Belly, you are forgetting one very important fact, that being that labor has created this mess, not you or I, but those fools running the country. Now as for their best action plan, that's simple, call an election so the people can decide.

As for welfare, if we stopped welfare waste, there would in fact be more to go around.

Stopping the cash would go a long way here.

As for Medicare, no, I dont think it's a fair system.

High income earners pay a lot more, yet get little in return.

579, Los jobs is only the beginning,what about those who have invested in plant to fulfill gov contracts?

BTW, for the record, I am not a high I come earner.

I can not avoid this, yes some say budget deficit's are ok.
But I spend less than I earn always.
And Rechtub Abbott intends, well who knows,his spending and cuts promised?
He if he does deliver will turn our currency in to cow dung.

Belly, you have just summed up labor, spend more than they earn, and that's the problem.

Now if we spend more than we earn, we eventually go broke, however, government simply increases taxes and expects us to tighten our belts simply because they were incompetent, and this is why they need to go.

The message out there is loud and clear, labor is on the nose and it won't matter who leads in opposition as they are doomed.

The main problem I have with this situation, is Wayne Swans comment of, we will return to surplus AT ANY COST.

combine that attitude, with the carbon and mining taxes and you have a potential disaster on your hands, all due to labor's proven record of incompetent waste and miss management.

Remember, it is they who have wasted all the money and created this huge black hole and, despite having been in denial, they are finally admitting the true facts of the situation.

Middle class welfare is an unnecessary cost. Mining is driving the cost of living, in rural towns, and it's only fare they pay, their fare share.
Means testing for medical, is certain.
As revenue decreases and so must govt; spending. This is what the people want.
It's no good whining, about cuts if the revenue is not there.

Labor has wedged itself.

After years of spending wildly, the credit card is now well over drawn, and the interest payments alone could pay for the proposed disability scheme.

Reducing the deficit from $40bn this year (budgeted $12bn) to a surplus is estimated to strip 2.5% off growth, mostly in the already troubled retail, manufacturing, and service sectors.

If Swan keeps to the budget, the austerity measures will significantly notch up unemployment, and the cost of living, and the carbon tax will become a focus. If as widely expected Swan posts a "surplus budget" and then ignores it, then by June 2013 Labor will again be painted as liars and fiscally incompetent.

Given the 27% primary polling today, this could reduce labor to a minor party.

Don't call it the public service. They are servants of the government, and most of what they do to the public is a disservice when both costs and benefits are taken into account. Call it cutting the vampire economy, that would be more accurate.