Budget 2026: Why this one matters

With the 2026 federal budget just two weeks away, Grattan Institute CEO Dr. Aruna Sathanapally joins Deputy Program Director of Energy and Climate Change Hamish McKenzie to unpack what could be one of the most consequential budgets in a generation. Against a backdrop of war, a global energy crisis, and rising inflation, the government faces a set of colliding imperatives: steady the ship or seize the moment for long-overdue reform. With a thumping majority and an opposition in disarray, the Albanese government has a window for change. But will it take it? Read Aruna's article in The Australian Financial Review here: https://grattan.edu.au/news/we-need-restraint-not-a-razor The Grattan Podcast is produced by the Grattan Institute, an independent think tank focused on Australian public policy. Subscribe for expert analysis on the issues shaping Australia's future.