Jim Chalmers’ budget doesn’t fix everything – but it’s an overdue first payment to future generations (opens in new tab)

The treasurer has shown economic reforms should not be left to the too-hard basket, and instead be pursued with a sense of urgencyExplore all of our 2026 Australia federal budget coverageFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFinally, a budget of economic reform. It has been too long coming. At this stage of the economic cycle, the budget should be in surplus. It should not be adding tens of billions of dollars every ye...