AS many pre-election budgets tend to do, Tuesday night's federal budget certainly 'splashed the cash', promising widespread tax cuts, infrastructure upgrades and funding to improve health services.
While all regional residents will heartily welcome the potential for better roads and more access to healthcare, the minute detail of what was announced by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured left) on Tuesday night will take some time to fully analyse.
Upgrades to major SA highways are a definite positive for the state. The Horrocks Highway has long been identified as needing significant work, so the allocation of $44 million to improve this critical road will likely be welcomed by anyone who's travelled along it recently.
But, the impact of the forecast reduction in goods and services tax revenue for SA could present challenges for Premier Steven Marshall and state Treasurer Rob Lucas going forward.
When budgets are presented so close to an election, there's a part of me that always wonders how much of the spending is occurring in the areas of greatest need, and how much is more of a dangling carrot designed to have an impact in key marginal seats.
In promoting its budget, the Coalition focused heavily on getting the nation's books 'back in black' by delivering the first surplus in 12 years.
Budget documents included a $7.1-billion surplus for the 2019-20 financial year, and while this is a positive development, it's important to remember it hasn't truly been delivered just yet.
While the Liberals are celebrating getting back in the black, it's worth reflecting on the last time the federal budget was in surplus.
John Howard was the Prime Minister (doesn't that seem a lifetime ago?) and the Kevin '07 juggernaut was just starting to gain momentum.
Later in 2007, the Coalition was comfortably defeated at the federal election - and based on recent polling, history could very well repeat itself.
Who knows what we'll see this time next year? Will Josh Frydenberg get the chance to deliver a second budget, or will Chris Bowen be attempting to be the first Labor Treasurer to deliver a surplus since 1989?
With the federal election little more than a month away, the outcome is up to us as voters.
- Jacinta Rose is the editor of Stock Journal
