Slightly more optimistic economic figures gives Scott Morrison and the Turnbull government a boost heading into 2018, as the charts explain.
Lukas Coch/AAP and The Conversation
Seven charts on the highlights from the government’s mid year update of the budget.
Fewer government welfare recipients due to higher than expected employment growth provides a slightly stronger budget outlook for the Turnbull government as they head into 2018.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The improvements in the government’s debt position are entirely because of revisions in economic assumptions, not fantastic fiscal management.
Watered down higher education measures, a stronger employment rate and lower than expected debt levels are the highlights for MYEFO 2017.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The government hasn’t abandoned its jobs and growth mantra in the budget update and remains optimistic despite lower growth and wages forecasts.
Just four lower house MPs voted against legalising same-sex marriage.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The drawn-out process of Australia legalising marriage equality has finally come to a close, with a bill passing the lower house by an overwhelming majority on Thursday.
Malcolm Turnbull has again had his hand forced by rebel backbenchers.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Seldom is a government’s impotence and frustration as much on display as it was when Malcolm Turnbull finally capitulated and announced he would set up a banking royal commission.
Scott Morrison released Treasury costings he has had done of Labor’s tax policies.
Daniel Munoz/AAP
Labor’s ‘dark vision’ that valued ‘envy and populism’ over growth would suffocate Australia’s economy, Scott Morrison has said.
Revellers celebrate the ‘yes’ result of the same-sex marriage postal ballot in Sydney.
David Moir/AAP
What’s still missing in the religious freedoms debate is any clarity around what people think they won’t be able to do, or where the existing laws are likely to fail to protect them.
AAP
Treasurer Scott Morrison recently asserted that an increase in profits is a prerequisite for wages growth. But is his position supported by data?
Malcolm Turnbull will meet with AGL chief executive Andy Vesey on Monday to discuss the future of the Liddell power station.
Lukas Coch/AAP
As he grapples with the power issue, Malcolm Turnbull has swung increasing emphasis onto coal.
The conservatives’ strategy is to reap what victories they can while Malcolm Turnbull leads.
Dean Lewins/AAP
The lack of moderates in the Liberals’ succession list is notable, given Christopher Pyne’s ill-judged boast to the faction that it was in the ‘winners’ circle’.
For the ABS, even the basic task of sending out ballot papers will not be straightforward.
AAP/Alan Porritt
The key question in a legal challenge to the ‘postal plebiscite’ is whether information about Australians’ opinions on same-sex marriage constitutes ‘statistical information’.
Another leaked recording – this time of Tony Abbott – has the Liberal Party under pressure.
Brendan Esposito/AAP
Tony Abbott told a Liberal branch meeting in the Deakin electorate of Michael Sukkar that ‘just at the moment … we’re at a bit of a low ebb’.
Scott Morrison talked about the challenges of a nation indifferent to the business of politics.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Scott Morrison’s comments reflect the concern in the government at the difficulty it is finding in cutting through to the electorate.
AAP/Rob Blakers
The University of Canberra’s Deep Saini and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics.
Scott Morrison has been on the campaign trail selling the budget.
Dean Lewis/AAP
A combination of incompetence and expediency has let down the country in the task of fixing up the budget.
Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison says the big banks should be able to absorb the cost of a new bank levy.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Treasurer Scott Morrison said Australia’s banks have a return on equity about twice that of banks in other advanced economies. Is that right?
Scott Morrison addresses the media on Sunday.
Julian Smith/AAP
Some predict Turnbull’s leadership will be in the frame unless the numbers improve; on the other hand, another change would be extremely hard.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The University of Canberra’s Deep Saini and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics.
Bill Shorten runs past Old Parliament House in Canberra.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
As the government sought to fireproof itself in Labor’s areas of strength, the budget produced a new challenge for Bill Shorten.
Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull have landed themselves in a fight with the banks.
AAP/Lukas Coch
But the key point is that the big five banks are the ideal soft target for a tax raid because they are both rich and lacking in friends.