Opinion

Election a battle between ‘worse off’ and ‘getting better’

Australia is in a worse position today than three years ago – an economic position that is going to be difficult to sell to voters, even with some glimmers of hope in the budget papers.

Steven HamiltonColumnist

Mar 26, 2025 – 3.06pm

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The election will be a battle between levels and changes.

The government will argue things are getting better. As the treasurer said in his budget speech: “Inflation is down, incomes are rising, unemployment is low, interest rates are coming down, debt is down, and growth is picking up momentum.” True.

Steven Hamilton is assistant professor of economics at George Washington University and visiting fellow at the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the ANU.