Seeing the Budget in a larger context

CDC vouchers vs tackling food prices

“This Budget has something for everyone"

Becoming parents or not is a complex decision.

With rising spending, what's the plan ahead?

Is this an Election Budget?

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

On Feb 18, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the Budget 2025 that has been called a “Budget for all Singaporeans”.

Among the goodies were SG60 vouchers, CDC vouchers, and grants for parents who choose to grow their family beyond two children. Businesses and workers also received support in the form of credits, allowances and tax rebates, among other things.

In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha sits down with three guests to dissect Budget 2025 - what it delivered on, what it means for Singaporeans, and what comes next.

Her guests are:

1. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah

2. Singapore University of Social Science Associate Professor and labour economist Walter Theseira

3. Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief policy officer Musa Fazal

Joining Natasha as a co-host is Claire Huang, senior business correspondent at The Straits Times.

Were you expecting something for everyone, or did you feel more could be done? Listen to this episode and connect with Natasha after.

Highlights (click/tap above):

9:20 We should see the Budget in a larger context, says Ms Indranee

18:34 Why give out CDC vouchers instead of tackling food prices?

43:30 “This Budget has something for everyone. You just need to know where to find it.”: Ms Indranee

50:41 The matter of becoming parents - or not - is a complex one, says Ms Indranee

56:31 With spending expected to rise, what’s the plan for Singapore going forward?

1:05:46 Is this an Election Budget?

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Filmed by: Studio+65

Follow The Usual Place Podcast on Thursdays and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

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ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#tup #tuptr

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. On Feb 18, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the Budget 2025 that has been called a &ldquo;Budget for all Singaporeans&rdquo;. Among the goodies were SG60 vouchers, CDC vouchers, and grants for parents who choose to grow their family beyond two children. Businesses and workers also received support in the form of credits, allowances and tax rebates, among other things. In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha sits down with three guests to dissect Budget 2025 - what it delivered on, what it means for Singaporeans, and what comes next. Her guests are:
1. Minister in the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah
2. Singapore University of Social Science Associate Professor and labour economist Walter Theseira
3. Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief policy officer Musa Fazal
Joining Natasha as a co-host is Claire Huang, senior business correspondent at The Straits Times.
Were you expecting something for everyone, or did you feel more could be done? Listen to this episode and connect with Natasha after.
Highlights (click/tap above):
9:20 We should see the Budget in a larger context, says Ms Indranee
18:34 Why give out CDC vouchers instead of tackling food prices?
43:30 &ldquo;This Budget has something for everyone. You just need to know where to find it.&rdquo;: Ms Indranee
50:41 The matter of becoming parents - or not - is a complex one, says Ms Indranee
56:31 With spending expected to rise, what&rsquo;s the plan for Singapore going forward?
1:05:46 Is this an Election Budget?
Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: <a href="https://str.sg/8Wav">https://str.sg/8Wav</a>
Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/v6DN">https://str.sg/v6DN</a> Read Natasha's articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iSXm">https://str.sg/iSXm</a>
Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Filmed by: Studio+65
Follow The Usual Place Podcast on Thursdays and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/5nfm" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/5nfm&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3iptWDheZTbc6UWH19K9Ik">https://str.sg/5nfm</a>
Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/9ijX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/9ijX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1FaPmmc8vEyCxKmRadKVZo">https://str.sg/9ijX</a>
Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/cd2P" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/cd2P&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2w3xb6c1ejhhdXDpghQkBE">https://str.sg/cd2P</a>
YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/wEr7u" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wEr7u&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mQ12S80ZFi9MtpS0oP5Kz">https://str.sg/wEr7u</a>
Feedback to:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
ST Podcasts website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
ST Podcasts YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/icyB&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Z9ol0eeLYDBOp1ky8QJVI">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/icyX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1t-PEBbVM8Grjm7dumueld">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
#tup #tuptr

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producer: Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

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