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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott bested the Prime Minister for media coverage this week by a wide margin. Australia has more or less made up its mind that he will be in power come September.

The wonks, the flacks, the hacks and the headkickers — here are the people who are doing their damnedest to get Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott into the Lodge. The Power Index names the string-pullers.

The Coalition’s sudden enthusiasm for spending cuts is rather hypocritical — but a welcome embrace of fiscal responsibility. Both major parties are lifting their game, improving the dire standards in political debate.

Budget week in Canberra highlighted the economic constraints facing an Abbott government — and gave a hint that the Coalition may be Labor lite when it comes to future budgets. Crikey deputy editor Cathy Alexander talks with Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane.

Tony Abbott’s budget reply speech suggests that, despite a “budget emergency”, a Coalition government’s fiscal policy would be broadly similar to Labor’s. His rhetoric is austere, but his promises are not.

If you want to know a man’s political persuasion, ask him how much he can bench. Plus other political views along the way.

This year has demonstrated that the Opposition can produce policy without too much risk. The budget reply is an opportunity to continue that.

Income disparity is widening rapidly, particularly in Chile, Mexico, the US and Israel. Plus other political views noted along the way

The normal record of Treasury over the last 20 years was to underestimate likely revenue rather than overestimate it, Richard Farmer reminds us.

There’s nothing like parental leave. Go to a movie, play squash, wash the car — all these activities lie on the same plane. Put “be with your child” in it, you’ll see the difference.

No surprises to see Wayne Swan win the most media mentions in budget week. But Tony Abbott shaded the Prime Minister in the fight for attention.

Tony Abbott embraced the indie lit scene and announced his new e-book yesterday, writes Bethanie Blanchard. Does that mean the Liberals are drinking cheap wine as they wait for reviews?

Both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have improved their standing with voters, this week’s Essential Report reveals, but voters aren’t impressed with Abbott’s Paid Parental Leave scheme — especially Liberal voters.

Richard Farmer remembers the revolt Wayne Swan led against then treasurer John Dawkins, plus other political views noted along the way.

Julia Gillard probably can’t expect a late rally of support for the ALP before the election — but she can take heart that it’s not her fault

The Coalition has finally unveiled its IR policy, a minimalist document that is not without its concerns for trade unions — and anyone walking past a building site.

Forget the misplaced rhetoric, Tony Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme is more generous and sends the right message about women in work. This “hardline feminist” is happy to say so.

Tony Abbott is getting almost equal media time to the PM — as if he were now de facto prime minister.

NBN website nothing to do with Labor … MP Dennis Jensen stokes revolt on PPL … the days of five-hour work lunches on the company card are over …

Ernst & Young says in its latest Fraud Survey published this week that hard-pressed company bosses are under so much pressure to deliver on growth that many have resorted to cooking the books.