Federal budget
Opinion
Opinion
How much government spending is wasted? Sorry, don’t know yet
My guess is that many people’s impression of the amount of waste is exaggerated. But governments don’t do nearly as much evaluation of their spending as they should.
- by Ross Gittins
Latest
Treasurer promises a secure, fairly paid job for everyone who wants one
Having revealed the first budget surplus in 15 years, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will on Monday release the employment white paper, with a new goal for jobs.
- by Rachel Clun
Record $22b surplus to come from ‘war and inflation’
There are also signs the government could deliver a second windfall this financial year, but one economist claims the result is “despite our politicians”.
- by Rachel Clun
Bowen backs Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project despite $6 billion blowout
But experts say the Albanese government has not justified its investment in costly pumped hydro schemes.
- by Mike Foley
It was designed to save money, but this scheme blew out by $2 billion
A Morrison government program was hatched to make life easier for businesses. But with taxpayers facing an extra $2 billion in costs, it has been dumped.
- by Shane Wright
Australia’s financial future in five graphs
Across 300 pages, the intergenerational report delivered an insight into the country’s future. Five graphs tell the full story.
- by Shane Wright
‘More people renting for life’: Australian dream disappears in bleak forecast
The Intergenerational Report released by Treasurer Jim Chalmers paints a picture of young people struggling to buy homes, slowing income growth and more strain on the federal budget.
- by David Crowe and Shane Wright
Analysis
Australian economy
Jim Chalmers needs to make hard decisions, not just grim forecasts
This report, with its flood of forecasts about a tougher future, must lead to serious reform if Labor is to have any credibility on national leadership.
- by David Crowe
Australia must stop being complacent, says Chalmers
In releasing the Intergenerational Report, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australians must do away with complacency by the end of the decade.
- by Shane Wright and David Crowe
Global warming to cost Australia up to $423 billion over 40 years
Soaring global temperatures will smash productivity and triple spending on natural disasters.
- by Shane Wright and Mike Foley
Analysis
Population
We’ve tried to predict Australia’s future before - this is what we got wrong
Peter Costello introduced intergenerational reports to give an outline of the country’s economic future. But all of them have contained huge errors.
- by Shane Wright