Technology sector insiders have said Tuesday’s Federal Budget must explain how funding from the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) will start flowing to local industry, and show signs of a long-term plan, to address skills shortages, under-representation of women and retraining for the artificial intelligence era.

Australia’s tech crowd have always lobbied hard for tax incentives and visa system changes they believe would help the country punch above its weight in the global industry. Those spoken to by The Australian Financial Review ahead of the Albanese government’s first full budget year said they are looking for vision rather than short term “sugar hits”.