Yesterday
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Budget deficits are about more than money
Recurring red ink represents a profound political reluctance to accept that the pie must be grown before it can be carved up.
- The AFR View
- Analysis
- Federal budget
What’s on the other side of the economic boom?
As the stimulus fades and vaccines are rolled out, Australia faces the prospect of subdued growth.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Border hardliners got their way. Now what?
It seems like life in Australia has continued as close to normal as possible, but our closed borders mark a significant shift in our approach to the outside world.
- Gabriela D'Souza
- Opinion
- Global economy
Markets are losing faith in central banks
Bond vigilantes may stop believing the US central bank’s assurances that inflation is under control and take matters into their own hands.
- Updated
- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
- Opinion
- Platinum Year
After the ‘horror’ 1951 budget came the restrictions on imports
From the archives: As part of our Platinum 70 Year we are taking a look back at the AFR view of major domestic and international events during the past seven decades.
This Month
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Decade of deficits a ‘big risk’
Australia must restore fiscal responsibility in a volatile world, warns a former Liberal government audit boss.
- John Kehoe
Lobby groups warn of higher costs if $450 super threshold axed
Restaurant & Catering Industry Association chief executive Wes Lambert says he has ‘no doubt’ the change will affect the restaurant, café and catering sector.
- Michael Read
Good but no panacea: asset write-off extension welcomed
CEOs say the extension of the instant asset write-off in the budget is welcome but won’t necessarily change big companies’ investment plans.
- Updated
- Sue Mitchell, Angela Macdonald-Smith and Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Budget spendathon kicks the can down the road
The government is right to go hard in the short term to lock in the recovery, but will ultimately need to be honest that there will be a price to be paid for the spendathon.
- John Kehoe
Economic tremors hit White House at crucial moment for Biden
Over the past week, the Biden administration has been met with disappointing economic benchmarks, including lacklustre hiring and a surge in consumer prices.
- Jeff Stein, Rachel Siegel and Andrew Van Dam
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Skills training must invest in future jobs
The budget is full of cyclical labour market solutions for the COVID-19 crisis. But the real unemployment problem is the structural mismatch in the training system with the skills needed in the emerging economy.
- Eric Knight and David Orsmond
Qld Presbyterian church in receivership
The Presbyterian Church of Queensland has been placed in receivership, leaving $60 million in deposits paid to its aged care operator PresCare in doubt.
- Matthew Cranston and Carrie LaFrenz
- Opinion
- The AFR View
The Treasurer ought to have put it this way
Here is the budget speech that Josh Frydenberg should have delivered on Tuesday night.
- The AFR View
Lighter debt load gives RBA more weapons
The federal government’s debt manager has reduced its issuance task for next financial year, but whether that means the RBA will reduce bond buying is another matter.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
Dismay at failure to extend paid parental leave scheme
Female business leaders welcomed much of the “women’s budget” but say paid parental leave should be extended to give both parents equal access.
- Sally Patten
Boomers enticed to spend their home equity
Two measures in the budget are nudging seniors to tap into home equity to fund their post-work lifestyles and spend on the economy.
- John Kehoe
Treasury’s forecasts more downbeat than the street
Treasury forecasts for the rate of economic growth released in the budget are more pessimistic than the RBA’s predictions. Market economists are somewhere between the two.
- Sarah Turner
Tax cuts for high earners ‘doubtful’
Entrenched budget deficits will force tax rises, massive spending cuts or revoking income tax cuts for higher earners a few years from now, economists said.
- John Kehoe
- Analysis
- Federal budget
The one problem budget cash splash can’t fix
Wages, wages, wages: it’s a problem that Treasury forecasts suggest won’t be addressed for four years – or two federal elections away.
- Matthew Cranston
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Budget starts injecting the power of choice into aged care
If Australians are serious about aged care quality, they’ll have to accept higher taxes, more modest inheritances, or both.
- Henry Cutler
