Consumer confidence lowest since 2009.

South Australian Liberal leader Steven Marshall cancelled a trip to New Zealand after the bombshell announcement.

He has branded the move ‘an act of political treachery’ and his former counterpart a traitor.

“Martin Hamilton-Smith should hang his head in shame,” Mr Marshall said.

“Martin sat in Shadown Cabinet yesterday - no inkling - he sat there and spoke to various papers, privy to all our party strategies.

“It is a massive act of betrayal against the Liberal party.”

Premier Jay Weatherill said having Mr Hamilton-Smith in Cabinet was in the best interests for South Australia.

“We know he is hard-working and he has been well regarded by industry and by all sides of politics since being elected to Parliament in 1997,” Mr Weatherill said.

Tax the dead. Pyne and Hockey want to chase hex debts after death, but Abbott says that won't happen. Are you going to believe that.
Abbott, Pyne, and Hockey are all unelectable. Who does that leave for a replacement PM. Turnbull or Bishop. Both have extreme faults.

When Julia Gillard implemented a levy to help out the people of Queensland after a natural disaster, Abbott called it a tax. In fact Abbott referred to virtually any rise in the cost of living as some sort of tax from Julia Gillard.

However when Abbott introduces what he would formerly call a tax, he calls it a 'Temporary budget repair levy'. But no matter what Abbott and Hockey desire to call it, most of us call it a broken promise.

I also note that this – the only part of the budget that has the rich 'sharing the pain' – has the word 'Temporary' in its title. Noticeably, there are no 'temporary cuts to welfare, the pension, education or health — only the new tax for those on a stratospheric $180,000 a year.

On top of the 'Temporary budget repair levy', we have a hike in the fuel excise. That is a tax rise no matter how you look at it.

Also we will now have a surcharge to go to the doctor, because apparently the country can’t afford for everyone to have free medical care.

Funny, I seem to recall paying a Medicare levy out of every pay cheque, which in my mind means I’ve paid for my medical needs.

As Treasurer Joe Hockey finally conceded on Q&A on Monday night there are new taxes and tax rises in this budget — though he calls them a "rabbit". OK...