The government made many sensible changes to superannuation tax breaks in the budget. But the move to more flexible annual caps on pre-tax contributions is not one of them.
Fixing the structural deficit could be too big a task for the Turnbull government given the reluctance to tackle any meaningful tax and spending reform.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Reform remains a challenge when every idea to reduce the deficit, reduce government expenditure or restructure taxes tends to get shot down in Australia.
The government’s options for higher education reform come with significant trade offs.
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In response to the government's pre-election budget, Labor's Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh, a former professor of economics, describes an alternative economic plan.
Malcolm Turnbull will be satisfied with the reaction to the budget but less so with his own performance.
Sam Mooy/AAP
Ever since Malcolm Turnbull declared he’d call an election for July 2 if the Senate defied him, we’ve been counting down towards Sunday’s formal announcement of the start of a marathon campaign.
Bill Shorten is not a natural orator, but was passionate and persuasive in the more sober parts of his speech.
AAP/Sam Mooy
In his budget reply, Bill Shorten avoided the government’s traps and wisely stressed his party’s traditional strengths: health, education and social policy.
Government policy signals are encouraging more Australians to borrow more money for property.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The budget seems to be saying to people with taxable incomes of less than $80,000 – if you want to pay less tax, get yourself a negatively-geared property investment.
Not just another budget, but not a plan either.
Dean Lewins/AAP