Scott Morrison’s Budget to make life easier

Scott Morrison plans to call an election on Sunday. He is ready to fight, even though it will be a miracle if he staves off a Labor assault, writes Renee Viellaris

SCOTT Morrison plans to call an election on Sunday. And as he prepares to send voters to the polls, there’s one message Morrison has heard from average Australians – Life is busy, and it’s made more hectic by cost-of-living pressures and congestion.

Tomorrow, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will hand down a Budget that tries to make life easier for people.

Expect to hear that message a lot up until election day – this Budget is about making people’s lives easier.

It is a fightback Budget, one that lays the foundation for a Coalition election campaign.

And for the first time since 1972, this election and Budget will provide the clearest divide between the two major parties. Frydenberg will have a big pair of scissors out tomorrow night and cut up the nation’s credit card.

Debt is coming down and he will deliver the first surplus in more than a decade.

Tomorrow’s Coalition Budget is one for the cradle to the grave – it will share the benefits of a surplus and balancing the books.

It will deliver:

● More money in their pocket through tax cuts;

● A massive infrastructure spend so people spend less time in traffic jams and more time at home or getting from job to job;

● A plan to ease the stress for parents worried about their kids getting a trade, or older Australians who can’t work on a hot roof in the north Queensland sun;

● Make new medicines cheaper, plus give older Australians dignity.

Frydenberg’s Budget speech will say his plan delivers a stronger economy, guarantees essential services, will create more jobs, will reward aspiration and secure a better future for Australians.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a junior basketball team ahead of their game at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre in Sydney. Picture: AAP/Paul Braven

I can reveal that tomorrow’s Budget will boost funding to vocational education and training to reverse the decline in apprentice numbers. The Government will firmly place the blame at the feet of Bill Shorten and damn him for the decline when he was the responsible minister.

The focus on vocational education and training will be welcomed in Queensland, especially since the state Labor Government refused to sign up to the Skilling Australia Fund that would have created more apprentices.

For many parents across the country, this will be good news. So many mums and dads worry about what type of jobs will be available for their kids when they leave school.

But nationally, it hits the right note because Australia has a significant skills shortages.

It is an issue that has played on the mind of Morrison.

His Government overhauled a VET sector that slugged taxpayers for bizarre courses, such as energy healing, that would never provide a job. Morrison has not been convinced the states are doing a good enough job and believes it is a national challenge.

I can also reveal there will be measures for women so they have more equality and financial security.

There are no targeted winners or losers. This is not like the Coalition’s first “lifters and leaners” disaster.

Women, workers, youth trying to get into the workforce, older people thinking about their future and those who need a financial hand – all are the beneficiaries. This will share the benefits and make a direct pitch to the once Howard battlers, middle-Australia people starting their careers and finishing.

Morrison is ready to fight, even though it will be a miracle if he staves off a Labor assault.

Ironically, a state Labor Government has given him hope.

Morrison and his colleagues know that their Government has been marked down by voters because of leadership changes and instability.

But they have looked at Victoria and learnt that even if a massive scandal has dogged the incumbents – the red shirt debacle – voters will forgive them if the economy is good and they can see the Government doing things, such as building infrastructure.

That is why this Budget will be heavily invested in roads and rail.

Morrison will fight this election roundabout by roundabout.

So when he pulls the starter’s gun, he will have a strong financial manifesto, he will have a hard hat in the other.

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