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In brief, there are big hits to health, education, the public broadcasters, and further starving funding to arts and culture (which doesn't get much at present). There is bigger investment in the infrastructure of last century (roads and airports) but no investment in 21st century priorities like rail (and especially high speed rail) or public transport. But even their roads funding is a con. And the most needy will be hit by cuts and reduced accessibility to the NDIS, the pension, social safety net payments, and will be exposed to greater fuel costs (which can't be side-stepped because there is no public transport spending). At the same time, taxes are being removed on big polluters and miners, and poorly targeted money will be given to those same polluters based on a promise to reduce emissions.
The budget is two things. It is a dog's breakfast that heroically tries to meet as many of Abbott's pre-election promises as possible. And for those it can't, it sets up a thin (and totally unbelievable) narrative about how they have kept their promises.
The budget is also a blueprint for what an Abbott government stands for. This is well articulated by Shaun Carney from Monash University.
In essence - smaller government (which does much less), a more self reliant populace (which does much more for itself), 'climate change is crap' (funding for Direct action has been halved) and a people who when they are hit by misfortune or adversity, will simply suck it up and carry on (because safety nets are going).
It's an American vision for Australia. Get ready for increasing homelessness, more working poor, a bigger rich-poor divide, two tiered health care and education, a compliant media with a right wing bias, and politicians who are funded by opaque donations from big business (as the Liberal party currently is, in NSW at least).
Smokin' Joe reveals the Coalition's true colours.... give the man a stogie!
The Liberals... out of touch, and hopefully soon out of power.