I think it would be a political suicide and gross miscalculation if the coalition brings out surplus in may.  Because as it stands, in order to do that, there have to be deep cuts.   So the question is where the cuts is going to come from?

If they make cuts to concessions to the big businesses, - then, they are shooting at their feet.
If they make further cuts to the poor, the sick, the old and the unemployed, then, labor is going to have a field day, and they will be wiped out at the election which is like weeks after the budget. 

The only way out at the moment, is to introduce some sweeteners for middle class, and the working class.  Dont make harsh cuts to the welfare.  Perhaps go on a less than expected deficit, with projections to surplus in 2 years time.   Then, there may be some chance if they sell it right.

Bam wrote on Dec 17^th, 2018 at 12:46pm:


A surplus is not a prerequisite for retiring debt.

Gordon wrote on Dec 17^th, 2018 at 12:23pm:


You know why every new road is a tollway?
You know why infrastructure is 20 years behind where it should be?
You know why public hospitals are ALWAYS on the brink of collapse under the weight of patients?

Because tight arsed entitled people such as yourself ALWAYS think the $2.30 p/week(if your lucky) you'll actually get back in these "TAX CUTS" is better off in your pocket than providing services such as above.

You know there is a country available to your so called independent values where the user pays for EVERYTHING & it's not some far off 3rd world sh!thole (to paraphrase someone)

Its the USA, off you go

But I doubt you will, because when your sick you'll use medicare (even if you have PHI because.....excess)
You'll be the first to scream if you government(read taxpayer) funded pension is cut
Because like all these "better off in my pocket" nutjobs, your the 1st in line for a handout/subsidy/rebate etc call it what you want, it's a WELFARE(another dirty word IYO) from taxpayers.

Dsmithy70 wrote on Dec 17^th, 2018 at 1:02pm:


Yes...time for a very deep breath and to suck it up.  We need to get that national debt fixed before worrying about tax cuts.

I think the public have since moved on from Suplus is good, deficit is bad mentality.  Right now, people want to pay down the debt, but they are just looking to see what sort of cuts is going to be associated with the surplus.   Labor is playing the game of against tax cuts for big business, saving it for the average battler.  Liberal is playing the game of giving cuts for big business to get jobs to the average joe.   Before, when there is mining boom, it may work because they can also afford to give handouts to the middle class.  But when that is finished, and labour managed to stablize its internal rift, Liberal is then in free fall. 

You don't need a surplus to pay down debt; you just need growth.

The government should be spending every cent it receives, otherwise we are paying surplus tax that buys us nothing. By all means, reduce the deficit after the economy picks up, but a surplus is waste.

Too many idiots still believe the lie that the federal budget is comparable to a household budget.

** still laughing**