The Latest Breaking News from Jim Chalmers

Scott Morrison was in Tasmania just days out from firing the starting gun for the May election, while Anthony Albanese held a Labor rally in Brisbane.

On Q+A, independent senator Jacqui Lambie suggests outgoing Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has been unfairly ousted due to her sex, and backs the claims Senator Fierravanti-Wells made about the Prime Minister's alleged poor character.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese will hand down his budget reply on Thursday night, but the opposition has stressed it won't be an alternative budget.

Labor says the 2022-23 budget is ‘not a plan for Australia’s future’ and promises to focus on health and long-term planning in budget reply

The opposition is criticising the government’s “giveaway” budget but, predictably, with the election close, is not opposing its cost of living package, which includes a temporary cut in full excise and billions of dollars for low and middle income taxpayers, pensioners and welfare recipients.

With an election looming, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg uses his address at the National Press Club to convince Australians his government's budget is the way forward for the country.

Labor has hit back at the federal government's big-spending budget featuring billions of dollars worth of tax offsets, cash payments and fuel excise relief.

Labor and the Greens have taken aim at Tuesday's budget for trying to buy votes ahead of the upcoming federal election.

Extra tax cut for 10 million low and middle income workers worth up to $420 – while fuel excise will be slashed for next six months

The expectations of Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg repeating their escape from the political pickle they are in with the budget are low.

Australians will get one-off cash handouts and tax breaks and pay less for fuel under a raft of pre-election sweeteners announced in the federal budget.