Grim readings from the Treasury's half year economic and fiscal update.

The government's books will stay in the red until at least 2029, a year later than previously predicted. Although the government says it will aim to return to surplus a year earlier. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is blaming the opposition for the bad result, saying in the past five years Labour added more than $100 billion to our debt.

Labour's Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds has pushed back.

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