Budget 2024: Albo’s nemesis unleashes – and exposes the major thing Jim Chalmers missed

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has posted a surplus for the second year in a row, but critics have labeled it “a surplus built on people’s suffering” amid an ongoing housing and cost-of-living crisis.

Ahead of the budget, Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather slammed the $9.3 billion surplus on Tuesday evening as evidence of “how little Labor cares about the housing crisis”.

He said: ‘$9.3 billion could fund the construction of 18,600 social housing units.

“It would be the biggest year of public housing in decades, changing tens of thousands of lives.

“Instead, Labor will report a surplus of $9.3 billion. That’s how little Labor is interested in the housing crisis.’

Mr Chandler-Mather – a first-term MP who has built a reputation for getting under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s skin – is not the only progressive to question the government’s surplus.

Greens Senator Nick McKim was scathing about the surplus and the budget as a whole, saying: ‘This is a surplus that comes from people’s suffering.

“Labor must be careful, as disillusionment and disappointment quickly turn to anger.”

‘People have every right to be angry about a budget that allocates $764 billion for defense, but cannot find a cent to increase unemployment benefits or youth benefits.

‘The government saves a surplus while young people and pensioners take out loans to pay the bills.’

Greens leader Adam Bandt described the budget as one that has “betrayed those who are struggling by prioritizing surplus over helping people.”

Dr. Chalmers has celebrated it as an economic victory for the government

‘Jim Chalmers’ decision to focus on a surplus in a cost of living crisis will hurt people.

‘The government’s $9.3 billion surplus could fund a rent freeze, put mental health care into Medicare, or give every Australian in poverty more than $3,000 in cost-of-living support – instead a surplus is just a political talking point for Labour’s re-election campaign. .

‘A tenant only receives an additional rent allowance of one dollar per day. The expensive items are bad for the country.’

But Dr. Chalmers has celebrated it as an economic victory for the government.

“I want Australians to know that, despite everything that comes our way, we are among the best-placed economies to manage these uncertainties and maximize our opportunities,” he said during the Budget speech in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening.

He said: ‘$9.3 billion could fund the construction of 18,600 social housing units. “It would be the biggest year of public housing in decades, changing tens of thousands of lives

Labor has ignored the Greens’ calls for a rent freeze and has instead set its sights on lofty construction targets

‘Last year, our responsible economic management produced the first surplus in fifteen years. We now expect another surplus of $9.3 billion this year.

“These would be the first consecutive surpluses in almost two decades,” he said.

But Dr. Chalmers warned that ‘the pressure on the budget will increase instead of decreasing after this’.

He expects a deficit next year, even if gross debt continues to decline. This year it will be $904 billion, compared to “the more than one trillion we inherited.”

Mr Chandler-Mather was highly critical of the government’s housing policies and told voters they could do more to solve the crisis.

Labor has ignored the Greens’ calls for a rent freeze and has instead set its sights on lofty construction targets – arguing that the only way to ease pressure on the housing market is to increase supply.

This Budget includes a range of measures aimed at easing the pressures of the housing crisis, including $1 billion to build community infrastructure in regions experiencing significant development and a $1.9 billion boost to Commonwealth Rent Assistance.