International ratings agency, Fitch Ratings has pointed to a slowing economy and raising unemployment as among the challenges confronting the re-election Liberal/National Party Coalition Government.
“We forecast the Federal government to reach an underlying cash surplus by next fiscal year. But a challenging economic environment poses risks to this outlook,” the company said in a post-election analysis. “The economy is slowing and the unemployment rate has inched up, which could weigh on fiscal revenues. A sharper economic slowdown could also lead to pressures for greater fiscal stimulus.”
“The likely continued need for cross-bench support in the Senate could limit the government’s ability to advance some of its policy priorities. This poses additional risks to the budget outlook and the government’s ability to tackle medium-term economic reforms,” the Fitch Ratings analysis said.
However, it said that it expected the re-election would bring broad party policy continuity in line with the fiscal priorities announced in the Government’s pre-election budget.
Jim Chalmers has defended changes to the Future Fund’s mandate, referring to himself as a “big supporter” of the sovereign wealth fund, amid fierce opposition from the Coalition, which has pledged to reverse any changes if it wins next year’s election.
In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges.
Chant West analysis suggests super could be well placed to deliver a double-digit result by the end of the calendar year.
Specific valuation decisions made by the $88 billion fund at the beginning of the pandemic were “not adequate for the deteriorating market conditions”, according to the prudential regulator.