Treasurer Jim Chalmers could balance national budget in nine years

New modelling suggests the government could return the nation's budget to balance in nine years. PwC Australia's modelling recommends cutting spending by $50 billion over the next decade and reining in the ballooning costs of the NDIS, defence, and aged care portfolios. If Treasurer Jim Chalmers implements a long-term budget repair strategy, debt could be reduced to nearly zero by 2045. Dr Chalmers will release his second budget on May 9.