Federal Budget 2018: Treasurer Scott Morrison says he might not be Santa Claus — but he’s no Grinch
TREASURER Scott Morrison has laughed off suggestions he will hand down a “Santa Claus” budget next month, but has assured voters he’s no Grinch, either.
NSW
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TREASURER Scott Morrison has laughed off suggestions he will hand down a “Santa Claus” budget next month, but has assured voters he’s no Grinch, either.
Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack has foreshadowed his “Father Christmas” cabinet colleague will craft a federal budget focused on infrastructure.
Mr Morrison took the comparison in his stride, but insisted he would be responsible.
“I’m not Santa Claus — it won’t be Christmas in May — but I don’t intend to be the Grinch either,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
“What we will have is what we’ve always produced, and that is a responsible budget with measures the country can afford that are about investing in a stronger economy.”
Mr McCormack said the budget would allocate “a record spend” in excess of last year’s $75 billion for road and rail projects, and promised that no states or territories would be left out.
“On May 8, as on December 25, Scott ‘Santa Claus’ Morrison will be announcing some goodies,” Mr McCormack said. “It’s going to be a positive Budget. It’s going to be an infrastructure Budget.
“There’s going to be some exciting projects elsewhere that have been called upon for many years that will be realised by this Budget.
“I can’t wait until Scott Morrison hands it down. You need to keep things for Budget night otherwise it’s like Santa giving the presents for the kids and then on the big day, on Christmas Day, the kids saying, ‘What’s in it for me?’”
He added: “We want people to cheer this Budget home.”
Mr McCormack, 53, a former newspaper editor and sports journalist, is Acting Prime Minister for the first time since he replaced Barnaby Joyce in February as Nationals leader and Mr Turnbull’s deputy.
Mr Turnbull is on his way to Europe to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
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McCormack said this year’s Budget would include more money for nation-building projects, particularly road and rail, than the $75 billion allocated last year.
“It’s unprecedented ... which means a record spend,” he said.
“There’s not going to be a state which misses out because we’re a nation building government. NSW obviously is going to get its proportion of infrastructure money because there’s lots of things going on, there’s Western Sydney Airport, there’s the duplication of the Pacific Highway but more than that, inland rail.”
Mr McCormack said he felt a “bit of anticipation” about taking on the role of Acting Prime Minister but that Mr Turnbull could feel confident he had left “the country in safe hands”. Mr McCormack said one issue he would be watching closely is the tensions in Syria and the potential for unrest in the Middle East sending domestic fuel prices higher.
“It is a concern. If tensions escalate, what does Australia do? It’s not a problem that can be solved in days or weeks. It’s ... also an infrastructure issue,” he said.
A solution, Mr McCormack said, would be to examine having greater storage capacity, including in regional areas, to increase Australia’s oil reserves stockpiles from the current limit of around 43 to 49 days.
Mr McCormack’s elevation to the top job means he has cancelled plans for the first child-free overseas trip with his wife in 31 years of marriage — to Hawaii.
Instead he will spend the next week traversing the country, visiting marginal seats and the electorates of National colleagues, along with making infrastructure announcements, such as the official opening of the $120 million expansion of the Brisbane international airport next Monday.