Federal Budget 2012

Welcome to Treasurer Wayne Swan’s great balancing act – trying to deliver a Federal Budget surplus while trying to minimise the political pain of delivering cuts to programs, services, subsidies and tax concessions and, possibly, increased taxes.

For SMEs, it’s a crucial Budget. With the economy spluttering, cutbacks to business programs or assistance measures are going to be felt keenly, while changes to personal tax and super concessions also loom as a pain point.

SmartCompany editor James Thomson and deputy editor Cara Waters will travel to the Budget Lockup in Canberra on May 8 and present a special Budget email edition soon after Wayne Swan takes to the floor of Parliament to deliver his big set piece.

If you are not already registered for SmartCompany’s free daily newsletter and want to receive our special Budget 2012 edition, click here to sign up.

FEDERAL BUDGET 2012: Wayne Swan’s surplus by a thousand cuts

Calls for industrial relations overhaul as speculation mounts over Budget cuts and gains

Federal tax receipts down: A budget omen?

Budget surplus of $1.5 billion looks more like an $8 billion deficit

Why Wayne Swan SHOULD use smoke and mirrors to get the Budget back to surplus: Kohler

Experts warn Government on retrospective tax rules in Federal Budget after four changes in a year catch unwary taxpayers out

Swan’s budget heartbreak: Kohler

Swan stands by super increase, says budget is about ‘strong community’

Small business roundtable prompts call for $30 million small business tax break

Further declines in new home sales across Australia must weigh on Treasurer Wayne Swan

High income earners to be slugged an extra $3,500 each in super tax

Gillard compromised by compromise