Your morning Briefing: To surplus with love: ‘back in black’

Your 2 minute digest of today’s top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers. To surplus with love, is the message as the budget is handed down, and thumbs down for electric cars from industry bosses.

Johannes Leak artwork for Page One of the 2019 Federal Budget newspaper Version: Budget (Original)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.

Back in black

Scott Morrison will d ouble tax cuts for low and middle-income earners in a $300 billion battle for middle­ Australia. Paul Kelly writes that it’s a fiscal victory but is it enough to swing voters? Chris Kenny reckons there is no supernova, just light cast on Labor policies. Peta Credlin hails a return to Liberal values, finally. Margin Call considers Josh Frydenberg’s personal secret weapon: the Treasurer’s richie rat pack. Dennis Shanahan thinks there are only winners and winners. Read Josh Frydenberg’s full speech here.and keep up with all the latest reaction in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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EMBARGOED - PLEASE CONTACT DT PIC DESK BEFORE PUBLISHING DAILY TELEGRAPH - 21/12/18POWER 100 MAGAZINE - Tony Shepherd pictured. Pic, Sam Ruttyn

Electric cars ‘a non-starter’

Bill Shorten’s plan to revive carmaking in Australia through electric vehicles has been attacked by captains of industry.

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Joe Cassaniti ,the uncle of 18-year-old Christopher Cassaniti who died yesterday in a workplace accident at Macquarie Park. Photo Jeremy Piper

‘Don’t let his death be in vain’

Questions have been raised after falling scaffolding crushed two men, killing 18-year-old Christopher Cassaniti.

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Attorney-General Christian Porter at Parliament House in Canberra.

Family law reform doomed

The Morrison government’s signature reforms to restructure family law courts appear to be dead in the water.

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters Cartoon for 03-04-2019.Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.