This diverse group of panel members from academia, public policy and the media offer their thoughts on the 2016 budget, particularly in the context of what needs to be done both to prepare Australia to deal with the current domestic and global environments and for the medium term future.Convened byMr Steve Sedgwick AODeputy Chair, Sir Roland Wilson Foundation, Former Australian Public Service CommissionerSpeakersMs Michelle Grattan AO Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation & Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraMs Jan Harris Board member, Bendigo Bank & former Deputy Secretary to the TreasuryDr John Hewson AMFormer leader of the Opposition & Chair, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National UniversityDr Mike Keating ACFormer Secretary of the Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and FinanceProf Warwick McKibbin AO Chair, ANU Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National UniversityProf Miranda Stewart Director of the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University