A surging iron ore price is driving Australia’s post-pandemic budget repair, the mid-year update shows. But the lucky country’s resources luck shouldn’t be taken as a given.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Jim Chalmers
Chalmers’ best budget effort must be sustained
Jim Chalmers has resisted pressure to spend a $64 billion tax windfall. The tougher test will be showing sustained fiscal discipline and getting the runaway NDIS under control.
- John Kehoe
$10b budget ‘savings’ mostly delayed roads and rail spending
Three-quarters of Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ $9.8 billion in budget cuts come from pushing spending on major road and rail projects beyond the four-year forecasts.
- Ronald Mizen
Second surplus in sight after revenue surge
A $64.4 billion tax revenue surge, and a $7.4 billion “delay” in infrastructure spending, has put the budget on track for a second successive surplus.
- Phillip Coorey and Michael Read
Chalmers to slug late taxpayers, passport applicants
Businesses and workers who do not pay their tax on time will no longer be able to deduct the late fee, in a move expected to raise $500 million per year.
- Michael Read
MYEFO fights ‘war on inflation’ by banking revenue windfall
Wednesday’s federal budget update will reject calls for more spending on cost of living relief.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Australian economy
How Chalmers’ fiscal goals lost all ambition
It is striking how modest fiscal strategy ambitions have become. If we look back over 10 years, there are valuable lessons.
- Robert Carling
MYEFO finds $10b in savings to ease pressure on inflation: Gallagher
The mid-year budget update to be released on Wednesday will claw back almost $10 billion in savings and “reprioritisations”.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Opinion
Fiscal policy must belatedly step up to inflation fight
Australia’s treasurers could do more to help the Reserve Bank to navigate the narrow path to a soft landing and reduce the need for further interest rate increases.
- Cherelle Murphy
Government debt bill blows out by $80b
Labour force figures due one day after the government’s mid-year budget update are expected to show the unemployment rate hit an 18-month high in November.
- Michael Read
No ‘quick and dirty’ NDIS assessments: Shorten
The agency running the NDIS will get more funding so that it can supervise allied health professionals trained in disability to complete assessments.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Opinion
What happens to the kids the NDIS can’t help any more?
The NDIS was overwhelmed by autism cases with nowhere else to go. Creating new services for them is one of the pointiest issues in the review.
- Updated
- Laura Tingle
Mother’s plea: Don’t let kids such as Florence fall out of the system
Disability organisations supporting families with an autism diagnosis say no child should be left worse off under a new $10 billion plan for care.
- Tom McIlroy
