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Articles on Federal Budget 2017

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Unless the demand pressures are eased, first home buyers are still likely to be crowded out of the market. Sam Mooy/AAP

Budget needs a sharper policy scalpel to help first home buyers

The budget acknowledges the crisis of affordability for first home buyers, but fails to do enough about demand pressures on prices to put home ownership back within their reach.
There are better ways of dealing with distortions caused by the bank than the government’s quick, politically opportunistic, measure. Joel Carrett/AAP

Budget bank levy: too big to fail, not too big to take a hit

The new levy on banks from the budget is a small hit to their profit but it could have unintended consequences.
The budget brought no increase in rent assistance to help low-income renters in the private rental market. AAP/Tracey Nearmy

Is this the budget that forgot renters?

For the majority of Australia’s renters, housing will remain unaffordable, insecure, and out of reach following the 2017-18 federal budget.
Having embraced expert advice on bond aggregation to finance housing, Scott Morrison needs to ensure the Commonwealth commits to long-term investment and cooperation. Julian Smith/AAP

Bond aggregator helps build a more virtuous circle of housing investment

The bond aggregator by itself cannot create a housing development pipeline. It needs co-investment from government to make it feasible.
The public and finance sectors – but not the government, it seems – are questioning the wisdom of investing in infrastructure for projects like the Adani coal mine. Lukas Coch/AAP

To get the ‘good debt’ tick, infrastructure needs to be fit for the future

If infrastructure is to meet the needs and challenges of an uncertain future, we need to move beyond the AAA ratings mindset and aim for net-positive social and ecological outcomes as well.
Gas infrastructure and exploration attracted the lion’s share of new energy announcements in the 2017 federal budget. Sean Heatley/Shutterstock.com

Budget 2017: government goes hard on gas and hydro in bid for energy security

The federal budget will pump A$90 million into boosting domestic gas production, as well as investing in pumped hydro and measures to monitor energy prices.
Infrastructure has been flagged as a major recipient of federal funds in the 2017 budget. Dean Lewins/AAP

Budget’s ‘good debt’ conversion underpins $70b-plus infrastructure program: experts respond

The Conversation’s economic experts react to the 2017-18 budget measures in the areas of living costs, economic management and infrastructure planning and investment.
The future of the NDIS is seemingly secured in this federal budget. from shutterstock.com

Budget 2017 sees Medicare rebate freeze slowly lifted and more funding for the NDIS: experts respond

Health announcements in the federal budget include a slow lifting of the Medicare rebate freeze, money for new medicines, and an increase in the Medicare levy to fund the NDIS.
The Australian Federal Police will receive $321.4 million over four years for a range of measures. AAP/Lukas Coch

Budget 2017-18 brings welfare crackdown and increased defence and security funding: experts respond

The Conversation’s political experts react to the 2017-18 budget’s key measures in the areas of welfare, foreign aid, defence spending and more.

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