Morning Mail: Jim Chalmers to confirm big budget surplus, Israel launches Yemen strikes, Tim Winton writes of our shared anguish

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the $15.8bn surplus is due to lower spending by the Labor government. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Good morning. The federal government will today confirm the first back-to-back surplus in 15 years. Jim Chalmers says the better-than-forecast 2023-24 budget position, which is more than $6bn higher than predicted in May, has come “entirely” from lower government spending.

As the anniversary of the 7 October attacks looms Penny Wong has expressed despair at the cycles of “continued retribution” in the Middle East while again urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.