Cost of living, Stage 3 income tax cuts, student debt relief, and net zero are just some of the main topics expected to be covered in the 2024 Federal Budget.
The University of Queensland has experts available for comment across a range of topics including housing, education, HECS indexation, tax, cost of living, energy transition, superannuation and entrenched disadvantage.
These researchers have also outlined their expectations and key considerations for the Federal Government ahead of the Budget.
Economy
Professor Flavio Menezes, Australian Institute of Business and Economics, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.
Expertise: Professor Menezes can speak about economic policy, HECS indexation and student debt, energy transition, cost of living, defence, water, gambling, natural resources, energy bills, smart cities, banking, health, transport, and telecommunications.
“The key challenge of this budget lies in striking a balance between fiscal responsibility, avoiding a resurgence of inflationary pressures, and addressing various spending demands arising from the imperative to accelerate the energy transition, confront geopolitical priorities, and foster a more equitable society.”
Contact: f.menezes@uq.edu.au, +61 7 344 31279, +61 417 494 426.
Professor John Quiggin, School of Economics, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Expertise: Professor Quiggin can speak about a broad range of Budget-related topics, including Stage 3 tax cuts, cost of living, unemployment benefits, HECS indexation, and the long-term implications for the budget.
“In what may be the last budget in this Parliamentary term, the government has the chance to address vital social needs, including an increase in unemployment benefits and a more equitable fee structure for university students. The government should not be deterred by overstated concerns about inflation”
Contact: j.quiggin@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 9646, +61 400 747165.
Housing
Professor Shaun Bond, UQ Business School, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Expertise: Professor Bond can discuss the economics of housing, the real estate market, as well as volatility in financial markets. He can also comment on regional resilience, including real estate markets and natural disasters.
“I will be looking for measures to help address the housing affordability crisis. A key driver of the current situation is chronic housing supply challenges, particularly around labour shortages and the high cost of construction. Additional spending to help develop skills for this sector is critical but it will not be a quick fix. The government has already made major announcements around the Housing Accord and the boost to the affordable housing sector. There could be additional measures designed to stimulate the build to rent sector. I would particularly like to see measures designed to help address supply shortages in regional areas.”
Contact: s.bond@business.uq.edu.au, +61 7 3343 1240, +61 422 072 895.
Superannuation
Dr Natalie Peng, UQ Business School, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Expertise: Dr Peng can comment on superannuation topics, including the gender pay gap, mandated payment of super with the Commonwealth parental leave pay, increasing the low-income superannuation tax offset, improving workforce participation among women, and super guarantee for workers under the age of 18.
“The forthcoming Federal Budget presents an ideal opportunity to improve the fairness and equity of our superannuation system, to ensure the superannuation benefits are enjoyed as many people as possible – especially women, First Nations Australians and lower income earners.”
Contact: x.peng@business.uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 8061, +61 433 570 666.
Small business and innovation
Professor Martie-Louise Verreynne, Associate Dean (Research) Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Expertise: Professor Verreynne is an expert in small business management and policy, as well as innovation policy and research translation.
“Small businesses are finding it a balancing act to keep afloat, with the ABS reporting more closures and startups in sectors such as retail, food and accommodation, and many more businesses teetering on the edge of closure after temporary insolvency initiatives introduced during COVID-19 now gone. Yet, expectations are low there will be relief beyond energy bills for these businesses as the government balances incentivising them without stimulating inflation further.”
Contact: m.verreynne@business.uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 3320, +61 439 531 199.
Foreign policy
Professor Matt McDonald, School of Political Science and International Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Expertise: Professor McDonald can speak about foreign and security policy, and climate change policy.
“The massive spending increase on defence the government has committed to in this budget represents an historical break from past Labor governments and might attract criticism given the cost of living crisis facing Australians.”
Contact: matt.mcdonald@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 3042, +61 451 302 030.
Disadvantage
Professor Tim Reddel, Institute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Expertise: Professor Reddel leads the Social Solutions Research Group at UQ and can speak about public policy in general, disadvantage, and housing in south-east Queensland.
“Targeting entrenched disadvantage was an important focus of the last Federal Budget, particularly around more place-based solutions. It will be important this foundation is built on and sustained.”
Contact: tim.reddel@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 7801, +61 407 743 038.
Education
Associate Professor Ian Hardy, School of Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Expertise: Associate Professor Hardy can speak about educational policy and politics in relation to schooling and Higher Education. He is undertaking research on data in schooling systems in national and international settings, and can speak about teachers’ use of data and the role and use of national testing and international assessments.
“It is pleasing to see the increased attention the Federal Government has been giving to higher education policy in recent times. It will be particularly important to see what sorts of equity measures are supported within the Budget, building upon aspirations to substantially increase the proportion of students engaging in vocational and Higher Education from under-represented groups in coming decades. This includes support to build aspiration within the schooling system and the need for greater articulation between schools and tertiary education provision.”
Contact: ian.hardy@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 6425, +61 408 359 222.
First Nations Health
Associate Professor Yaqoot Fatima, UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
Expertise: Associate Professor Fatima can speak about indigenous health related issues, particularly in rural areas. She can also speak generally about regional and rural health, and particularly the sleep health of First Nations peoples.
“Sleep health service accessibility challenges in rural, remote and First Nations communities pose significant implications for the effective prevention and management of mental health and cardio-metabolic issues. Funding to support local models of care and investment in community sleep health workforce is critical to reducing the impact of poor sleep on health, well-being, safety, and productivity.”
Contact: fatima.yaqoot@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3443 6385, +61 457 024 222.
Health
Professor Brenda Gannon, School of Economics, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Expertise: Professor Gannon specialises in health and ageing economics and economic evaluation of health care systems and policies. She can also discuss health/ageing issues and health policies including Medicare, PBS, GP bulk billing, alcohol and other diseases, the care economy across the lifespan, including children and older people. Professor Gannon is also an expert in policy evaluation in sports investment, including recent analysis for Netball Queensland.
“The care and support economy is gaining momentum, and it is important not to lose sight of that now and into the future – in turn this should also help workforce shortages, labour productivity and overall growth in the economy. While increases in wages are available now for aged care workers, quality of care also needs attention in the form of inclusion of adequate training for all care workers. Care for children warrants similar investment. Similarly, the health budgets are under increasing pressure and require constant review to ascertain appropriate trade-offs within the system.”
Contact: brenda.gannon@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 1103, +61 416 414 984.
Dr Sabrina Lenzen, Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Expertise: Dr Lenzen can speak about informal and formal care/aged care, dementia and ageing.
Contact: s.lenzen@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3443 1320, +61 431 273 840.
Environment
Professor Ian MacKenzie, School of Economics, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Expertise: Professor MacKenzie can speak about the economics of climate change, environmental policy (including hydrogen), mining, recycling and pollution regulation.
Contact: i.mackenzie@uq.edu.au, +61 7 336 56619, +61 402 747 204.
Media contact
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