Richard Forgan is a partner in PwC's consulting practice. He was formerly Deputy Secretary, Budget & Public Services at the Treasury and the inaugural executive director of the National Infrastructure Unit. He answers five questions on Treasury's forecast announced today.
Can the Government's surplus be sustained?
The Treasury is forecasting a small operating deficit (c. $200m) in the year to June 2016, although the Minister of Finance himself was more optimistic about maintaining the surplus. Returning to significant surpluses will require the stronger growth now forecast for 2018/19 (above 3 per cent), but in principle, maintaining the surplus in the longer run should be entirely possible. The language is changing a bit - "broadly in balance" seems to be the new [Back-in-the-] Black.
Is there room for tax cuts prior to 2017 election?
The Minister of Finance has kept the $2.5 billion allowance for new spending in Budget 17 (and this is built into the forecasts). This will give him both a buffer against a downturn, and choices about tax cuts that year.