Seen Malcolm Turnbull’s new ad on debt? Bernard Keane reports.
Budget 09
Political snippets: Drawing political wisdom from the ages
Richard Farmer muses on Chinese poetry, budget deficits and the Daily Tele whistling a familiar tune.
The rich who will get richer, thanks to the Budget
Despite the rhetoric, Budget 09 wasn’t all bad news for the rich — in fact, a number of our richest entrepreneurs stand to profit.
Crikey Says: Things are brighter than the Government would have us believe
Rudd feels it necessary to ramp up the rhetoric of grim times and tough policy responses — but the reality is far brighter.
Budget causes Rudd honeymoon to end… according to Fairfax
Nielsen never actually demonstrated the political change that Fairfax had projected onto it — it was just poor analysis.
Costello to Turnbull: ner ner nee ner ner
Peter Costello is now scarcely even trying to hide his undermining of Malcolm Turnbull.
Mungo MacCallum: Turnbull manages a budget week without silliness
Turnbull did pretty well in budget week … the only one of his colleagues who bagged him was Bronwyn Bishop.
Good policies, broken promises
The government’s decision to start means testing the private health insurance rebate is long overdue, but it is clearly a broken election promise. The private health insurance rebate is bad public policy, but it is popular, writes Andrew Bartlett.
It’s not the size of the deficit, but what you do with it
There’s nothing wrong with running a deficit in these economic times, says Kenneth Davidson — trying to diminish it would be a greater burden on the country.
Business Spectator interrogates Lindsay Tanner
Business Spectator’s Alan Kohler, Robert Gottliebsen and Stephen Bartholomeusz probe Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner.
Turnbull’s reply: solid but not PM material
In the Opposition Leader’s Budget reply, there were no compelling ideas or bold initiatives; not even a circuit-breaking gimmick like Brendan Nelson’s petrol excise move.
Political snippets: Wayne Swan the punter’s friend
Mellon Capital Management Corp in San Francisco was placing bets that the Wayne Swan budget will work.
Crossing the Floor with Bernard Keane: Bernard’s budget reply
Bernard Keane discusses Malcolm Turnbull’s Budget Reply speech.
Harvey: Turnbull wants you to pay more for fags
Opposing Rudd’s cuts to private halth insurance in favour of a tax hike on cigs may be the biggest gamble of Malcolm Turnbull’s political life, writes Michael Harvey.
Returning to surplus within six years is hopelessly optimistic
Rudd will not be able to honour his pledge to keep the budget in surplus over the next cycle, says Rowen Cross — and he has the figures to prove it.
What would Menzies do?
Malcolm Turnbull offered a feisty response to a lacklustre budget, says The Australian.
Coorey: Costello steals Turnbull’s thunder
Malcolm Turnbull’s moment in the sun yesterday was overcast by the looming shadow of Peter Costello, reports Phillip Coorey.
Hartcher: The small target strategy
Turbbull may have called Rudd a “weak Prime Minister” in his speech last night, writes Paul Hartcher, but clearly not so weak that Turnbull is willing to tackle him head-on.
Farr: Calling the Medicare bluff
Turnbull has called the government’s early election bluff by opposing cuts to private health insurance rebates and vowing to save $2 billion, writes Malcolm Farr.
Taylor: Dr No strikes again
Malcolm Turnbull has taken a big focussing mostly on cuts to private health insurance rebates, says Lenore Taylor.
‘$9,000 for every man, woman and child’
Debt was the focus when Malcolm Turnbull delivered his budget reply speech.
Sex scandal takes focus off Budget
The NRL group sex scandal has forced Kevin Rudd to discuss the incident rather than promote nation building, writes Christian Kerr.
Time for Turnbull to rescue his party
Malcolm Turnbull needs to give a stirring performance tonight in his Budget Reply.
Koukoulas: don’t mess with Treasury forecasts
It’s a mug’s game to quibble with the Treasury forecasts that underpin the Budget revenue and outlays estimates.
