A strong revenue flow, including from a pick-up in wages, appears to have made it possible for the government to do somewhat more on welfare payments than it originally intended
While Albanese (who lands back in Australia on budget eve) basks in the international limelight, at home Treasurer Jim Chalmers this week has been feeling the heat of the spotlight.
Menzies created the Liberals from the rubble of its once successful but ultimately dysfunctional forebear, the UAP. It wasn’t the first time the centre-right reinvented itself. It could happen again.
Anthony Albanese’s attention is laser-like on the Voice, and trying to get up a yes vote. Peter Dutton, for a mix of motives, is focusing on the NT situation, as he campaigns against the Voice.
Peter Dutton’s success in holding the Liberal show together has been strictly limited. And it has come at the cost of deepening the division in the country.
@Michellegrattan and @amandadunn10 discuss the RBA's decision on interest rates, the Aston byelection result, the passing of First Nations leader Yunupingu, and TikTok bans
The government is hamstrung by its election promise to not raise taxes or bring in new ones. That’s for this term, but its narrow majority is likely to make Labor wary at the next election of bold tax reform promises.