Budget must signal change

With the election done and dusted, it’s time to get back to the business of running the country. The Budget for FY24-25 presents the government with an opportunity to show how it has absorbed the messages sent by the electorate. It cannot be business as usual; it must be a Budget for change. People have signalled that they want a greater focus on employment and alleviating rural distress. While headline gross domestic product (GDP) growth is undoubtedly important, it is not enough — the nature and quality of that growth matter as well. It’s also a message