This week has been dominated by the budget. And that means the traditional pre-budget leaks dutifully reported by the media. These were followed by post-budget revelations that the budget announcement was full of already announced measures.
In a round of ‘pre-budget announcements,’ Scott Morrison signalled that he had allocated an additional $60 million to domestic violence prevention, by funding 700 new places for women and children fleeing domestic violence. The announcement was picked up by News.com.au by as Crikey pointed out this was in face a re-announcement of a re-announcement with applications for the 700 places having already closed in February.
Moving onto the budget leaks.
Despite it now being old news, on Monday Frydenberg tried to sow the ground for positive coverage on the upcoming Budget by dropping leaks to the mainstream at large. The SMH and the Australian dropping together, with Simon Benson even getting himself an exclusive. Which went against our theory of feeding all chooks equally.
Feeding the Chooks: Scott Morrison’s marketing triumph over mainstream media
The Guardian and the AFR also were given drops early on Monday morning, indicating what the Treasurer planned Tuesday’s big reveal.
The fun didn’t just stop with the budget. Albanese’s post-budget speech was also heralded by the faithful in the mainstream with the Conversation, The Guardian, The Australian and the AFR all reporting uncritically on Labor’s planned $20b for renewable infrastructure and the $6 billion for childcare.
Unfortunately, that’s all for this week. A slow week dominated by the budget. Next week we will focus on corporate interference in the mainstream and the lack of coverage of Asian region events by the Australian press.
Callum has a honours degree in political science from the University of Sydney which examined the influence key players in Australia’s financial services industry exert over government. He is a sub-editor for P&I.
Comments
One response to “Tamed Estate: Budget Week”
It is a neoliberal budget!!
This government firmly believes that the market dominated society will solve all our problems and their actions and dialogue to date fit firmly in that philosophy!
They firmly reinforce the finance capitalist activities, the wealthy have done marvelously out of this , especially during the pandemic and after it is all over they will ask the big question.
Who will pay for it running their snake oil neoliberal mantra and I guess the suckers will fall into line again with a good dose of austerity !