The University of Canberra’s Deep Saini and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics.
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen told the National Press Club that a Labor government would “show the ratings agencies the quality of our plans.”
Mick Tsikas/AAP
The South African Reserve Bank has come under spotlight due to the critical role it must play in enabling the country to navigate rough waters. Governor Lesetja Kganyago shares his views.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma looks on as his new cabinet members are sworn in.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
The best chance South Africa has of recovering from sub-investment grade credit rating status is to have leaders who are prepared to break rank with the small-mindedness of the ruling party.
The sacking of South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has created uncertainty about the future of the country’s finances.
Nic Bothma/EPA
The focus will now be on how the social democratic and left-leaning members of South Africa’s cabinet – the “constitutionalists” – will respond to the reshuffle.
Airports Company of South Africa, a majority state owned enterprise, is set to be hit by a regulatory own-goal that puts further pressure on the country’s credit rating.
President Jacob Zuma delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Sumaya Hisham/Reuters
South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, promised radical economic transformation in his 2017 state of the nation address. A lot of what he said in support of this promise is alternative facts.
MYEFO is more positive about the 2016-17 budget bottom line than previous expectations. However, projections over the forward estimates have worsened.
Lukas Coch/AAP
South Africa is breathing a sigh of relief after escaping a credit rating downgrade. But there are still serious concerns around structure of the country’s economy and finances.
President Jacob Zuma Sleeping in Parliament during medium term budget presentation.
SowetanLive
The video which shows South African President Jacob Zuma sleeping in parliament during the 2016 mid term budget is symptomatic of a much larger problem of lack of respect for the public.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas have their work cut out.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Moody’s has reaffirmed Australia’s AAA credit rating, as Malcolm Turnbull seeks to put pressure on Labor and crossbenchers to pass measures to help repair the budget.
Rating agencies like Standard and Poor’s have a bad track record when it comes to advice on the economy.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
As a veteran of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years, former treasurer Wayne Swan is a politician with a great deal of experience with parliamentary instability.
Australia is one of a small number of countries that enjoy a AAA rating.
Image sourced from shutterstock.com
Ratings agency S&P seems unconvinced of the Australian government’s ability to reduce the budget deficit.
Malcolm Turnbull and member-elect for the federal seat of Brisbane, Trevor Evans, speak to the media as they walk through central Brisbane.
Dan Peled/AAP
The political and fiscal vice in which Malcolm Turnbull is now caught was neatly illustrated by a coincidence of timing in these early post-election days.
Bob Katter, leader of Katter’s Australian Party, said he had provided support ‘with no great enthusiasm’.
Dan Peled/AAP
Crossbencher Bob Katter has given his support on supply and confidence to a Coalition government after a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Brisbane.
The budget repair necessary to keep Australia’s AAA credit rating seems even less likely after the election.
Craig Golding/AAP