Paul Murray: State Budget surpluses haven’t been planned, they’re the result of a run of historic luck

Rita Saffioti, facing a challenging week due to significant cost overruns in government IT projects and concerns over the usability of Metronet railcars, is managing a budget that will increase the state’s debt from $28.3 billion to $42.5 billion by 2028-29, despite predicting cash surpluses. Critics highlight that her financial management, buoyed by inflated revenues from iron ore and a favorable GST deal, fails to control rising debt levels, emphasizing her reliance on luck rather than prudent fiscal strategies.