How did Budget 2025 stack up? | The Usual Place podcast

The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

On Feb 18, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the Budget 2025 that has been called a “Budget for all Singaporeans”.

Among the goodies were SG60 vouchers, CDC vouchers, and grants for parents who choose to grow their family beyond two children. Businesses and workers also received support in the form of credits, allowances and tax rebates, among other things.

In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha sits down with three guests to dissect Budget 2025 - what it delivered on, what it means for Singaporeans, and what comes next.

Her guests are:
1. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah

2. Singapore University of Social Science Associate Professor and labour economist Walter Theseira

3. Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief policy officer Musa Fazal

Joining Natasha as a co-host is Claire Huang, senior business correspondent at The Straits Times.

Were you expecting something for everyone, or did you feel more could be done? Tell us in the comment section below.

0:00 Intro
2:21 What was Mr Musa and Prof Theseira’s take on Budget 2025
9:15 We should see the Budget in a larger context, says Ms Indranee
15:20 How far will these measures go towards alleviating cost of living pressures?
18:29 Why give out CDC vouchers instead of tackling food prices?
30:56 The Government’s upskilling push for those 40 and above
39:59 Workers may feel they don’t have the time for study time, says Prof Theseira
43:26 “This Budget has something for everyone. You just need to know where to find it.”
46:40 Will the Large Families Scheme be a game-changer?
50:37 The matter of becoming parents - or not - is a complex one, says Ms Indranee
53:45 Mr Musa: Flexible work arrangements must be balanced with business considerations
55:09 What is the special gift for SG60 babies?
56:26 With spending expected to rise, what’s the plan going forward?
1:05:41 Is this an Election Budget?

Host: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)
Read Natasha's articles: str.sg/iSXm
Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: str.sg/8Wav
Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh
Executive producers: Ernest Luis

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