Treasurer Smokin’ Joe Hockey says “terrific” 2014 Budget will “shape the destiny of our nation”

THE Government is preparing to acknowledge it has gone back on some election promises but will justify pain by accusing Labor of having hid a financial disaster.

Treasurer Joe Hockey and his large cigar box. Picture: Gary Ramage

BEHIND every Treasurer there’s a cigar box. Well, every Treasurer known as Smokin’ Joe Hockey, the stogie’s best friend.

Mr Hockey today gave his final poses for news cameras in his office before his 7.30pm Budget delivery to Parliament, his smokes within arm’s reach in a battered timber box.

It’s clearly marked “cigar” to warrant its prominent position, although a bit battered and chipped at the edges.

He and fellow cigar fan Finance Minister Mathias Cormann might share in a smoky celebration after their statement is released but first they will have to answer for all the pain to ordinary voters the Budget will contain.

Joe Hockey at Parliament House with Senator Mathias Cormann, also prone to a cheeky dart apparently.

It is expected that in his Budget speech Mr Hockey will acknowledge the Government has broken pledges made during the months leading up to the September election.

However, he and senior colleagues also will outline what they see as the urgency of the nation’s financial situation as justification for retreating from those commitments.

Mr Hockey called his statement “a terrific Budget for Australia’s future”.

“This Budget is about shaping the destiny of our nation,” Mr Hockey said today.

“Now I know over a number of years lots of governments, probably lots of Treasurers, have said that.

“But I think when you see the detail of the Budget tonight ... to address the mess that we inherited, you will see that this Budget is good for Australia, good for our destiny.”

The cigar box.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Tony Abbott continued his pledge to share the pain, including the $6000 increase in his own tax bill.

”I don’t want those people to say, ‘Those blokes in Canberra have made me suffer while they get off Scott free’,’’ he said on 2GB.

“So there will be a deficit levy on high income earners. The lifetime gold pass for politicians gone, finished kaput, dead.”

Originally published as Treasurer Smokin’ Joe Hockey says “terrific” 2014 Budget will “shape the destiny of our nation”