A broken budget promise

When a slump in federal tax revenue results in a bigger than expected deficit, Prime Minister Gillard and Treasurer Swan jettison the promised surplus to survive through globally challenging times. But a broken budget promise is the kind of shock that upsets the nation and as the deficit increases so does the credibility gap. With mixed feelings the Gillard government announces reforms to welfare, health, education, foreign aid and superannuation to help bring down a “financially responsible budget” and partly fund DisabilityCare and the Gonski education reforms.