The health system is at the heart of some of Australia’s strongest fiscal pressures.
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Following our series on Tony Abbott’s five pillars of the economy, today we look at a sector overlooked by the prime minister.
The Australian government needs to be concerned about our rising debt levels.
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In the latest in our Budget Explainer series, Mark Crosby explains debt and deficit and where Australia stands.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has been outshone by others in the lead up to his second budget.
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With his reputation and confidence already badly dented, Treasurer Joe Hockey has been further damaged just two days before delivering his second budget.
Social Services Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a $3.5 billion child care package.
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The government estimates its proposed $3.5 billion child care package will encourage more than 240,000 families to increase their involvement in paid employment, including almost 38,000 jobless families.
China should be a source of major opportunities for the Australian services sector, but these elude us.
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In our final piece on the five pillars of the economy, we look at services. It’s the great economic hope - but opportunities in the burgeoning Asian market elude us.
Joe Hockey, pictured arriving for the Liberal leadership spill in February, would not be delivering his second budget had Tony Abbott lost that vote.
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In just a year, the Abbott government has gone from a radical nation-changing budget to promising a ‘dull’ one. Are we to believe the ideological zeal is gone, or has the survival instinct kicked in?
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has run shotgun on this second budget, knowing his political life depends on it.
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Here we are with the budget almost upon us and Tony Abbott has had to assure the public, and Joe Hockey, that the Treasurer won’t be sacked if it’s a flop.
When Treasurer Joe Hockey presents the budget next week it will be worth reviewing the language he and Prime Minister Tony Abbott use about government spending.
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Despite the rhetoric that Australia needs to reign in government spending, we’re actually out of step with other developed economies.
Social Services Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that the government has abandoned its 2014 budget plan to cut back the indexation of pensions.
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A crackdown on the pension assets test will save the budget A$2.4 billion over the forward estimates, the government says.
Fundamental shifts in the Australian economy have resulted in structural budget deficit.
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In our federal budget explainer series, Guay Lim explains what Australia’s structural deficit really means.
The key indicators of the health of the economy are the unemployment rate, inflation rate and economic growth.
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The key economic indicators to look out for on budget night.
Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas’ first budget includes expenditure on services and a wages increase.
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Victoria’s Labor government has eschewed an austerity approach in its first budget, in contrast to some of its state counterparts.
Australian food exports, like beef, are regarded by Chinese buyers as clean and safe.
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Australia’s emerging agriculture boom can last much longer than the mining boom – but the industry needs policies that will encourage investment.
Australia can expect expansion in sectors such as tourism, the health and financial services sectors, banking and securities.
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Mining, along with agriculture, will continue to be key parts of the Australian economy – but new growth is expected in the services sector.
What goes up must come down: Australia’s economy is in for a wild ride ahead.
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Now is not the time for complacency. Australia must be on the front foot if it wants to make the most of what economists are calling the “new normal.”
Manufacturing’s share of Australia’s gross domestic product has fallen from 12.9% in 1979 to 6.2%.
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There is a future for manufacturing in Australia - but we need to follow some international lessons to build a competitive knowledge-based economy.
Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey must ensure this year’s budget escapes the echo chamber.
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Pro-reformists may view 2014 as a wasted year, but the lessons from the federal budget could make it a watershed one instead.
Bill Shorten faces some budget pressure too. His budget reply performance will be judged partly on whether he includes new substance.
AAP/Paul Miller
Against the grim outlook of a continuing massive deficit, Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten are both seeking to frame the debate ahead of Treasurer Joe Hockey bringing down his second budget next week.
As economic growth in China moderates, so will its demand for Australia’s raw materials.
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The mining boom is over and the industry is employing fewer workers – but the outlook for mining in Australia seems generally good.
Changes in environment health are invisible in the national accounts.
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The health of our environment is not included in national accounts data. And we are all poorer for it.