Does the budget give the treasurer power over other ministers? Shouldn't each minister choose how much money they need instead?

Thanks for your question, Edward.

The Treasurer delivers the Budget – the Australian Government's annual statement of how it plans to collect and spend money. However, the Budget is a collective decision of the Cabinet – the Prime Minister and other senior ministers – which is the main decision-making group in the government.

Ministers prepare submissions or requests for funding to run their departments, but it is the Cabinet that sets the amount to be allocated.