Heat on ‘off budget’ tool Labor used for NRF deals


Joseph Brookes
Senior Reporter

The Albanese government’s $15 billion industry fund should be independently assessed along with other so-called ‘off budget’ measures to ensure taxpayers can “genuinely” expect a return, the business lobby said as Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended the tactic.

Off budget spending occurs when government defines the spending as an investment instead of an expense. It still adds to gross debt but artificially improves the budget bottom line because the expenses are …

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