The Latest Breaking News from Jim Chalmers

Half of voters say budget designed to win election as Labor takes 11-point lead on economic management

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers says the budget a Labor government would inherit would not provide scope for surpluses any time soon.

Shadow treasurer moves to make Labor policy crystal clear after Coalition seizes on ambiguity in Anthony Albanese’s comments

The prime minister has repeatedly denied claims he made a racist comment against pre-selection opponent in 2007 but Labor says nobody believes him.

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.