LOCAL MP Andrew Broad has agreed the Coalition played it safe on the budget due to the impending election and held back on some of the more controversial budgetary decisions.
“I suppose if it wasn’t an election budget they might have made some more election-type announcements,” he said on Wednesday.
Mr Broad said it was an unusual budget due to its close proximity to a federal election, which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is expected to call for July 2.
“The very unique nature of this budget is we don’t know whether we’ll be in government (to implement it),” Mr Broad said.
“That’s a decision for the Australian people.
“What we’ve done is put out a document for Australian people to consider and ultimately they will decide who will implement the forward agenda of the Australian Government.”
However, Mr Broad said the budget was a “good economic document” that aimed to improve the living standards of all Australians.
“When you sit down and do your household budget… it’s not the most exciting night of the year,” he said.
“It’s about being wise and prudent and putting money aside.
“It’s not Christmas time, it’s budget time.”
For more budget coverage, check out Friday’s Guardian (May 6, 2016).
