Last Post: Budget is based on inflation falling to 2.75 per cent

The Labor government’s budget is based on inflation falling to 2.75 per cent by the end of 2024-25. Yet the Reserve Bank of Australia is predicting an inflation rate of 3.2 per cent (“Chalmers bets the nation on winning inflation challenge”, 14/5). With the next federal election due before June next year, unfortunately, Australians will be unable to pass judgment on Jim Chalmers’ budget inflation assumption and its impact on interest rates.

Riley Brown, Bondi, NSW

The Albanese government is using high interest rates to stop people spending but simultaneously the budget gives people money to spend, which makes little or no economic sense.

Paul Haege, Darling Point, NSW

The federal Treasurer claims he will produce a budget that will stabilise interest rates and tackle the cost of living. That would be magic. Why has he kept it under his hat, and why not at least let magicians Penn and Teller have a look at it?

MF Horton, Adelaide

We are fortunate to have a Prime Minister who has on one side a Minister for Climate Change and Energy who denies us the use of coal to provide reliable electricity, while on the other side sits the Treasurer who enjoys the surplus generated from selling coal for some other country to burn.

Jim H. Eyles, Highworth, Qld

“Labor’s gas strategy is a step in the right direction” (14/5) if it wants to be in minority government after the next election. The folk who voted out the moderate Liberals haven’t gone away. They are now joined by the folk who thought the Labor Party would be different. That’s a lot of people power.

Lesley Walker, Northcote, Vic

Three boats in a week – looks like the starting gun for the refugee regatta has been fired (“Third boat in a week, smugglers back in business, 14/5).

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

What vestiges of leadership the Prime Minister brought with him when he won the election have now disappeared. In these unnerving times for Israelis and Jews, and thus the Middle East – and frontline navy and air force personnel – all pretence to leadership was left at the UN.

Jane Tillson, Noosa, Qld

Oh, the glory of complex simplicity and simple complexity of the great cartoonists (John Spooner’s daily cartoon, “Price check aisle 14/5”, 14/5). How absolutely blessed are The Australian’s readers to have both Spooner and Johannes Leak.

Maggie Morrison, Mordialloc, Vic