Federal budget
Updated
Interest rates
RBA inflation outlook ups pressure on Chalmers ahead of budget
The Reserve Bank revealed it expects price pressures to grow through the rest of the year, which may require another lift in official interest rates.
- by Rachel Clun and Shane Wright
Latest
Analysis
Interest rates
Reserve Bank delivers a hospital pass of problems to Chalmers
Jim Chalmers, a Brisbane Broncos fanatic, will wonder what hit him after the Reserve Bank signalled higher interest rates for longer.
- by Shane Wright
No scorched earth: Chalmers promises budget spending as economy slows
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is poised to deliver a second successive budget surplus, but deficits in coming years to support the economy.
- by Shane Wright
Completion bonuses on the cards in university overhaul
Education Minister Jason Clare’s vision for getting more disadvantaged students into universities will be outlined in next week’s budget.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Student incomes to receive further government boost as Labor goes after youth vote
Education Minister Jason Clare also warned any intimidation on university campuses was “intolerable”.
- by Angus Thompson and Matthew Knott
An extra $25 billion not enough to guarantee more budget surpluses
Jim Chalmers will deliver his third budget on May 14. Extra tax, which has bolstered the past two budgets, won’t be enough to offset extra spending.
- by Shane Wright
Labor wipes $3b off student loans as cost-of-living relief measure
Facing blowback over its agenda to help financially insecure Millennials, Labor has revealed a major change to the calculation of student loan indexation.
- by Paul Sakkal
Analysis
Political leadership
Six simple words that could fire the gun on the next election
The federal budget, if you pay close attention, could reveal Labor’s hand – and its plan to be sensible but boring.
- by James Massola
Editorial
Domestic violence
Tackling domestic violence is welcome but women have heard it before
While steps taken by the national cabinet on violence against women are welcome, much more needs to be done.
- The Herald's View
Exclusive
Katy Gallagher
$50b clawed back from waste and rorts not enough to solve ‘truly wicked problem’
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher’s spending audit has found $50 billion in savings and redirected spending over the last two budgets. Economists say more needs to be done.
- by Rachel Clun
Analysis
Jim Chalmers
Chalmers must balance big talk on new spending with vow to rein in inflation
The treasurer wants to unleash huge public investment in new industries to cement Labor’s “made in Australia” plan. That sets up the Coalition attack.
- by David Crowe