Does the Albanese authorities even have any spine in relation to spending self-discipline? It has flagged spending cuts on this week’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook doc to offset a surge in what it deems “mandatory spending”, reminiscent of much-needed further expenditure for Australia’s veterans after the Coalition nickel-and-dimed our ex-ADF members for years.
But in different areas, it appears the federal government is solely hooked on handouts to multinationals — and its take care of Rio Tinto final week on the way forward for the costly and enormously energy-hungry Tomago aluminium smelter within the Hunter Valley in NSW will reward an odd assortment of bedfellows.
