Hope isn't the only thing that floats (''Hope floats on an ocean of debt'', May 13, p1). It was people taking on more debt than they could afford that resulted in the global fiscal crisis and now the Government believes that this same behaviour is the answer. If I hear the phrase ''temporary deficit'' one more time I shall scream; a mortgage is temporary but it lasts 20 years.
Les Neulinger, Farrer
What a Clayton's budget. What tough budget? Nothing in this budget is now, as usual with this Government it's always tomorrow, on the never never with more borrowings to pay for it.
This Government is a sick joke!
Bob Edwards, Kambah
The Rudd Government's cuts to the 30per cent Private Health Rebate in the 2009 budget have the Australian Medical Association and the Opposition up in arms.
Peter Dutton, in usual Coalition over-exaggeration mode, says the Government will force thousands back into the public health system by cutting the rebate. Malcolm Turnbull just wanted to look good in a media grab and really didn't convince anyone with his opposition to the cut.
The rebate should always have been means tested and if, as rumoured, individuals earning over $120,000 and couples earning over $240,000 a year lose the rebate then that seems to me to be a fair thing. If you are earning that much a year the rebate works out at 0.4per cent of your annual income yet Turnbull and others whinge about the hardship this cut will cause. I have never supported John Howard's rebate where public funds were essentially given to the private health system. Howard was big on user pays and not propping up failing businesses yet he threw millions of public health money away on these private health rebates.
Where were the cries of outrage by Turnbull and the gang then? No doubt drowned out by the clinking of glasses of Moet and the crunch of caviar-covered water crackers.
Rory McElligott, Nicholls
Congratulations to David Pope for the wonderful cartoon depicting Treasurer Wayne Swan attempting to put the subsidies and tax breaks of the Howard years back into his magician's hat (May 13, p10).
It is increasingly evident that the Coalition in government wasted 12 years of unparalleled prosperity on cynical vote-buying policies.
Unfortunately, my gut instinct tells me that had Labor been in power during the same period it would also have made winning elections its primary goal rather than developing the long-term, visionary ideas it is now belatedly promoting.
This seems to make a strong case for following the example of Britain by introducing five-year fixed terms for federal governments that might partially free them from feeling the need to perpetually be in election mode.
Steve Ellis, Hackett
The PM has stated that he will take responsibility for both the good news and the bad news in the budget. How magnanimous is that? What a player.
N. Bailey, Murrumbateman, NSW
While we appreciate that the modern education system does not instil understanding of even basic arithmetic by graduates, we are still amazed that not one of your journalists picked up the big story in the budget figures.
The kick in the guts for all us nearly poor was the 25 per cent increase in the rate at which our pensions are decreased by our ''private'' earnings, ie, every $100 reduction a week in pension at present becomes a reduction of $125 in September. A couple existing on one superannuation pension plus a part age pension (the great majority of us) will truly become ''nearly poorer''.
Maxwell Lotton, Surf Beach, NSW
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