Budget Transparency
This may be the least transparent budget ever. Budgets always have some items that are marked “nfp” – not for publication – because the item is either classified, still under negotiation or commercial in confidence.
Searching for “nfp” in Budget Paper No 2 (this is the budget paper that lists all the new programs), this Budget boasted a record 348 nfp mentions, edging out the 2017-18 Budget on 321:
The ‘nfp’ mentions this year and in 2017-18 are spread across a wide range of areas, whereas the 2012-13 Budget featured 72 mentions around one program still being negotiated with the NT Government. While many measures this year may relate to COVID-19 measures still under negotiation, the overall trend for items not for publication in the budget is increasing.