View from The Hill: What the Reserve Bank thinks of Chalmers' budget will be nearly as important as the voters' opinion

Jim Chalmers has produced a benign third budget aimed at soothing hard-pressed voters agitated about their high cost of living and punishing interest rates.

At the same time he has walked a tightrope, trying to avoid the handouts making things worse rather than better.

Despite its appearance, this is unlikely to be the pre-election budget. With the poll due by next May, Anthony Albanese is still anticipat