Jim Chalmers 2022

The Final Budget Outcome for 2022‑23 [PDF 2.6MB] shows the Albanese Government’s responsible economic management and spending restraint has delivered the first budget surplus in 15 years.

MICHAEL ROWLAND:

Mr Chalmers, good morning.

JIM CHALMERS:

Good morning, Michael.

ROWLAND:

Let's start with the Budget surplus. The latest figures have the last financial year surplus coming in at $22.1 billion. That is quite the turnaround.

CHALMERS:

Australia has today received a resounding endorsement of its responsible economic and budget management.

Standard & Poor’s upgraded a key fiscal assessment metric to the top level and affirmed Australia’s triple A credit rating. Both fiscal assessment indicators are now at the highest level.

Thank you, Shona, for that introduction and to the Walkley Foundation for hosting us this afternoon and for the invitation to say a few words.

JIM CHALMERS:

The Albanese Government is taking a strong stance against blatant misconduct in our tax advice industry and has today released draft legislation designed to strengthen our tax system and give greater powers to our regulators.

The Voice is about constitutional recognition, better listening and better outcomes. It’s as simple and straightforward as that.

Over the next few weeks in the lead up to the 14 October referendum, we will hear a lot about what the Voice is not about. That’s because some of those who are opposed are relying on distraction, diversion and deception.

KATHARINE MURPHY:

Jim, welcome to the show.

JIM CHALMERS:

Thanks, Katharine, for having me back.

MURPHY:

Well, first of all, I should I think say happy anniversary. Is it ten years in the Parliament?

CHALMERS:

JIM CHALMERS:

G'day everybody. I've got three issues that I wanted to touch on today. Obviously the National Accounts, I wanted to make an announcement about the Productivity Commission, and I also wanted to talk about the passage of our competition bill as it relates to the ASX. I'll deal with the National Accounts first.

The Albanese Government has today passed legislation to improve competition in the trading of shares and other securities as part of important reforms to strengthen Australia’s financial system and modernise our economy.