what is australias total debt?, page-19

Benson,

'But % of gdp finishes in 2008 and doesn't include state debt and imo most importantly forecast debt if previous govt policies maintained along with previous govt projects/spending promises all would add to debt in the future at a time when i feel our economy is well lets use that stupid term'in transition' to what i still have no idea all you hear is we must be clever.'

You have two charts, I expect that everybody is capable of reading both from a historical prospective of Federal Government debt and deficits. The thread is about the federal budget 'emergency' - not about the states.

As for the previous governments and current government spending promises and future commitments - it is quite simple - the Abbott government has decided to slash school, science, health, environment, etc and reallocate funds to their pet-projects paid maternity leave, small business tax cut and big business tax cut.

Abbott the so-called 'infrastructure PM' has actually cut infrastructure spending - example rail transport.