Budget
Revenue collapse hits the budget: the Gillard speech in full
Julia Gillard Julia Gillard outlines the problems that have cut a $12 billion hole in the federal budget.
No pain no gain: PM talks budget options
Michael Gordon Julia Gillard's warning underscores reality that selling this pre-election budget will be even harder than framing it.
Tim Colebatch
Before we tackle the budget, let's clarify a few points
Tim Colebatch Distorted media analysis obscures the ways to confront a budget deficit. Some of our media brethren are convinced the deficit is all due to excessive spending by the Labor government.
Triple-F for Labor in convincing voters of budget credibility
Mark Kenny The federal government's political skills are again being exposed as slipshod amid a messy prelude to a pre-election budget.
Michelle Grattan
Opposition gets itself in a tangle again over budget surpluses
Michelle Grattan Last year the opposition got itself into a complete tangle over its position on the surplus.
Ross Gittins
Tail wagging uneasy dog in budget debate
Ross Gittins I hate to burden you with a topic as earnest as the budget deficit so close to the holidays.
Paul Sheehan
Rich vitriol shrouds budget extravagance
Paul Sheehan I preferred Robotic Julia. Now we have Furious Julia. Is there no middle course for the Prime Minister? Are we now seeing the cumulative strain of the cost of attaining power and maintaining a...
Perspective the first casualty of budget backlash
Lenore Taylor We go through this screaming match every time the government announces budget cuts, but it seems more hysterical than usual this time.
Tim Colebatch
Budget surplus shaky as mining boom's promise fades
Tim Colebatch In 2012-13, and probably thereafter, the mining boom will not give us the economic growth we counted on.
Bad-luck budget won't win any friends, but nor should it
Ross Gittins This is a deceptively tough budget. It won’t impress people – either with its parsimony or its generosity - but that’s not the measure of a good budget.
Baird's plumbing clears the way for a positive budget pitch
Sean Nicholls In difficult economic times, this was always going to be a classic "tough" budget - and so it has proved.
Ross Gittins
Robin Hood budget not before time
Ross Gittins So, has the budget led to an outbreak of class warfare? Only if Julia Gillard's a lot luckier than she's been so far. That is, I doubt it.
Lenore Taylor
Robin Hood budget will give Abbott no merriment
Lenore Taylor Trained observer that I am, I reckon the Gillard government wants this to be seen as a ''Robin Hood'' budget - designed to make a ''Labor values'' political virtue of the deep cuts necessary to...
The Loaded Dog
Is the federal budget on track?
Is the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, on the right track or is the middle class carrying too much of the savings burden ahead of Tuesday's federal budget?
Tim Colebatch
Swan's budget nightmare in this year of uncertainty
Tim Colebatch Two years ago, when Wayne Swan pledged to deliver a budget surplus in 2012-13, Treasury's growth forecasts made it seem easy and appropriate.
Peter Costello
A budget lost in the yawning gap between promise and delivery
Peter Costello As stand-up comedy it was a pretty good line: ''The four years of surpluses I announce tonight …'' And Wayne Swan got the predictable guffaws and laughter with the opening line of his budget speech.
Barnaby Joyce
Budget goes to water on Basin
Barnaby Joyce Treasurer Wayne Swan has predicted a heroic $1.5 billion surplus. If you believe Swan, I have a bridge to sell you.
Daniel Andrews
Budget test of Baillieu's claim to moderation
Daniel Andrews The differences between Labor and the Coalition are starkly defined.
Andrew Hewett
There's another promise to keep on budget day
Andrew Hewett Most of us wouldn't blink an eye at handing over $3 for a morning takeaway coffee. Interestingly enough, that's about how much Australia spends, per person, per week, on helping to improve the lives...
Tim Colebatch
Budget cuts will bring on recession
Tim Colebatch The government has revealed that with growth at just 2.5 per cent, it will reject calls for tough budget cuts, raise spending in areas that need stimulus, and extend its deadline to put the budget...
