The government has been signalling in the lead-up to budget night that it's looking at a much rosier revenue picture than previously predicted.
And it's true, the revenue forecast shows a significant increase in money coming into government coffers.
As with previous budgets, the government has executed a number of timing tricks to help it reach surplus as soon as possible. For example, the benefits from the black economy crackdown on chop-chop tobacco are largest in 2019-20.
These timing tricks allow the government to spend increased revenue from tax receipts, but at the same time get back into the black by next year.
Budget 2017-18 |
MYEFO 2017-18 |
Budget 2018-19* |