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Simon Benson is the Political Editor at The Australian, an award winning journalist and a former President of the NSW Press Gallery. He has covered federal and state politics for more than 20 years, authoring two political bestselling books, Betrayal and Plagued. Prior to joining the Australian, Benson was the Political Editor at the Daily Telegraph and a former environment and science editor which earned him the Australian Museum Eureka Prize in 2001. His career in journalism began in the early 90s when he started out in London working on the foreign desk at BSkyB.

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EXCLUSIVEPolitics

Jim Chalmers’ third budget has fallen flat with voters amid a record low number of people judging it good for the economy and a majority believing it will throw more fuel on the inflation fire.

Newspoll: Budget falls flat with voters

A record low number of people have judged Jim Chalmers’ third budget as good for the economy, with a majority believing it will throw more fuel on the inflation fire.

Simon Benson

COMMENTARYCommentary

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - NewsWirePhotos - Sunday, 19 May 2024:The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese pictured at Gosford Hospital today with the Member for Dobell, Emma McBride, and the Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid. Picture:NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Handouts, tax cuts hold key to election

On the Newspoll numbers one could see why Labor might be eyeing an early federal poll. It may just be able to hold the line.

Simon Benson

commentaryCommentary

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during post budget media interviews at Parliament House on May 15, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. Australia's Labor government is grappling with a slowing economy, weaker commodity prices, soaring housing costs and a softening labor market. It unveiled its federal budget on May 14. The budget is seen as a key opportunity for the Labor government to deliver broad economic support that analysts say is fundamental to re-election chances next year. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Real contest begins as Lib leader goes on attack

Peter Dutton is seeking to establish a case for the electoral repudiation of a government leading the country down the road of economic and social disaster.

Simon Benson

LIVE

Politics NowPolitics

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 16, 2024: Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

‘Back on track’: Dutton vows to slash migration

Peter Dutton has declared Labor’s budget to be ‘one of the most irresponsible I’ve seen’ and that any increase to interest rates or inflation would now be owned directly by the PM.

Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers

commentaryPolitics

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 15, 2024: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers Post-budget Speech at the National Press Cub at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Dutton must put meat on the policy bones

Jim Chalmers may have thrown the inflation handbook out the driver’s side window into the path of an oncoming truck but this may not matter in the short term, if an early election is in the frame.

Simon Benson

CommentaryCommentary

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. MARCH 27, 2024: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

This is a budget of mixed messages

Trapped in the gloom, Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers are leading Labor to the next election on a wing and a prayer — grand ambition, handouts and high risk.

Simon Benson

ANALYSISPolitics

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 13, 2024: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher with the 2024-25 Budget papers in the Prime Ministers office Canberra ahead of the 2024 Federal Budget. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Meaningful reform seems absent

Anthony Albanese says this will be a true Labor budget. But what sort of Labor is he speaking of? It’s certainly not the Hawke era.

Simon Benson

CommentaryCommentary

11/5/2024: Federal treasurer Jim Chalmers arrives and watches his son Jack 5, play basketball for the Logan Thunder at the Cornubia Park Sports Centre, Shailer Park, Brisbane. pic Lyndon Mechielsen /The Australian

Risk or reward for Labor as Chalmers rolls inflation dice

The Treasurer could well be setting the government up for a potential political catastrophe ahead of the election if Treasury’s new inflation forecasts are wrong.

Simon Benson

AnalysisPolitics

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 10, 2024: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Light-bulb moment puts housing fix in ALP’s orbit

Jim Chalmers’ budget message needs to be sharp and unambiguous and laser focused on inflation, unlike the tortured narrative to date, which is not all his fault.

Simon Benson

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 10, 2024: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers arrives at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Budget billions for fight on the home front

Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers will throw another $11.3bn into the housing shortage crisis, despite the Treasurer casting doubt on being able to deliver 1.2m new homes by 2029.

Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/simon-benson/page/29