Opinion
Federal budget
Morrison currently holds the golden chicken trophy. Could Chalmers be next?
The prize for counting budget chickens will always be a tight contest when politicians spend so much of their time listening to themselves and each other.
- by David Crowe
Latest
‘Ringing alarm bells’: Business panic mounting on Dutton’s migration numbers
The opposition leader’s plans to cut net migration to 160,000 – a figure 100,000 less than next year’s forecast – has horrified Australia’s business lobby.
- by David Crowe
Exclusive
Political leadership
What Australians plan to do with their $300 energy bill subsidy
Most Australians say they will use it to increase savings or pay down loans, countering fears of a spending splurge that would fuel inflation.
- by David Crowe
Analysis
Political leadership
Why Labor’s budget is not enough to reverse its two-year slump
It is not unusual for governments to suffer a slump after two years in power – it happened to John Howard in 1998 and he recovered. But there are danger signs for Labor.
- by David Crowe
Exclusive
Political leadership
Voters favour deeper cuts to migration as Labor misses budget boost
As a bruising political fight over housing and congestion continues, polling shows half of all voters want more done to curb immigration.
- by David Crowe
Bet your house on it: The issues Dutton wants as election battlegrounds
The opposition leader seems utterly sure of his power to drive Albanese out of office. Too sure, perhaps.
- by David Crowe
Warning Dutton’s housing and migration plans little more than ‘rounding error’
Economists and property industry figures say the opposition leader’s pledge to cut migration and ban foreign home buyers could make the nation poorer.
- by Angus Thompson and David Crowe
Dutton pledges to slash permanent migration to 140,000 a year
In his budget reply speech, the opposition leader intensified a political fight over housing and congestion by vowing to drive permanent migration below Labor’s target.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
Federal budget
Peter Dutton is more than happy to help billionaires, except one
The Coalition, when in power, spent taxpayers’ money propping up billionaires’ operations, but now it’s Labor’s idea … and nuclear power critic Andrew Forrest stands to benefit.
- by David Crowe
Stoush over $13.7b tax credits threatens to stall flagship budget policy
Labor will be forced into talks with the Greens over new curbs on coal and gas in a bid to salvage the $13.7 billion tax credits in its “made in Australia” budget plan, after the Coalition rubbished the new measure.
- by David Crowe
Analysis
Federal budget
Is this the budget we needed? Our experts deliver their verdicts
Jim Chalmers’ third budget sought to strike a balance between inflation and cost of living. Here’s what our experts thought.
- by David Crowe, Shane Wright, Jacqueline Maley, Peter Hartcher and Ross Gittins