The federal budget is front page news right across this country this morning, and there's a bit of a theme emerging. In Sydney, the Daily Telegraph has called it Jim Pickings. The Herald's son in Melbourne has gone with Jim's coffee shot. Brisbane's Career mail simply vote for us and get five bucks. The Advertiser in Adelaide says, McHappy meal, Jim the Nightly just five bucks a week with an asterisk that says next time, next year, sometime, and in the West a Nirvana reference. Never mind. And Treasurer Jim Chalmers joins us live in camera on a busy morning, good morning to you, so barely enough for a coffee or about a McDonald's happy meal. How much impact do you think five dollars a week will have? Not get?

The federal budget is front page news right across this country this morning, and there's a bit of a theme emerging. In Sydney, the Daily Telegraph has called it Jim Pickings. The Herald's son in Melbourne has gone with Jim's coffee shot. Brisbane's Career mail simply vote for us and get five bucks. The Advertiser in Adelaide says, McHappy meal, Jim the Nightly just five bucks a week with an asterisk that says next time, next year, sometime, and in the West a Nirvana reference. Never mind. And Treasurer Jim Chalmers joins us live in camera on a busy morning, good morning to you, so barely enough for a coffee or about a McDonald's happy meal. How much impact do you think five dollars a week will have? Not get?

Well, it's more than that. There are two rounds of additional tax cuts, and together with the tax cuts which are flowing now, the average is about fifty dollars a week, ten dollars additional in last night's budget. Because we need to be responsible and we're providing this cost of living relief in a modest but meaningful way, the most responsible way that we can, and it's not the only cost of living relief in the budget. We're also strengthening medicare, making medicines cheaper, giving energy rebates, cutting student debt. There are a whole range of ways that we're helping people. Tax cuts are an important part of that.

Well, it's more than that. There are two rounds of additional tax cuts, and together with the tax cuts which are flowing now, the average is about fifty dollars a week, ten dollars additional in last night's budget. Because we need to be responsible and we're providing this cost of living relief in a modest but meaningful way, the most responsible way that we can, and it's not the only cost of living relief in the budget. We're also strengthening medicare, making medicines cheaper, giving energy rebates, cutting student debt. There are a whole range of ways that we're helping people. Tax cuts are an important part of that.

And a lot of people like this this morning chursuer. But if you earn one million dollars a year, you still get this, don't you. Why didn't you? Means test it.

And a lot of people like this this morning chursuer. But if you earn one million dollars a year, you still get this, don't you. Why didn't you? Means test it.

Well, because when you cut the bottom rate of the taxes of taxes, it flows through up and down the system, but proportionately it applies to people who need it the most. You know, the biggest proportionate impact is people on relatively modest incomes. Young people, are people entering the workforce for the first time. And that's deliberate.

Well, because when you cut the bottom rate of the taxes of taxes, it flows through up and down the system, but proportionately it applies to people who need it the most. You know, the biggest proportionate impact is people on relatively modest incomes. Young people, are people entering the workforce for the first time. And that's deliberate.

Yeah, but why didn't you cut it off? You could have cut it off at people who earn like half a million bucks, and then could you have put that money to something else?

Yeah, but why didn't you cut it off? You could have cut it off at people who earn like half a million bucks, and then could you have put that money to something else?

Because the only simple and effective way to do that would be to provide it in people's tax returns. That's the only way you can limit it up the tax scale. And so we wanted to make sure that this was a permanent, ongoing benefit. What we're doing here is topping up the tax cuts which are already flowing to every Australian taxpayer to provide that cost of living relief.

Because the only simple and effective way to do that would be to provide it in people's tax returns. That's the only way you can limit it up the tax scale. And so we wanted to make sure that this was a permanent, ongoing benefit. What we're doing here is topping up the tax cuts which are already flowing to every Australian taxpayer to provide that cost of living relief.

Okay, so it was more of a sort of technical ease, easy thing to do.

Okay, so it was more of a sort of technical ease, easy thing to do.

Well, it's how we top up a tax cut for every taxpayer. You would remember that you and I have spoken on a number of occasions that last year we implemented tax cuts which apply right up and down the income scale deliberately. And what we've done last night is top up these tax cuts in a modestate meaningful way, recognizing that there are a number of ways that we can help people with the cost of living. And that's what we're doing.

Well, it's how we top up a tax cut for every taxpayer. You would remember that you and I have spoken on a number of occasions that last year we implemented tax cuts which apply right up and down the income scale deliberately. And what we've done last night is top up these tax cuts in a modestate meaningful way, recognizing that there are a number of ways that we can help people with the cost of living. And that's what we're doing.

Okay. Moving on Australian energy prices, it remained some of the highest outside of Europe. People talk about in the last few years their energy bills going up about thirteen hundred dollars. The rebate is well receivedo, but it's just not keeping up, is it. What are you doing to try and bring those power prices down?

Okay. Moving on Australian energy prices, it remained some of the highest outside of Europe. People talk about in the last few years their energy bills going up about thirteen hundred dollars. The rebate is well receivedo, but it's just not keeping up, is it. What are you doing to try and bring those power prices down?

Well, forst of all, what we showed last year is by providing these energy rebates, we can take some of the sting out of these energy bills, which you're right to point out are impacting people right around the world. We do what we responsibly can. We've got to make sure that the cost of living relief is affordable. And it is, and that's why we're providing another six months of these energy rebates rather than twelve. It's why we've sequenced the tax cuts that we have because the budget is a responsible budget. It's all about helping people with the cost of living and strengthening medicare and building Australia's future, and it's delivered in the context of a pretty remarkable improvement in the budget in the economy over the last three years.

Well, forst of all, what we showed last year is by providing these energy rebates, we can take some of the sting out of these energy bills, which you're right to point out are impacting people right around the world. We do what we responsibly can. We've got to make sure that the cost of living relief is affordable. And it is, and that's why we're providing another six months of these energy rebates rather than twelve. It's why we've sequenced the tax cuts that we have because the budget is a responsible budget. It's all about helping people with the cost of living and strengthening medicare and building Australia's future, and it's delivered in the context of a pretty remarkable improvement in the budget in the economy over the last three years.

I noticed that taxes on cigarettes have collapsed. There's a big seventeen billion dollar hole. I think there's been reported this morning. Not because people aren't smoking, but because they're buying it legal cigarettes. But vapes, these cigarettes don't have the excise. Have you considered taxing them?

I noticed that taxes on cigarettes have collapsed. There's a big seventeen billion dollar hole. I think there's been reported this morning. Not because people aren't smoking, but because they're buying it legal cigarettes. But vapes, these cigarettes don't have the excise. Have you considered taxing them?

I know what we've done with vapes is to make it harder for kids to get their hands on them. We're really worried about kids using vaping as a gateway to taking up cigarettes. You're right to point out that there has been a hit to tobacco excise and that there are two reasons for that. More people giving up is a good thing. More people avoiding the excise is obviously a bad thing. So there's actually some new resources in the budget for compliance and enforcement. We do have an issue here when it comes to enforcement of this tax, and we're taking steps that we can to try and fix that.

I know what we've done with vapes is to make it harder for kids to get their hands on them. We're really worried about kids using vaping as a gateway to taking up cigarettes. You're right to point out that there has been a hit to tobacco excise and that there are two reasons for that. More people giving up is a good thing. More people avoiding the excise is obviously a bad thing. So there's actually some new resources in the budget for compliance and enforcement. We do have an issue here when it comes to enforcement of this tax, and we're taking steps that we can to try and fix that.

Do you reckon it's working trying to you know, make it harder for kids to get vapes.

Do you reckon it's working trying to you know, make it harder for kids to get vapes.

On the vaping side, yes, I'm confident about that. And when it comes to the exercise side of tobacco, we know that there's more work to do. That's why there's more resources to try and crack down on the people who are avoiding it.

On the vaping side, yes, I'm confident about that. And when it comes to the exercise side of tobacco, we know that there's more work to do. That's why there's more resources to try and crack down on the people who are avoiding it.

Okay, so look out the way election called what Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Okay, so look out the way election called what Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

That's for the Prime Minister to determine and to announce. My job is to hand down the budget and to talk with you about it this morning. The PM will determine the election timing. Obviously, he has already said there'll be an election in May, and that election will now be a pretty clear choice, you know, after Angus Taylor's brain explosion last night on tax cuts. The election will be a choice between labor, cutting taxes and helping with the cost of living versus Peter Dutton's secret cuts which will make people worse off. Peter Dutton wants to cut everything except people's taxes, and that means people will be worse off if he wins, and that will be a key issue in the election campaign itself.

That's for the Prime Minister to determine and to announce. My job is to hand down the budget and to talk with you about it this morning. The PM will determine the election timing. Obviously, he has already said there'll be an election in May, and that election will now be a pretty clear choice, you know, after Angus Taylor's brain explosion last night on tax cuts. The election will be a choice between labor, cutting taxes and helping with the cost of living versus Peter Dutton's secret cuts which will make people worse off. Peter Dutton wants to cut everything except people's taxes, and that means people will be worse off if he wins, and that will be a key issue in the election campaign itself.

Okay, Treasurer, we'll leave you to the big cell. Thank you very much for joining us this morning, appreciating that, and in our next half our Prime Minister Anthony Albanezi will join us live. Here'sh ever

Okay, Treasurer, we'll leave you to the big cell. Thank you very much for joining us this morning, appreciating that, and in our next half our Prime Minister Anthony Albanezi will join us live. Here'sh ever