Selected Budget Commentary, Articles and Interviews

Selected Budget Commentary, Articles
and Interviews

ABC Federal Budget Coverage - including in-depth coverage from the 7.30 Report, PM and Lateline

Costello delivers his biggest give-away (7.30 Report) - Kerry O'Brien's summary of the Budget and panel discussion with Ross Gittens, Emma Alberici and Michael Brissenden

Costello says cuts a fair return to taxpayers (7.30 Report) - Kerry O'Brien interviews Federal Treasure Peter Costello

Labor opposes Costello's tax cuts (7.30 Report) - Kerry O'Brien interviews LAbor's Shadow Treasurer, Wayne Swan

Trio give Budget reaction (Lateline) - Tony Jones gets the Budget reaction from Heather Ridout of the Australian Industry Group, Andrew McCallum of the Australian Council of Social Service and Michelle Grattan of The Age newspaper.

Tax cuts and a super time for all (The Age) - Editorial says there is no doubting Mr Costello's fiscal credentials - he has delivered surplus budgets for eight of the past 10 years, fuelled in latter years by the GST and companies waxing fat on a buoyant economy. Inflation is in check, jobs growth consistently strong and government debt has been slashed. In the short term, most ordinary Australians stand to benefit from this budget. Mr Costello can take most of the credit for that.

Treasurer budgets with future in mind (The Age) - Michael Gordon argues if we had not just been to the polls, you could have been excused for thinking an election was in the offing. But then again, maybe one is. Not a general election, but one for Coalition MPs to decide the prime ministership.

Not the budget we needed to have (The Age) - Tim Colebatch says it is not the budget Australia needs if it is to become a country that earns its way in the world, rather than spending the savings of others. But that is not on the Government's agenda.

High-risk tax cuts sweeten lost opportunity (SMH) - Editorial says for causes rooted deeper in politics and personal ambition than in sound economic timing, and certainly more than in the usual electoral cycle imperatives, the Treasurer has delivered to voters a pitch for their endorsements, hoping to overtake John Howard as prime minister.

Mr Incredible, or just a lack of credibility (SMH) - Ross Gittens argues this budget will go down well enough - but that's because budgets that put popularity ahead of responsibility always do. Until the wheels fall off. Then it's all tears and recriminations.

A budget that brings home the bacon (The Australian) - Editorial says apart from his first, which required big spending cuts to drag back a $10.3 billion deficit, this is Peter Costello's best budget.

Working together for a strong future (The Daily Telegraph) - Editorial says any Australians who are still in doubt as to what the Howard Government stands for need look no further than the Federal Budget – Treasurer Peter Costello's 10th. This Budget is in essence a representation in economic terms of the Howard/Costello manifesto for good government.

Costello looks to the future with confidence (The Advertiser) - Editorial says in his record-breaking 10th successive Budget, Treasurer Peter Costello has produced probably his finest financial plan for the nation. Leadership speculation will ensure perpetual questions of whether Mr Costello has saved his best until last.