Treasurer Jim Chalmers is adamant his second budget will not make Australia's inflation problem worse while providing cost of living relief — but economists are divided about whether that confidence is misplaced.
Some economists have even suggested the budget was a "missed opportunity" for the treasurer to do more to cut inflation and put an end to rate rises by the Reserve Bank, while one has warned it could prompt two potential rate hikes in the coming months.
The centrepiece of Tuesday night's budget was the $14.6 billion cost of living relief package aimed at helping households and small businesses make ends meet while inflation and interest rates remained high.
