My wife spoke to me this morning about picking up a copy of the AFR while having coffee somewhere because it was the only paper and she remarked, in quite some astonishment, that it seemed to be anti-Abbott. So I have had a look and sure enough the front page is filled with the latest Labor meme, how is the Coalition going to pay for all of its promises? From a party which last ran a surplus in 1988, and only for a single year, that is about as ridiculous as it gets. If getting a surplus is the issue, come on, who would you really back?

But what also caught my eye was the story above the main story across the top of the page which ought to be more to the point about where this economy is heading. The first para:

Labour market experts say a dramatic three-year wage freeze at car maker GM Holden could trigger pay pauses elsewhere as rising job insecurity and low inflation press down on Australia’s high cost structure. [My bolding]

Some economic management we’ve had! I listened to the debate and there was nothing offered by Kevin Rudd that made me think he even understood there is a problem never mind that he had solutions for what ails us. In fact, my impression was that he had no idea what do to about any of the things that need fixing.

The Coalition is infinitely more likely to reduce wasteful spending, improve our employment prospects and assist in the raising of living standards. Why is it the Coalition, then, that is being asked to show its creds on restoring the budget to surplus?