If the government gets the Budget wrong it will ‘utterly disrupt’ Labor’s economic narrative

Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy says the upcoming Budget needs to convey a "general positive message", as it plays an important role in shaping the party’s economic narrative for the next election. The Treasurer Jim Chalmers' third federal Budget will be a critical moment for the Albanese government as it will set the narrative for the expected 2025 federal election. “This is an important budget, which is why it will be a surplus budget," Mr Conroy said. “The government’s fiscal position is consistent, we’ve got surpluses, and that’s what we need to see. “If the government gets it wrong in a week’s time, it will utterly disrupt its ability to sell its economic narrative going forward into the next election.”