Australia news live: Chalmers says budget will pay down more debt; families of Bondi shooting victims to take stand at royal commission

Jim Chalmers says budget will be 'our most responsible yet' The government is boasting of making bigger than usual savings in next week’s budget, with Jim Chalmers saying his fourth budget will have “more restraint”. The treasurer said: double quotation mark Responsible economic management has been a hallmark of this Albanese Government and the May Budget will be our most responsible yet. It’s understood next Tuesday’s budget will include a bigger than usual gross saving, and represent the second consecutive budget where the government says it has saved more than it has spent. Any upward revisions to revenue will also be banked, in an effort to pay down debt and improve the budget bottom line. “There will be more savings and more spending restraint helping to pay down more of the trillion dollars of debt that the Liberals left behind,” Chalmers said. He added: double quotation mark We’re getting the budget in better nick because that helps to fund the things that Australians need and deserve like Medicare, aged care and cost-of-living relief. In this Budget you’ll see more responsible economic management and more restraint from the Albanese Government. Amidst concern about inflation, and the effect of government spending on it, Labor says it is seeking to keep real spending growth in check. …