Five questions for Tony Abbott to answer in his budget reply speech to Parliament tonight:
1. You say you will cut spending by more than Labor has. What will you cut and by how much?
2. You say you will give further tax cuts. How will you pay for this?
3. You’ve strongly criticised Labor for running budget deficits. When — and how — will you return to surplus?
4. If you do scrap the mining and carbon taxes as promised, what will you do to the carbon compensation package, changes to the income tax system and increase in the superannuation rate that came with these taxes?
5. Can you give a rolled-gold guarantee that you will proceed with the National Disability Insurance Scheme in its current form and timeframe, and not delay or cut it back after the election due to “budgetary constraints”?
Treasurer Wayne Swan said today Abbott was “a man for three-word slogans”. Abbott — the prime minister in waiting — has certainly been that. Time to step up, Tony.
A Rolled Gold Guarantee re the NDIS.LOL! Even that wouldn’t work.
Have you forgotten his copper bottomed promise as Health Minister?
As part of a Govt that had been in power for some time they knew the financial situation. Then won with controlof the Senate this absolute promise was ditched the next day
No unknown financial data as an excuse and there was total political control no no reason there.
I’m sorry the invertebrate LOTO cannot give any credible commitment and suspension of belief applies even more than is usual for politicians in his case.
The only guarantee for Abbott is that he will be a disaster as PM
I think he’ll be using magic pudding economics himself. I was vastly amused to find that as one of the top hits on Crikey.
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2013/05/15/magic-pudding-economics
Here’s another?
With “Centi-Peter” Costello (Howard’s pet invertebrate Treasurer & hero of $ Sweets) scurrying around, doing the rounds, revising his public opinion of “Abbott’s economic credentials and interest” (so “We can have every confidence in voting for him on that front” – an endorsement from the Treasurer of that golden era without the distractions like the GFC, that fronted for the work of Treasury for the laurels) :-
“Which ambassadorship is he next in line for under and Abbott government, as pay-off?”
[That and the fact he won’t have to be in the country during “The Abbott’s Inquisition” – to answer those few questions some in the media, still interested, might ask?]