2021 Pre-Federal Budget panel discussion

The Economists' Corner

We’re five days out from the Federal Budget and it looks like red is the new black for the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg.

He says there will be no sharp pivots to austerity next week, in a dramatic overhaul of the Government’s long-standing fiscal strategy, and that’s despite the surprising strength we’ve seen in the economy over the last six months.

Instead, it’s likely to be a big spending budget. Billions are set to go to childcare and aged care to address the workforce challenges in those sectors, and help boost female workforce participation.

To discuss this, CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento is joined by ANZ senior economist Felicity Emmett, Equity Economics lead economist Angela Jackson, and AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver.