The 2013/2014 Budget

I have never woken up the morning after a big night hangover (or even a bad headache), but waking this morning I wondered if last night really happened. Admittedly I did only have 4 hours sleep, watching all the Budget commentary, analysis and interviews before and after Treasurer Wayne Swan's budget speech. It was all fun and games, as Journalists, Economists and political commentators were let out of Lockdown, we knew things were about to get worse. Budget leaks just prior to the speech hinted at the abolishment of the Baby Bonus and all indications were that the cuts would not stop there. Last May the narrative coming from the Labor Government went along the lines of 'spreading the benefits of the [mining] boom' and 'a fair go for all Australians', this May it seemed like it was more a Budget of legacy with hints of regret, sadness and pain.

It is official, not only were there no real election 'sweeteners' in the 2013/2014 Budget, the tone and mood surrounding the documents are at best gloomy and more accurately one of sadness and inevitable doom. Last night many commentators compared the new Budget to that of a funeral, sad and 'sombre' Jessica Irvine said, and almost everybody seemed to be fixated on what was being cut, altered and changed rather than the limited high points the Government wished. It seems that the forward estimates in the 2012/2013 Budget were highly optimistic, and given the continued concerns over the Global Economy for the next Financial Year, the Government have chosen to focus on School Education, NDIS which will now be called DisabilityCare and Roads and Rail rather than the 'S' word (surplus). 

Even last year, the large majority of Economists were saying the need for a budget surplus was more a political state of mind rather than an imperative part of the immediate future in Australia. It should not be high on the lists of priorities, they said, Politicians only see a budget surplus as a way of gaining votes in the upcoming election year they said, and last night it seems the Government finally agreed. Given all indications in the Opinion Polls suggest the Government will lose out considerably in the September 14 election, the Budget was one that would assist people in the future and set the groundwork for the Labor legacy in the future. In his speech Wayne Swan said that they (the Labor Government) made the 'choice to keep our economy strong and to invest in the future' and the Governments choice of programs to spend money, reflect that. Investment in Cancer care, the NDIS and increases in Health Funding by 40% since they gained office, show the Gillard Governments priorities quite clearly. Schools, DisabilityCare and infrastructure. 

Politically the general consensus in Australia, is the Federal Government have lied, failed to deliver and gone back on their promises. Budget Surplus, Laptops in schools, Budget Surplus, Carbon Tax, Budget Surplus, Mineral Tax, Carbon Tax did I mention Budget Surplus?? I could go on. Despite the sound of doom ringing in my ears as I listened to the Budget Speech, one thing was clear, Wayne Swan had a message and he got that across. A valued friend of mine once said, that if you can not capture the essence of your speech in the first 5 minutes you will have lost your audience anyway, and no one will care what you say. Last night the Treasurer did just that, in the first 5 minutes he said, Schools, DisabilityCare and infrastructure. The Australian people may not recognise what the Labor legacy is until it is too late, but there it is folks Education, DisabilityCare and Road and Rail Infrastructure. That will be how the Gillard Government is remembered.

Early this morning Prime Minister Julia Gillard introduced the DisabilityCare legislation into the House of Representatives. One of the beautiful things about our political system is bipartisan support.  All political parties may not fundamentally agree on everything - hell if they did life would be boring - but, sometimes an issue arises and it just has to be fixed. Regardless of your political ideology, Disability will have affected the lives of someone in your family, one of your friends or someone in your social group. Disability does not discriminate it can affect us all in some way or another.  In her speech the Prime Minister said, 'In March, we gave it a place in our nation's laws. Today we inscribe it in our nation's finances. DisabilityCare Australia starts in seven weeks - and there will be no turning back.'  No turning back, pretty big sentiments for a Government facing inevitable doom right? No one knows what the future holds, everyone wishes their future was bright and full of joy, and for those living with a disability that light just got even brighter. 

Tomorrow we will see the Leader of the Opposition give the Budget Speech in Reply, a chance for the nearly voting public to see the alternative Government in action. Does anybody care? Will anybody watch? If you do, can you bring the popcorn?