Budget 2026: The fingers crossed budget episode artwork

EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 32 MIN

Budget 2026: The fingers crossed budget

from The New Zealand Initiative · host The New Zealand Initiative

In this episode, Oliver talks with Eric about Budget 2026, which brings the forecast surplus forward a year but rests on a series of lucky breaks, from oil prices falling to fiscal discipline surviving the election and coalition negotiations. They weigh what is driving spending well above 2019 levels, the case for superannuation reform, council incentives to go for growth, the shrinking public service, and why Treasury's tobacco and alcohol excise forecasts keep going wrong.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 28, 2026

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Budget 2026: The fingers crossed budget

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