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Australia's COVID-19 public budgeting response: the straitjacket of neoliberalism

Jane Andrew (The University of Sydney Business School, Sydney, Australia)
Max Baker (The University of Sydney Business School, Sydney, Australia)
James Guthrie (Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia)
Ann Martin-Sardesai (School of Business and Law, CQUniversity, Sydney, Australia)

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management

ISSN: 1096-3367

Article publication date: 20 August 2020

Issue publication date: 24 November 2020

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores how neoliberalism restrains the ability of governments to respond to crises through budgetary action. It examines the immediate budgetary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Australian government and explores how the conditions created by prior neoliberal policies have limited these responses.

Design/methodology/approach

A review and examination of the prior literature on public budgeting and new public management are provided. The idea of a “neoliberal straitjacket” is used to frame the current budgetary and economic situation in Australia.

Findings

The paper examines the chronology of Australia's budgetary responses to the economic and health crisis created by COVID-19. These responses have taken the form of tax breaks and a temporary payment scheme for individuals made unemployed by the pandemic.

Practical implications

The insights gained from this paper may help with future policy developments and promote future research on similar crises.

Originality/value

The analysis of Australia's policies in dealing with the pandemic may offer insights for other countries struggling to cope with the fiscal consequences of COVID-19.

Keywords

Citation

Andrew, J., Baker, M., Guthrie, J. and Martin-Sardesai, A. (2020), "Australia's COVID-19 public budgeting response: the straitjacket of neoliberalism", Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Vol. 32 No. 5, pp. 759-770. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-07-2020-0096

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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