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The Caucus Dining Room

Jim Chalmers enters the 'Caucus Dining Room' holding one cup on a plate labelled 'Budget '23'. 10 people at different tables wait to be served.

Days before the delivery of the 2023–24 Budget, Alan Moir mused on the difficult task facing Treasurer Jim Chalmers as he struggled to meet the expectations of Labor’s full house of political factions. Less than two weeks out from Budget day, the Labor caucus was still discussing raising the Jobseeker allowance.