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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Comment
Greg Jericho

Australia’s GDP growth is partly due to government spending. So why isn’t the Coalition complaining?

Australia GDP Economy
helicopter prepares to land on the deck of a warship at dusk
‘If we look at the breakdown of government spending, the biggest increases in December were state and local government spending and investment in defence.’ Photograph: LSIS Matthew Lyall/AP

The latest GDP figures showing Australia’s economy grew 2.6% last year is good news, but the data also reveals an economy boosted by people chasing bargains and the one-off effect of the Ashes tour.

It has been nearly three years since the economy has grown as fast as it currently is. The Bureau of Statistics estimates that the economy in the December quarter of last year was 2.6% bigger than the December quarter in 2024.

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