The housing affordability measures in this budget involve not much more than tinkering.
The treasurer referred to the A$13 billion “zombie” measures the Senate has failed to pass as a “Senate tax”, in justifying the tax increases in this budget.
Lukas Coch
The budget was extraordinary in many ways. It is an abandonment of restraint on taxes by a liberal government. It is nakedly populist and it also acknowledges that government debt can be productive.
With the 2017 Federal Budget release fast approaching, take a look back at the spending patterns of previous Australian governments.
Lukas Coch/Alan Porritt/Dean Lewins/AAP
Total government spending has increased over time. But the pressure on the budget under a Turnbull government is more acute now than ever before, because spending is outpacing revenue.
Eating disorders are among the leading causes of hospitalisation for mental-health-related issues in Australia.
from shutterstock.com
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has asked the Medicare review taskforce to consider increasing the number of subsidised mental health sessions for those with eating disorders. Why is that necessary?
The latest ANUpoll shows that Australians are very concerned that future generations may be locked out of home ownership.
Jason Reed/AAP
Australians are in favour of housing affordability changes that the government still doesn’t support, an ANU poll shows.
This budget, led by Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull, will form part of the government’s repositioning as an advocate of equal opportunity and fairness.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The Turnbull government is desperately trying to develop a more convincing economic narrative around good economic management, nation-building and fairness.
The political legacy of Abbott’s broken promises contributed to Malcolm Turnbull’s near-death experience at last July’s federal election. ThisTurnbull government budget will be largely about burying the legacy of its predecessor.
Scott Morrison is digging in behind the government’s changes to the way schools are funded.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Scott Morrison has a lot on his plate ahead of Tuesday night’s federal budget, including Catholic schools unhappy at how the school funding changes will affect them.
The poll asked whether forecasting for the budget should be taken away from Treasury and be given to another independent agency.
Lukas Coch/AAP
When people do downsize, financial incentives are generally not the big things on their minds. And so most of the budget’s financial incentives will go to those who were going to downsize anyway.
Is the Australian economy ‘the little engine that could’?
Roadsidepictures/Flickr
Some seem to think the RBA is bullish on growth, but reading between the lines it seems to be hedging.
If wages just grow at the rate of the last 12 months, rather than at the higher growth in the budget forecasts, income tax collections will be A$7 billion less for 2019-20.
Joel Carrett/AAP
The 30% subsidy for private health insurance was predicted to be a bad and costly policy many years ago. And 20 years later, the only thing that’s changed is the $6 billion-plus hole in the budget.
The budget is a centrepiece of fiscal policy in Australia.
Julian Smith/AAP
Because the budget is a very difficult means of carrying out targeted fiscal policy, it’s become more important as a centrepiece for the government’s economic strategy.
A man has his fingerprints scanned by a U.S. Border Patrol agent while others wait their turn.
Reuters/Jeff Topping
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne