The Economic Perspective 4 April 2025
- klarsen94
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
The Latest Trending Economic News Curated for You by Balmoral Group Australia
Last week, Jim Chalmers delivered the highly anticipated Australian Federal Budget 2025-26. You likely already know how that went down, so I'll take this opportunity to speak on something different.
Since we live in a world of scarcity, every choice comes at a cost; every dollar spent or taxed is a dollar that cannot be used elsewhere. Hence, a foregone opportunity can feel like a loss, leading news outlets to label the budget's "winners and losers".
Who gets to divide or tax dollars and how? It can feel like our answers to those questions are falling on deaf ears, meaning what we value is under threat. Governments should be scrutinised, but I think the way we convey that scrutiny can often carry a lot of emotional charge, a natural reaction, but also aggravated by media outlets designed to stoke fires and incite division for clicks.
As we dive into this week's articles, be sceptical of who is reporting it and how. Consider that the author wants you to feel a certain way. Consider that macroeconomic spending is multifaceted with long-term and abstract flow-on effects. Consider that every dollar spent is still a step forward.
While we can't always protect what matters to us, what we can more feasibly control is how we navigate the political climate and the conversations we have with one another. Check out why we should stop viewing federal budgets in terms of “winners” and “losers”.
Federal budget winners and losers
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has handed down his fourth federal budget, laying the groundwork for a federal election campaign that could be called within days. It is a budget the government was not sure it would deliver — and many of Labor's election promises are now baked in as budget measures. Read more here.
Australia budget 2025: the seven graphs you need to see
Early budgets before an election are often troubling affairs. The government usually doesn’t want to give away its entire election strategy ... Australia’s 2025 federal budget papers are printed. ‘The big shocker for me was not just the tax cuts but that the budget deficit is not all that changed,’ Greg Jericho writes. Read more here.
Air conditioning quietly changed Australian life in just a few decades
Over the past three decades, one technology has snuck into the very centre of Australian life, shaping where and how we live. It influenced the design of our houses and offices, the cars we drive, and the length of our daily commute. It even changed our notion of comfort. Read more here.
Councils’ pre-election call for sustainable funding
With the federal election date locked for 3 May, councils are reaffirming their demands from the next government. Number one: long-term sustainable funding. “We are asking the next Australian Government to put our communities first,” said Matt Burnett – president of the Australian Local Government Association. Read more here.
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