Amid a backdrop of higher interest rates, spiralling living costs and global instability, the Federal Government’s 2023-24 Budget is expected to focus on key areas such as cost-of-living relief, personal and business tax, aged care, superannuation, defence, cyber security and climate change.

University of the Sunshine Coast academics are available pre and post budget to offer insights on its impacts and implications for families, business, the economy, environment and global relations.

Cost-of-Living Relief – Senior Lecturer in Finance and Economics Dr Hammad Siddiqi
hsiddiqu@usc.edu.au / +61 7 5459 4538
With many Australians struggling to afford the basics, Treasurer Jim Chambers is promising cost-of-living relief in the budget. Just what impact will these measures have and who will benefit the most?

Aged Care - Lecturing in Nursing Dr Apil Gurung
 agurung@usc.edu.au / +61 7 5430 2936
The Federal Government will commit a record $11.3billion in the budget to fund a 15 percent pay rise for aged care workers. Dr Gurung, who has lived experience of working as a care worker and RN in aged care, and a research focus on key issues faced by aged care nurses, can discuss how far the pay rise will go towards solving critical staff shortages and the challenges ahead in attracting and retaining staff.

Defence, Space and Cyber Security – Lecturer in Cyber Security Dr Dennis Desmond
ddesmond@usc.edu.au 
New spending on space initiatives, defence and cyber security is set to be a feature of the budget. What are the opportunities for our cyber infrastructure and capabilities and how will this funding help mitigate global threats and make our data safer?
 
Defence and International Relations - Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations Dr Shannon Brincat
sbrincat@usc.edu.au / +61 7 5430 1193
With global instability presenting many challenges, defence spending is likely to play a larger role than previous years in the budget. What are the implications for our national security and our global relations?

Environment and Climate Change – Professor of Global Change Ecology David Schoeman
dschoema@usc.edu.au / +61 7 5456 5956
A focus of the budget is expected to be climate change and the environment, with measures to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. How far will these commitments go towards addressing the challenges of a changing climate?