PolicyEconomyFederal budgetPrint articleOpinionChalmers’ budget blowouts echo Britney’s ‘Oops, I did it again’Our silly budget reporting rules allow a completely cooked policymaking disaster to show up as large budgetary savings made by our very responsible Treasurer.Chris RichardsonEconomistJan 22, 2026 – 5.00amCanberra, we have a problem: the public service is getting rapidly worse at forecasting the cost of government.Buried deep in the budget papers is the table where the feds update overall costs for their programs: everything from aged care through to defence.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleIntroducing your NewsfeedFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreFederal budgetOpinionSpendingGovernment debtAustralian economyCanberraBritney SpearsJim ChalmersMonetary policyPublic serviceLatest In EconomyFetching latest articlesMost Viewed In Policy
