federal budget

When Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down the budget on 14 May, the pressing need for fiscal responsibility is likely to trump spending programs.

While the move to tax superannuation balances above $3 million at a higher rate would affect only a handful of people at first, if the threshold is not indexed to inflation, future generations may be turned off from investing in their super, industry leaders say.

The federal government plans to use part of the $4.2 billion projected budget surplus to provide cost-of-living relief for Australian households and small businesses. It’s also moving forward with controversial plans to change tax concessions for the superannuation industry.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison took the opportunity at this week’s Liberal Party Meeting to confirm that the minimum pension drawdown standards would be reduced for another financial year. The so-called COVID-19 measures were set to apply for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years in light of the ‘financial losses’ experienced by investors during the pandemic….

Anyone watching the Federal Budget would have seen Treasurer Josh Frydenberg deliver a “high-spending, Australia’s bouncing back” budget with some big-ticket items aimed to drive the country out of its pandemic doldrums. To be honest, there weren’t any real surprises in this budget; it appealed to all. But many pundits agree that the budget missed…

Sell off continues despite budget, Qantas tanks on flight delays, CBA delivers  The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) fell 0.7%, the second straight negative session, pushed lower by utilities and energy companies, down 2.2% and 2.0% respectively. The Federal Budget which offers little in the way of future spending or policy direction was broadly in line with expectations, the deficit lower than…

Dubbed the ‘Big Spending’ budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered a 2021-22 budget that is aimed at providing further support to the economy and the post-pandemic recovery. The Government’s 2020 delivery sets the scene for an increase in spending intended to drive economic growth, create new jobs and reduce unemployment below 5%. Once reached, budget repair…

Aussie fund manager gives Budget an ‘F’ for FAIL The head of the Australian wealth and superannuation manager Nucleus Wealth, Damien Klassen, has drawn a pointed analysis of the Morrison/Frydenberg budget strategy. “The budget misses the mark bigtime, by focusing on the supply side of the economic equation when in fact the biggest issue by…

Another positive week for global markets, property sinks, reality setting in for Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX) It was another positive week for global markets, the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) finishing 1.2% higher despite falling 0.5% on Friday. Similarly, US markets have overcome the ‘will they or wont they’ stimulus discussions, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq up 0.2%…

The Federal Government delivered it’s delayed but much needed annual Budget last week. The conclusion: massive deficits, tax cuts and a boon for businesses large and small. Whilst positive, there was little in the way of support for the businesses most impacted by forced Government shutdowns, being tourism, travel and education, with the Budget effectively…