Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's fourth budget has outlined the "time for emergency fiscal support has passed", despite inflationary levels touted to surpass 4 per cent later this year.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Economic forecasts outlined in the 2022-23 budget have revealed a $20.9 billion improvement in the bottom line, with the underlying cash deficit expected to sit at $78 billion.
A tighter labour market which is forecasting unemployment to fall to 3.75 per cent and higher commodity prices are flagged to increase tax receipts over the period, with $547.6 billion in receipts to make up 23.8 per cent of gross domestic product.
READ MORE:
"There are nearly 2 million more Australians in work today than when we came to government," Mr Frydenberg boasted in his budget speech on Tuesday night. "Our recovery leads the world. Faster and stronger than the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan."
Net debt for the coming financial year is set to sit at $714.9 billion and peak at $864.7 billion over the forward estimates.
Treasury's estimates also paint further growth of the domestic economy with GDP for 2021-22 to rise 4.25 per cent and 3.5 per cent for 2022-23.
Inflation is anticipated to rise 4.25 per cent to June 30 this year, while the inbound fiscal year is set to print a consumer price index figure of 3 per cent.
Increased levels of inflation could impact the Reserve Bank's timeline to push up the cash rate, which the market predicted will be hiked later this calendar year.
Treasury noted a tightening of monetary policy in the coming months would likely dampen consumption which has boomed following the Delta lockdown.
"Rising interest rates and weaker house price growth are expected to temper consumption growth ... and there is a risk that the normalisation of monetary policy has a more material negative impact on consumption," the budget reads.
The wage price index through to the June quarter is tipped to increase by 2.75 per cent and 3.25 per cent in the following financial year.
However the budget outlined that number is higher when looking at broader national account figures.
"Wages including bonuses have picked up in recent quarters and Single Touch Payroll data shows that workers who moved jobs in mid-2021 typically experienced pay increases of between 8-10 per cent," it reads.
The outlook placed emphasis on normalising fiscal spending, but did flag rising inflation would partly offset the revised upward intake of tax receipts.
"The time for emergency fiscal support has passed and it is appropriate for fiscal settings to normalise with a focus on growing the economy and in order to stabilise and reduce debt," the fiscal outlook reads.
The budget also flagged recent flooding in Queensland and New South Wales would shave around half a per cent from real GDP.
Higher commodity prices particularly in iron ore bolstered company tax receipts to the government, however Treasury expects iron ore spot prices to decline from $US134 to $US55 per tonne by the September quarter.
READ MORE:
- How the budget will impact petrol prices
- Analysis: Karen Barlow explains the federal budget
- What's in the budget for defence and national security
- What the budget means for the public service
- What the budget means for older Australians
- What the budget means for younger people
- What the budget means for small business