Bazz there is no 600 billion debt. it is a pie in the sky. our debt is 350 billion up 70 billion since abbot was fraudulently voted to power.
Labors forward estimates were 120 billion, Abbott made it 600 billion it sounds better. Can't help himself from telling lies.

I can't understand what Butch wrote.
QLD needs to do something they are heading for 100 billion in debt.

The only state that is showing a balanced budget is vic.
Premier Napthine told toxic Abbott not to come to vic, there is an election in November.

Manufacturing is picking up, in great strides now that the so called mining boom is over, we now have labour returning to the state.
If we go over the 3.2 % growth it will put inflationary pressures on and that will mean interest rises.

We need more jobs, and we need more people fit to take up those jobs.
Let's concentrate on assisting as many as possible of the currently unemployed to be fit for a job which will suit their abilities, potentials and interests.

My reading of part of the thrust of the budget is to provide that training - not at university, but at more sober levels, TAFE, job/recruitment services, maybe high school and maybe by apprenticeships.
Of course, those who show relevant promise might also be assisted to advance to a university education - bursary, scholarship, and possibly also with a HEX component.

Is the budget in deficit? Yes, though the degree may be partially in question.
My reading of the budget is, in part, to provide funding for additional infrastructure, mainly on roads and expressways, which would provide some additional jobs, and hopefully some capacity to employ and to train at present unskilled, unemployed workers.
This is a start to addressing job shortage, but in my view is not enough to meet the demand.
So, where to from here? I would hope to see some government action to support local existing and 'new' industry for the long haul.
How? Perhaps some judicious implementation of tariffs or import quotas could be in order, but, due to 'free trade' arrangements, I can't be sure how such could be feasible.
More likely we need 'new' high-tech industry, possibly initially part-subsidized by government, or more foreign investment in our tourism potential - with hotels, for example.
Our governments could possibly also provide appropriate grants to foster local entrepreneurial developments in eco-tourism and local small boutique manufacturing.

In all of this, both the currently unemployed and existing and potential employers and businesses have a role to play.
None can be exempt, including the currently unemployed.

No unwarranted 'labeling' or demonizing please, but ignoring the actual realities will help no-one.

I do not think you are right there, the infrastructure projects are to make Abbott look like something he isn't.
Tafe colleges have taken a massive hit, apprenticeships need a return of the apprentice commission, since it's decline so have apprentices.

The biggest single factor there was apprentices can be dismissed in a downturn. Previously with an apprentice commission employers and the commission had to work together to look for replacement employment for the apprentice. So continuity of employment continued.

Apprentices now are used as a form of cheap employment. Once it was you had to have a certain amount of tradespersons before you could take on an apprentice.

Paul1405 wrote on page 5, "onthebeach's usual tactic when you call him out on something like that is he goes deaf, dumb and mute. You won't get a direct answer, no chance".

Gee, I guess you're right Paul. Onthebeach has gone missing in action regarding his lie.

Onthebeach has 100% AVOIDED addressing me catching him out with his lie, as pointed out in my post at the bottom of page 4. Well at least onthebeach now has something in common with Tax'Em Tony, or should we say ToneLIAR.

Yep, onthebeach has gone "missing in action". That's what happens when ya get "caught out".

Foxy quote Winston Churchill about equal shares etc.
Well I was in Moscow in 1967 and was having diner at the Russia Hotel.
It was at that time the premier hotel in Moscow.
The dining room was actually right at the main entrance.
Only remember seeing a small number of obviously poor people.
However there was some sort of a "do" on at the hotel and the big Zis
were all pulling up at the door and the men in dicky suits and the
women in long dresses and covered in jewelry around their necks and
in their hair were parading in in twos and fours and kept coming for
a long time. (Meals were notoriously slow in Moscow).

So they were not all sharing the miseries !

579, you are right to the extent that the debt has not yet reached
the $600B level, but it is programmed to get there and it will be nigh
impossible to stop it.

The problem coming down the track is the rising cost of energy and its
effect on credit and GDP. As more GDP gets eaten by energy costs there
will be less to pay off our debt and the interest.
We have been borrowing money to pay the interest bill, hmmm.

I suggest that you read this;

http://tinyurl.com/nwcgoov

I think it may open your eyes to the relationship between debt, interest rates and energy.