AUSTRALIA’S ruling Liberal Party today splashed the cash in a pre-election budget filled with goodies for voters souring on nine years of conservative rule.

With Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s party trailing Labour heavily in the polls and an election expected in May, the government announced a budget that cuts fuel duty in half and promises A$8.6 billion (RM27 billion) in tax rebates.

About half the adult population – or ten million people – will get an A$420 tax hand-out to sweeten the deal.

Having promised and failed to put the budget “back in black” with fiscal prudence, Morrison’s plan foresees the deficit exploding to A$78 billion or 3.4% of GDP this year, and set to remain in the red for a decade.

“The past two years have been tough for our country,” said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, informing Parliament of the plans.

“We have overcome the greatest economic shock since the great depression.”

Morrison has been pilloried for his handling of devastating bushfires, floods and a painfully slow vaccine roll-out.

According to the latest Newspoll survey, his Liberal-led coalition is trailing Labour 45-55 in the two-party vote.

Morrison faces an uphill battle to win over women voters after his handling of rape allegations made by a female political staffer in government, and young voters repelled by his pro-coal stance.

His government has swatted aside calls to wean the economy off its dependence on coal and natural gas, touting a “gas-fired recovery” from the pandemic and vowing to dig coal for as long as people are buying.

According to the latest Newspoll, Anthony Albanese’s Labour has the vote of more than 60% of 18 to 49-year-olds.

But Morrison has come from behind before, winning an election three years ago, which he himself dubbed a “miracle”.

To that end, Frydenberg touted the lowest unemployment rates in decades as he warned voters now is not the time to change leaders. – AFP, March 29, 2022.