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Government debt

This Month

Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s bromance looks to be over.

Trump’s ‘one big beautiful bill’ is a danger to Australia

The budget is yet another tool to beat trade partners into submission. It threatens our companies, superannuation industry and sovereignty.

Elon Musk jumps on stage as Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last October.

The One Big Beautiful Bill that split Trump and Musk

Elon Musk has finally discovered what the rest of us have known for a while: the Republicans no longer care about fiscal responsibility.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

‘A disgusting abomination’: Musk blasts Trump tax bill

The billionaire said that Republicans who voted for what he called the “massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending” proposal should be ashamed.

May

The Miami skyline. Florida has become a magnet for capital and people because of economic performance.

A complacent Wonder Down Under is heading for a productivity fail

Crazy levels of government spending, and Victoria’s status as one of the most indebted states in the world, helps explain Australia’s miserable performance.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Jaclyn Symes earlier this month. Despite steep deficits, investors shrugged at last week’s Victorian budget.

Investors shrug at Victorian debt bomb in search for new safe haven

For all the talk about the age of market vigilantism and deteriorating public balance sheets, there’s no lack of interest in Australian state government bonds.

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While red inks spreads from Washington, Donald Trump is unleashing a wild west for cryptocurrency, AI, and to some extent banking.

Beware the rising ‘moron premium’ on US bonds

In one way, Donald Trump is like Republican predecessors – he believes in tax cuts. What is novel is the foreboding he creates about faith in America’s credit.

Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Premier Jacinta Allan.

Numbers Victoria is relying on to kill debt are at odds with the RBA

Official federal estimates don’t support the population growth that Treasurer Jaclyn Symes says will drag the state out of debt.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli. There is some irony in the fact that Federal Labor is reducing the GST funding, as the new Queensland LNP government is forced to deal with the long list of announced but unfunded projects and the record debt trajectory that state Labor left behind.

GST carve-up rewards Victoria’s economic failure

States that are prepared to grow the national pie should not be punished with an ever-dwindling slice.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson

Trump tax bill holdouts lured with Medicaid cuts, new concession cap

The US president’s “big, beautiful” bill would extend his signature 2017 tax cuts and create new breaks, raising fresh investor concern about America’s debt levels.

Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Premier Jacinta Allan.

Ratings agencies pan Victorian budget’s lack of restraint

A $2.3 billion cost-of-living package including household energy rebates in Jaclyn Symes’ first budget will send debt to a record within four years.

Victorian budget winners and losers

Concession card holders, parents of children at state schools and kids who ride public transport are among those who benefit from the Victorian budget.

Jacinta Allan and Jaclyn Symes are pitching their economic success.

Victoria’s finances doing just fine in the echo chamber

It wouldn’t be so alarming were it not for the state’s ballooning debt.

Jacinta Allan insists her government can increase spending while still reining in debt, which is projected to hit $187 billion by 2028.

Will Victorian budget avert a full-blown debt crisis?

Jacinta Allan’s government has previously shown an inclination to tax its way out of trouble rather than tackle structural spending problems.

Warren Buffett (right) on the weekend he announced his retirement. He wasn’t afraid to admit to mistakes.

Warren Buffett idea that will never catch on

The legendary investor agrees with Donald Trump on the US trade balance, and has a market-based plan to fix it. But economists say it’s unlikely to become reality.

Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Premier Jacinta Allan.

Agencies warning to Victoria: Slash debt or risk downgrade

The Victorian treasurer is planning for a budget next week that is expected to raise taxes and cut spending, which credit organisations warn needs to be tough.

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NAB chief executive Andrew Irvine: “The issue is more at the state level, where we have some states … have taken on a fair bit of debt since COVID.”

Australia’s credit rating comes back into focus

Our major banks are among the biggest financial institution borrowers in the world, tapping global markets for about $30 billion to $40 billion every year.

Is America about to nuke its own currency?

Although the dollar’s role as the world’s leading reserve currency plays a part, it is just one of many factors contributing to the US’ persistent trade deficits.

Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese.

Government debt to hit $1 trillion as soon as September

Economists are urging the re-elected Albanese government to prioritise getting the budget in order or else risk losing the nation’s AAA credit rating.

April

Could Jim Chalmers’ “super purpose” include a prohibition on future raids on the savings of Australians?

Why your super is the government’s next cash cow

The tax-by-stealth raid needs to be exposed for what it is: a morally dubious cash grab to paper over the government’s own fiscal mismanagement.

Anthony Albanese has ridiculed the S&P Global warning that Australia’s prized AAA credit rating could be at risk due to surging off-budget spending and deteriorating budget fundamentals and blamed the previous Coalition government for the fiscal position.

Mocking S&P’s credit warning risks Australia’s prosperity

The nation’s AAA rating is not an ornament. It was hard-won through decades of careful fiscal management by successive governments.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/government-debt-1nms