Federal budget to measure 'what matters'

Dr Chalmers is planning to include a similar statement to New Zealand's "wellbeing budget" in the Albanese government's first economic blueprint to be delivered on October 25.

The NZ model, which Dr Chalmers discussed with his Kiwi counterpart Grant Robertson in Sydney on Friday, goes beyond gross domestic product to look at four "capitals" - human, natural, social and financial/physical - as well as 12 "domains" of wellbeing, such as housing and social connections.

Dr Chalmers told the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum it was important to ensure economic growth was "broad and inclusive".

"At a time of record debt and budget pressures and cost-of-living pressures, value for money is essential and we judge it by what it means for the right kind of growth, including sustainable incomes growth," he said.

"But we should also judge our policies, including our economic policies, against agreed markers of progress.

"That begins with measuring what matters, not instead of traditional economic indicators but in addition to."

Dr Chalmers said Mr Robertson's approach had "significantly reshaped the conversation in New Zealand about the budget and the economy".

"I want Australia to have a similar conversation about how we can better improve policy design, evaluation and priority setting,'' he said.

"I've asked Treasury to make measuring what matters, and an Australian approach to wellbeing, a focus of the budget in October."

A statement in the budget papers will be dedicated to what Dr Chalmers described as a "broad-ranging discussion" of options drawing on world's best practice. Ministers will be asked for their input.

Former World Bank chief economist and Nobel laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz said this week Dr Chalmers should ensure taxpayers' money is "used to improve the wellbeing of the people of Australia".

"That's what money is about. That's what the economy is about. The economy is supposed to serve the people, not the people the economy. We sometimes get that confused," he told the ABC.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the best way to improve wellbeing was to strengthen the economy, contain inflation and help struggling families make ends meet.

"The government went to the election proposing to increase the deficit and increase government borrowing with $18.3 billion in new spending, $45 billion of mysterious off-budget funds and a $302 billion spending wish-list for the next decade," he said.

"Unnecessary spending will result in government competing with households and businesses to borrow money and that means interest rates will be pushed up."

Meanwhile, the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum discussed a raft of ideas to boost business investment and engagement.

These included establishing a "digital economy agreement" as part of the two countries' trade agreement, pursuing closer Indigenous business collaboration and implementing a joint trans-Tasman visa by mid-2023 to encourage travellers to visit Australia and New Zealand on a single trip.

The idea of a joint digital health strategy was also raised.

Australia and New Zealand will mark 40 years of the trade agreement and 80 years of diplomatic missions next year.

Australian Associated Press