All eyes on Dutton after short-term election budget

The federal budget is one of costly promises and blame shifting.

Political editor Simon Benson is right on the money when he uses the word coward (“Cowards on both sides of the ledger”, 25/3). It is a cowardly budget and one that will have no mid to long-term positive effects on the Australian economy. It is an election budget and nothing more.

Peter Dutton needs to come out swinging against this budget and give the voters a clear choice between policies designed for Australia to climb out of its horrific financial hole or continue to dig the hole deeper.

As for any effect Donald Trump is having on the budget, that is most unfortunate but the US President is only doing what he promised – to put America first. I am sure that Trump has a plan. What is upsetting everybody is that they do not know what it is.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Simon Benson makes a cogent point: this budget is a plan for the next five weeks rather than the next five years. Why else would the government, for example, extend its power price rebate only to December? Earlier this week the Prime Minister explained that the relief would be delivered in two instalments of $75. The numerical symmetry with his promise to reduce power prices by $275 in his first term will not be lost on everyone. It may be a cynical exercise for the opposition to match this giveaway and several others that the government has promised in recent months, but Peter Dutton will not allow the government the easy path of buying itself a second term.

There’s an expectation that the Opposition Leader provide a plan in his reply speech to sell to the electorate over coming weeks, but in reality his shot at securing the Treasury benches rests with his ability to lay the cost of living firmly at the feet of Anthony Albanese and to incessantly remind voters of the Prime Minister’s broken promises.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

Once upon a time, budget night was sacrosanct in our household, with normal programming not resumed until every last scrap of info had been absorbed, analysed and well-received or otherwise.

I rather resent the fact budget nights are now like some Barnum & Bailey circus, with giant teddy bears and ugly dolls to be won if you indicate voter allegiance. Meanwhile, practising out in the circus backblocks are the highwire exponents, ready to strut their stuff when called on to handle disenchanted citizens, who yell in frustration: “This is an absolute circus and I want my money back.” This is a pointless request, as they’ve already given a few scraps of your money back to you – just in a different wrapping and prettier ribbons.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

When Labor came into government in 2022, the interest rate on my property loan had a 2 in front of it. Since August 2023, it has had a 6 in front of it and even after the recent Reserve Bank rate cut my property loan interest rate still has a 6 in front of it. I’m still paying more than double the interest amount from three years ago.

Timothy Gleeson, Collaroy, NSW

I can’t help but wonder at the audacity of Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers to impose on Australian businesses higher energy costs, more union power, an increased bureaucracy to implement more red tape and regulation and more people on the government teat, then ask the private sector to lift the economy. Somebody needs to tell them they’re dreaming.

Kingsley Sullivan, Mt Hawthorn, WA

Judith Sloan hit the migration nail on the head (“Do the maths; high migration isn’t an economic positive”, 25/3). When have we ever been asked if we want Big Australia? When have we been asked if we want hundreds of thousands of migrants from war-torn countries who don’t share our values? When have we been asked whether we want our cities to sprawl 50km from their centre?

Politicians talk of growth, productivity and building the workforce, but do Australians want ever-burgeoning cities? And how well has our current government coped with the violence and intolerance of ancient tribal hatred on our streets in the past few years?

Sloan’s article points pretty clearly to the political reasons for our out-of-control migrant intake. But how about asking citizens if that’s what they want?

Robin Southey, Port Fairy, Vic