Oil and gas deliver tax windfall
Soaring company tax revenues have helped the government deliver its second surplus in two years, with the oil and gas sector now kicking in as a major taxpayer.
Politics
New rules and a vision loaded with danger
Jim Chalmers is the intellectual force that defines this government and he’s doing it his way. The risk is this budget is the wrong response for these economic times.
Extra spending won’t help fix shortage in military workforce
Defence’s workforce crisis is set to worsen with the shortfall in uniformed personnel forecast to rise to a record 5000 over the next 12 months.
The world is about to give us a pay cut
Australia has settled into a post-pandemic slow groove, with economic growth slipping and economists calling out a ‘retail recession’ — but there is a silver lining.
Jobless warning if productivity fails to rebound
But Treasury predicts wages growth will outpace inflation over the next four years, delivering real pay rises for workers.
NDIS reforms to ‘offset’ $14bn blowout
Reforms to the NDIS will save $14bn over four years and bring it back to sustainability — but only if the Albanese government can cut a deal with the states.
‘Jim will fix it’: Labor’s new orthodoxy
The Treasurer has taken command of the government’s economic and political strategy with an election budget.
Boost to borders and counter-terror as threats rise
Border security and terrorism will receive a $600 million boost as the risk of foreign threats continues to rise.
School funding frozen despite increase in high-needs students
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia will be tackled in schools as the Albanese government directly funds anti-bullying programs.
Rich daycare owners targeted in crackdown
As the childcare sector struggles with soaring wage, rent and power costs, the federal government is planning a fraud crackdown on rich daycare centre owners.
Treasurer splashes billions on cost of living relief
Jim Chalmers has splurged $7.8bn on cost-of-living measures including $300 energy subsidies to artificially lower inflation and heap pressure on the RBA to cut rates.
$3bn debt wiped for 3 million Aussies. Are you one of them?
Some key industries are among the biggest losers. See the savings coming on top of the tax cuts here.
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.
Labor sets scene for a decade of deficits
Labor’s third budget has revealed $14.4bn in budget blowouts over the four years to 2026-27 as the Albanese government spends big on extra cost of living support.
Campus inquiry to probe racism, not only anti-Semitism
In response to heated tensions at campuses the federal government has established an inquiry into racism at universities.
$16bn for road and rail, including new projects
The government has committed $4.6 billion for 69 new projects in road and rail infrastructure across the country over the next decade.
Asylum mystery at Christmas Island
Activity at the mothballed Christmas Island detention centre fuels speculation Labor is taking a new approach to the 33 asylum-seekers found on Australian territory last week.
Entsch’s $1.3m grant for ‘dear friend’s charity’
Warren Entsch successfully lobbied the Morrison government to pay $1.3m in taxpayers’ money to a Cairns cancer charity to buy land already owned by one of its directors – an LNP donor and his ‘dear friend’.
Forget the legal advice, what about some moral courage
We are in this mess because vice-chancellors, along with many others, have forgotten the important distinction between law and morality in a free and civilised society.
US congress steers AUKUS back on track
The House Armed Services Committee has doubled planned purchases of Virginia-class subs, overruling Joe Biden’s plan which had raised fears the US Navy wouldn’t be able to supply Australia with promised nuclear-powered submarines.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/page/187