The federal budget deficit from now through to 2018-19 is likely to be $129 billion, $21 billion worse than in the December official budget update, according to Deloitte Access Economics.
The first years of the millennium were kind to government finances. A benign economic environment, and a once-in-a-century commodity boom fuelled by Chinese growth, helped the Federal budget to a cumulative…
Voters will hear a lot about productivity in the lead up to the budget. The key thing to remember is that it’s a very rubbery concept, enormously tricky to measure and highly politicised.
After a GST increase to finance big income tax cuts disappeared as a viable option for the May budget, attention centred on reducing the 30% company tax rate. But, assuming the government goes ahead with…
Giving states the power to levy income tax won’t make up for the shortfall in health and education funding and it could mean poorer states are worse off.
The states have historically fought to keep their income tax powers so it seems a joke to see a rejection of the Federal Government’s proposal to give these powers back.
Malcolm Turnbull admits he did not make a call on Sunday night to tell Scott Morrison he was bringing the budget forward, but that draws attention to the obvious point – Morrison had abundant warning…