First fact-check of the day ‘Twas the morning of the budget. Finance Minister Simon “Birmo” Birmingham marked the occasion by eagerly tweeting a photo of Parliament House’s famous Budget Tree, looking lush and resplendent under a glorious blue autumnal sky.
Except it’s glum and overcast in Canberra today. And the Japanese Maple looks threadbare, stripped by a week of wind and drizzle. The leaves have all fallen onto the courtyard. Whether this is a metaphor for today’s budget remains to be seen.
Election watch Much of the pre-budget narrative has coalesced around the unexpected strength of Australia’s economic recovery, and a series of measures generous enough to leave Labor wedged.
Unsurprisingly, that’s led to a return of chatter about an election this year. In The Australian this morning, Simon Benson writes that “talk of a November election [is] back on the cards”. Talking on the ABC, the Nine papers’ David Crowe suggested that was highly unlikely, given Morrison’s own words and the state of the vaccine rollout. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese reckons an opportunistic prime minister might pull the plug if he thinks he can win. Earlier this year, Morrison was reported to have ruled out an early poll, preferring to have another pre-election budget early next year. Nothing will stop the tea-leaf reading.
Katt-astrophe Canberra is groaning under the weight of a few thousand pairs of RM Williams boots as pollies and their staffers return for the budget. The city’s restaurants are prime pollie-watch location. Last night, an eagle-eyed tipster spotted Bob Katter and entourage at an inner-north Indian joint. They reportedly asked the waiter if they had any dishes that weren’t spicy at all.
It’s raining Neds Frydenberg isn’t the only one splashing the cash around. This morning, rogue independent backbencher Craig Kelly held a press conference with a giant pile of fake $1 trillion notes. He said the point of the whole exercise was to “teach the kids about the debt”.
Upon questioning, Kelly confirmed the notes, which he calls “Neds” after outlaw Ned Kelly, were paid for out of his communications allowance. Which means taxpayers paid for the stunt. Which means that, in a small, insignificant way, Kelly’s big pile of fake cash added to the debt he was trying to preach about.
On a side note, we asked Kelly if he would be joining his conspiracy theorist pal Pete Evans over at Rod Culleton’s Great Australian Party. No such plans from the member for Hughes.
Whatever David Crowe advises is probably correct. He is the PMs media manager. What? He isn’t?
Craig Kelly could do with a few lessons about the difference between debt for consenting adults, and the debt that a sovereign fiat economy creates.
Repeat after me Craig, the federal budget is not a household balance sheet.
“Whatever David Crowe advises is probably correct. He is the PMs media manager. What? He isn’t?”
No. Simon Benson is.
Scotty “His word is his bond” FM ruled out an election this year? …. So which will it be late September/October (f’ball finals distractions) or early November (Melbourne Cup) – this year?
“Except it’s glum and overcast in Canberra today. And the Japanese Maple looks threadbare, stripped by a week of wind and drizzle. “
Though it is commonly asserted to be a Japanese maple, the size and shape of the so-called “budget” tree and the shape of the leaves suggest it is an acer rubrum which is native to North America.
And while the heavy rain last week certainly caused the early drop of leaves what prompts the leaves to change colour is the fall in overnight temperatures. Canberra had two nights down to -3C before Anzac Day. And it has not been very windy – Canberra in autumn rarely is.
I live in Canberra and have four Japanese maples in my garden. They are usually at peak autumn beauty around 20 May. But two have already lost their leaves, a third will be bare by this weekend and the fourth, also the youngest and in a well protected position, is at its orange best right now.
I find Canberra riddled with non indigenous trees. So much so it’s almost European looking.