Budget must signal change

It needs to move beyond headline GDP to prioritise job creation and alleviating rural distress

With the election done and dusted, it’s time to get back to the business of running the country. The Budget for FY24-25 presents the government with an opportunity to show how it has absorbed the messages sent by the electorate. It cannot be business as usual; it must be a Budget for change. People have signalled that they want a greater focus on employment and alleviating rural distress. While headline gross domestic product (GDP) growth is undoubtedly important, it is not enough — the nature and quality of that growth matter as well. It’s also a message