Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Labor slams govt over savings error

Labor says the government's claims of more than $6 billion in budget savings from its omnibus bill is now actually less than $6 billion

Labor has slammed the government for a "computational error" that has taken promised savings from the omnibus budget repair bill below $6 billion.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said the government had been claiming for weeks this would produce more than $6 billion in savings.

But with the latest adjustment, that's now down to $5,996.6 million.

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Treasury acting secretary Michael Brennan said the financial impact table for the bill incorrectly stated that the measure relating to student start-up scholarships would save $405.6 million over the next four years.

The total across the forward estimates should be $298.1 million because of a changed start date, Mr Brennan said. He attributed that to a computational error.

Mr Bowen said Treasurer Scott Morrison had clearly misled the House of Representatives in claiming more than $6 billion in savings.

"If Labor found this error in two days, why couldn't he find it in two weeks? No wonder the budget is in such a mess," Mr Bowen said in a statement


1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world