In the budget, whose money is the Government throwing around, ours, why do they have so much of it? Because they have been ripping taxpayers off for years. Why have they not spent our tax dollars along the way, improving education standards, hospitals, dental care and training our own people in the industries where we need workers? Why is it only at election time any Government starts to throw our money around? Neither Liberal or Labour represent the people who vote for them. They are ruled by outside influences, and don't run the country for the benefit of the country or it's people. If we don't have farmers to provide our own food, we are open to big problems if some country decides to attack us. If you have to import all of your food, your supply can be cut off and then watch out.

Oh dear back to the "everything in the garden will be rosy under the ALP"?
It was a damn good Budget in many respects. It needs more work in the environmental and welfare sectors - but I suspect that is still to come.
Could the ALP do better? On Rudd's performance I doubt it but no doubt Australians will be silly enough to vote out economic prosperity in favour of welfare-union dependency.

We have "economic prosperity" (whatever that means) despite John Howard not because of him.

do stop calling oz a 'democracy', it makes everything you say suspect. oz is an elective oligarchy, a parliamentary society ruled by a guild of thieves, charlatans,and white collar thugs.

if you don't like the budget, take comfort in this: nobody asked you what you wanted. citizens decide things like budgets. subjects get told what they must bear. you can rebel at the ballot box, if you wish. let's see, the significant difference between labor and liberal is... hmm, i'll get back to you on that.

It is good to see so much discussion going on. It shows there are people who care, also shows all voters are not fools to believe everything. I don't believe we would be better off with Labour either but it would be great to have a real choice. I think the comment that we are ruled by white collar thugs and thieves is valid and it's about time there was some honesty in politics. Oops, sorry, I forgot those words should not be used in the same sentence. Keep talking, there are there of who are listening.

Just for carreyn1,
there are other people living in Australia.
For me this budget has been one of the best I have ever seen in the last 40 years.
I congratulate the treasurer for bringing down another successful budget,if not the most successful.
Well Done Peter Costello.
PS I am not usally a fan of him.