'Drug-test our pollies': Australia responds to the Budget
Treasurer Scott Morrison had barely opened his mouth to deliver the 2017 Budget speech when Australia's preoccupation with the economy's night of nights exploded on social media.
#budget2017 pic.twitter.com/F3Il5YeKQy
- counter hoon (@wokestbloke) May 9, 2017
According to Twitter, the Treasurer has morphed convincingly into fictional political villain President Frank Underwood, and if you look under the bonnet of the Liberal Party you will find the ALP.
Deficit levy gone, Medicare levy up. Cynical? You may well think that but i couldn't possibly comment#Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/djla9wUdj6
- Tim Mackay 🎓💲 (@timqfadvice) May 9, 2017
#Budget2017 in a nutshell: Having doubled debt in 4 years, the nutjobs put on an ALP hoodie & hope no-one notices they remain mean and nasty
- Mr Denmore (@MrDenmore) May 9, 2017
And of course, it's all fun and games ... and politics.
Budget time is always an important reminder that for a lot of people, politics is just a team sport.
- Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) May 9, 2017
Others took to Twitter to point out the glaring omissions from this year's Budget.
Here's a really boring drinking game: drink any time he mentions climate change. Hint - you'll stay sober. #screwedover #budget17
- Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) May 9, 2017
.@sallymcmanus: #Budget2017 does nothing about raising wages, nothing about job casualisation, outsourcing, offshoring or inequality.
- Van Badham (@vanbadham) May 9, 2017
Tonight's the night, @TurnbullMalcolm. Victorians deserve our fair share of infrastructure funding. #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/zer3fyQ3Os
- Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) May 9, 2017
#Budget2017 silent on Aboriginal women. More investment into Aboriginal orgs needed to prevent family violence & build stronger communities
- National FVPLS Forum (@NationalFVPLS) May 9, 2017
The raft of welfare reforms was under fire, with many Australians calling for the same thing: random drug testing of politicians and CEOs.
The overwhelming Twitter response to the plan to drug test welfare recipients: drug test politicians and their staff too #budget2017
- Josh Butler (@JoshButler) May 9, 2017
When there are more jobs than job seekers, THEN we can call them "dole bludgers", not before. That day is not here.#Budget2017 #auspol
- Jenko (@7_jenkinson) May 9, 2017
"You may have your fish and bread but first I'm gonna need you to pee into this cup." -Jesus #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/0e2s8zB5Bb
- James Parkley (@jnarls) May 9, 2017
Some reflected on the "better days" Morrison promised just hours before unveiling the Budget.
"Better days ahead"* - #Budget2017
*Promise does not apply to
Migrants Indigenous Women escaping DV Unemployed Students Poor Disabled
- Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) May 9, 2017
But, to be fair, some people thought the Budget was just that. Like this guy.
I consider myself a centrist. 53yo fisc conserv, social progrsv, will be self-funded but want safety net 4 others. I find #Budget2017 fair.
- Patrick Turner (@pjxturner) May 9, 2017
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