Federal budget


Revealed: The high cost of the CPRS

Yesterday’s MYEFO figures reveal in clear terms just what a policy disaster the current version of the CPRS is. It also gives the lie to the absurd line from ETS opponents that the CPRS is a giant tax.

Hockey’s economic bombast will hurt him

Joe Hockey yesterday committed a Coalition Government to slashing spending by more than $40 billion. Then he tweeted through Question Time, before insulting several world leaders.

Share scheme backdown a victory for common sense

Contrary to Crikey’s contentions, the original announcement was flawed and destined to fail: it was manifestly unfair and didn’t target actual concerns, writes Andrew Carter.

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.

How to kill five hours at Parliament House

There’s nothing quite like watching senators discuss Serious Government Business while licking the ice-cream drips off a white chocolate Magnum. Crikey’s intrepid writer writes from the House.

Crikey Says: So where does the end of Budget week leave us?

So far the Government’s stimulus strategy seems to be working. But at some point Kevin Rudd will run out of excuses to spend.

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Reflections on the Budget and Matthew Johns

Budget 09, Matthew Johns, journalist shield laws and house foreclosures — is the nothing Crikey readers won’t chat about?

Political snippets: Budget? What Budget? What Australians actually read

Labor’s third party endorsement hypocrisy, Budget passes Australians by and remembering other temporary federal government decisions.

Talkback wrap: the nation digests Budget 09

Caller Michael says the word politics comes from two Greek words meaning “many parasites,” and Caller Nev says that he’ll put his faith in his “old Labrador bitches because they’re the only true believers left.”

Image wrap: Swan’s Budget has character. Apparently

For the nation’s newspaper editors, one of the most pressing items on the list of Federal Budget coverage considerations is the front page image…

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Budget 09, created like no other chocolate

Crikey’s readers weigh in on Budget 09. And more about Cadbury’s chocolate block changes.

Budget 09 leaks: a Crikey list

This year, with a GFC-affected Budget, leaks are being used to help people — especially higher income earners — adjust to the idea that it won’t just be bonuses and handouts.

Canberra Calling: Props to the Press Club for the Pinot Noir… pity about Malcolm’s performance.

Who cares about the budget, how bad was Malcolm Turnbull today?

One morning in Canberra…

Budget 2009 here we come!

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Mark Latham … the Budget … G20 … Therese Rein …

CRIKEY: In yesterday’s Crikey Mark Alridge was incorrectly attributed the byline of ‘South Australian Independent Legislative Councillor’ but he is not currently a member of parliament. The mistake was made in the subbing process.
Mark Latham:
Niall Clugston writes: Re. Yesterday’s editorial. What is it about Mark Latham that he brings out all this compulsive psychobabble? Where is […]

The ugliest Budget in decades way behind schedule

The Budget process is significantly behind schedule, according to sources in the Canberra bureaucracy, delayed by the continuing collapse in revenue projections and the need to find all possible savings, writes Bernard Keane.

It’s time to use Indigenous health resources better

When services are not designed with the needs of Indigenous people in mind, they are less likely to be effective in engaging with them, writes Dr Tamara Mackean.

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups

Liberal leadership anagrams … “mean” testing … Ministerial demands not unreasonable … The Age and St Kilda …

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Economy

Turnbull gave an excellent performance yesterday. Turnbull’s ego, however, remains at large, unstoppable and, probably, untameable, writes Bernard Keane.

The Media Monitors’ Top 20

In the week immediately following the Rudd Government’s first Budget, there was lots of coverage for Rudd, Swan, Nelson and… Wheatley, writes Patrick Baume.

The $25 billion debt expansion and tax cut that wasn’t in the budget

Yesterday we discovered the Rudd government’s media manipulation extended to actually delaying important debt and tax announcements until after the budget, writes Stephen Mayne

Crikey Says: Crikey Says

It’s hard to imagine that depriving old people of money will be anything but a plus for the Rudd government.

Comitatus: What do the budget polls really tell us?

The two things you can guarantee from any federal budget are whining special interest pleaders and, of course, polls - no budget is complete without a poll or three, writes Possum Comitatus.

Pensioners can’t see the Budget benefits for the myopia

It’s amusing (or sickening, for those with weak stomachs) to have pensioners stripping in protest, but this is a powerful lobby group that is, courtesy of our demographics, growing remorselessly, writes Bernard Keane.

Alcopops are one thing, but what about the Reserve Bank?

We’re been deluged with alcopops coverage, but why isn’t a completely irresponsible raid on the Reserve Bank being debated? asks Stephen Mayne.