Labor accused of playing ‘footsies’ with Australia’s major challenges if it pursues risk-averse budget

Bold is what we need' from budget to lift people out of poverty and address cost of living, Grattan Institute's Danielle Wood says

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The Albanese government risks playing footsies with the big social and fiscal challenges" if it pushes ahead with a cautious" budget plan over a bolder route which would lift people out of poverty and increase productivity, a leading economist believes.

The Grattan Institute chief executive, Danielle Wood, in an address to the National Press Club said all indications pointed to the government taking the less ambitious route in addressing issues within the budget and wider economy, adopting only the lower-cost proposals put forward to ease cost-of-living pressures and poverty.

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