After five consecutive rounds of tax cuts, there’s no reason to believe that the Coalition can’t deliver additional cuts next year through 2012.

Last time Howard lost office as Fraser’s treasurer he kept secret the largest deficit in Australia’s history. The Howard government has been the most secretive, especially in the withholding and distortion of information that should be publically available.

Before any company takes over another they are allowed an detailed inspection of the books to ensure that what they are buying is as portrayed.

This should aplly in politics, allow labor unlimited access to the books so that there is no nasty surpreises like before when they take government.

{Why haven’t any commentators, journos started asking about this scenario??}

They already have Paul and Rudd said that it would be over his dead body.

You should spend less time flitting across various web sites posting this sort of nonsense and a little time reading.

But, I know you won’t. Trolls only know how to post from Liberal talking sheets.

They don’t have the time or ability to infirm themselves by following what is happening out in the real world.

Why haven’t any commentators, journos started asking about this scenario??

Prime Minister John Howard and treasurer Peter Costello will be surprised to learn that callers to talkback radio this morning were overwhelmingly critical of the federal government’s $34 billion tax cuts package that they announced yesterday.

Media Monitors analysis showed calls on what The Age presented as a “bold initiative” that left Opposition leader Kevin Rudd “flat-footed” (The Australian) ran almost four to one against the government.

Of the 55 talkback calls this morning on the topic, 42 were negative, six were balanced and seven were positive.

On ABC radio North Coast, caller Peter said the promised tax cuts meant more consumption of material goods that would lead to further global warming.

On commercial radio stations, the proportion of callers criticising the tax cuts was lower than on ABC radio but still ran strongly against the government.

On 2UE in Sydney, caller Ron asked how the tax cuts would help old age pensioners while on John Laws’ 2GB program caller Margaret said the tax cuts would have been better spent on improving hospital services.

I’m a bit behind the conversation I know but what the Liberals have done is get Treasury to write their tax policy. This means they need to release it as Government policy while they are still officially the Government. That is why the tax policy has been announced so early.

Clever move on their behalf, cuts down the risk of any gaffes if Peter Costello was forced to write his own tax policy.

Given this governments appalling record of Family Allowance discrimination against working mothers, it is a joke that they can now try to win my vote. Better that there be a overhaul of the Family Allowance system to provide a fairer system.

Of my fortnightly income, I bring home slightly over half when I take into account the tax, cost of childcare and the loss of Family Allowance.

Single income families, where the mother does not work at all, can earn more than double the combined income of my partner and I and still get maximum part B family allowance.

I work because we need the extra income to survive and pay the mortgage on the very modest home we live in. I hate having to leave my child, my job is unrewarding, the travel time is tedious… I have all this to go through and then I lose the Family Allowance …

My advice to Labor is don’t offer tax cuts. Use the money to fix Family Allowance, Education, Health etc etc…. Provide the safety net that should be provided by government.

Tax cuts will be matched by price rises and interest rate increases. Inevitably the tax cuts offer greater benefit to the higher earners and the divide between rich and poor increases.