Today I participated as a panellist in a KPMG online forum analysing the Budget. We discussed impacts on the economy, cost of living, interest rates, small businesses and the energy transition.

Watching the ABC, the Coalition and the Greens hate the Budget, Jacqui Lambie too. Maybe the ALP represents the sensible centre. Just an observation.

Here’s a typical example of a media outlet demanding tax reform but whinging when it affects the wealthy.

By “reform” they mean more tax on the poor via a GST increase and less tax on their wealthy backers.

afr.com/markets/debt-m…

“It’s as if some inflation hawks are pushing for a deep recession just to bring inflation down rapidly … A steady return to target inflation, rather than forcing a deep and painful recession, is a much smarter approach.”

That’s what I’ve been saying!

afr.com/markets/debt-m…

“It’s as if some inflation hawks are pushing for a deep recession just to bring inflation down rapidly … A steady return to target inflation, rather than forcing a deep and painful recession, is a much smarter approach.”

That’s what I’ve been saying!

WA is the only state that still exports live sheep by sea, yet 7 in 10 West Australians want to see the trade stopped.

That’s why we’ve just announced a $107 million plan to phase out the trade by May 2028.

Gone fishin’ 🐟

This makes a lot more sense than economists baying for further interest rate increases

Bit wet at Tahs v Brumbies game in Sydney.

Sure, if you’re happy with recessions then follow New Zealand. Not me.

Vital clue Australia is headed for an interest rate cut - not the hike a few noisy economists claim au.finance.yahoo.com/news/vital-clu…

The scorched earth brigade here in Australia will be horrified. They are demanding a recession.

So Labor governments that run surpluses create inflationary pressure and interest rate rises but Liberal governments that run deficits do not.

Showing your political colours after criticising Michelle Bullock as a Labor lackey 🙄🙄

There are some cranky folk out there tonight who got their analysis of inflation and the RBA reaction to it badly wrong. Badly.

This is a great example of a scorched earth economist not getting his wish for further interest rate increases then attacking the Reserve Bank of Australia as being politically biased.

This is a straight political attack on the integrity of the RBA Governor.

Expect more such attacks.

The scorched earth economists calling for 2-3 more interest rate rises will be upset but the Reserve Bank of Australia has made the right call in leaving the cash rate unchanged.

David Taylor What an elitist question: “Who wants to preside over that?” It’s not the ruling classes whose feelings are hurt if the Reserve Bank of Australia triggers a recession. It’s the vulnerable workers and small business owners who lose their livelihoods.

So why all the demands for further cash rate increases? (Not from you).

Yet many economists are demanding the Reserve Bank of Australia increase the cash rate to deal with “factors immune from monetary policy” 😳😳

To brighten up a rain-soaked Sydney day 😊