The insights are contained in the Budget Strategy Paper released this week. The annual research and estimates document is usually released in September and is a blueprint of the policies, numbers, and priorities underpinning the next budget.
This year, the paper is coming just weeks before the budget statement, due in early February, amidst reports that technocrats have been battling to crunch numbers, especially forecasts, as well as infuse the new administration’s policies into the budget development process.