Tag: Jim Chalmers

Over 30 Percent of Aussies Can’t Afford to Travel Overseas: Research

Rising living costs and soaring airfares have left one in three Australians unable to afford to travel overseas. New research by price comparison website Finder has found that only about a quarter of Australians can now afford to travel for a holiday, with many cutting back on spending in order to enjoy it. The survey of…


Australian Greens Refine Demands on $10 Billion Housing Fund

The Greens are holding firm on their demands for renters as talks continue on the federal government’s proposed multibillion-dollar housing fund. Crunch time is approaching for the government’s $10 billion housing future fund legislation, which is due to hit the Senate during the upcoming sitting fortnight. The $10 billion would be invested to generate returns…


Australia Reports Lowest Quarterly Economic Growth Since September 2021

Australia’s economic growth is shrinking as interest rate hikes, high inflation, and unfavourable global conditions continue to take a toll on the economy. According to the latest national accounts, Australia’s GDP (gross domestic product) only grew by 0.2 percent in the March quarter, down from 0.6 percent in the previous three months and the lowest…


Cheques to Disappear in Australia by 2030

Australians will soon say goodbye to cheques as the federal government has introduced plans to abolish the paper-based payment system by 2030. On June 7, the Australian government announced that it would completely phase out cheque usage no later than 2030 as part of a strategic plan to modernise the country’s payment system. The government…


Australian Businesses Launch Media Campaign to Protest ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ Legislation

Australian businesses from various sectors have come together to protest the Labor government’s enterprise bargaining reform via a national media campaign. On June 5, eight major Australian business associations announced the launch of a national media campaign to raise awareness about the risks associated with the federal government’s “same job, same pay” legislation. The legislation,…


Dutton Urges Government to Increase Jobseeker Working Hours

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called on the centre-left Labor government to increase the working hours threshold for JobSeeker recipients before it affects their payments. Dutton also refused to reveal whether he backed the move to increase the minimum wage to keep up with inflation but argued that the best thing the government can do…


Australian Treasurer Travels Across the Country to Sell the Budget

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers is touring around the country to persuade Australians about the benefits of his second budget amid lacklustre support from the public. The treasurer is set to visit five capital cities to speak to business groups, unions and communities, with Sydney being his first destination. This comes after the Labor government outlined…


Visiting a GP to Be Less Stressful as Bulk Billing Incentives Tripled

Almost 12 million Australians will find visiting their doctor less taxing on the household budget as the federal government announced a $3.5 billion (US$2.4 billion) investment into bulk billing. The largest funding boost in bulk billing is part of the $6.1 billion package into strengthening Medicare and providing middle Australians, not just the most vulnerable,…


Australian Government Forecasted to Deliver Brief $4 Billion Budget Surplus

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will announce a small budget surplus on Tuesday evening, the first in 15 years primarily driven by record-high iron ore, coal, and gas prices. The $4 billion (US$2.7 billion) surplus for the 2022-23 financial year is expected to be short-lived, and the budget will soon dip back into deficit as commodity prices…


Australian Treasurer Says $14.6 Billion Living Cost Relief Won’t Add to Inflation

Australian Treasurers Jim Chalmers has refuted the idea that the newly announced $14.6 billion (US$9.88 billion) living cost relief will worsen inflation. In an interview with ABC Radio, the treasurer said the relief package included “responsible spending” and would not add pressure to inflation. Among the cost of living supports to be featured in the…