The federal budget is headed for a small $1.1 billion deficit this financial year, according to the update released by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher on Wednesday morning.
This is an improvement of $12.8 billion compared to the deficit forecast in the May budget.
It suggests the final figure for the financial year might end up a surplus. If so, that would be the second year the Albanese government delivered a surplus.
Anxious to continue the fight against inflation, the government has not used the update to provide any cost-of-living relief or make new announcements. It has concentrated on improving the budget bottom line.
It has returned 92% of the upward revisions in revenue since the budget to the bottom line.
The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) shows deficits across all four years of the forward estimates. But over these years, the forecast underlying cash balance improves by a cumulative $39.5 billion compared to what was projected in the May budget.
Total receipts are projected to be $67.3 billion higher than the budget forecast. A strong labour market and high commodity prices have contributed to the improved revenue.
A further $9.8 billion has been identified in savings and reprioritisations since the budget. This has brought the total to nearly $50 billion since the election. A large part of the current savings comes from cuts and delays in the infrastructure program.
Net new spending since the budget is $650 million in 2023-24.
Chalmers and Gallagher said in a statement that in face of high but moderating inflation, high interest rates and global uncertainty the Australian economy was slowing.
“Growth is forecast to moderate in the near-term as these pressures weigh on domestic activity.” they said.
The economy is expected to grow by 1.75% in 2023-24 before regaining momentum in 2024-25, when improved real incomes are expected to support a recovery in household consumption.
While global oil prices have put upward pressure on inflation in the near-term, Treasury has not changed its forecast timetable for inflation’s return to the 2-3% target band.
The ministers said: “We know many Australians are doing it very tough, but welcome and encouraging progress is being made […] in the fight against inflation and in the economy more broadly”.
Unemployment, which was 3.7% in October, is forecast to rise to 4.25% by the end of this financial year. The unemployment forecast hasn’t changed since the budget.
Gross debt as a share of GDP is expected to peak at 35.4% of GDP in 2027-28, then decline to 32.1% by the end of the medium term.