From Ross Gittens at johnmenadue.com: Anthony Albanese is not overly concerned about revealing a decade of budget deficits in the upcoming budget, as public sentiment typically prioritises cost of living over deficits highlighted by the media.

The projections for the economy in 2025-26 are under scrutiny due to economists’ historical inaccuracies in forecasting, which are often overly optimistic.

Key spending measures might stimulate the economy, but their immediate impact on growth will depend on first-year expenditures rather than long-term costs.