As important as it will be to the national interest, don't expect the federal budget to outrate Top Gear or Australia's Got Talent on the telly tonight.
Treasurer Wayne Swan has been keen to impress on Australians this will be a disciplined and "no frills" budget. So it will be a necessarily bland event tonight.
Health will receive some special attention and perhaps Mr Swan will endorse with greater vigour the Henry tax review recommendations.
We are curious what the budget will mean for the Rudd government generally. In only its first term, Kevin Rudd has dumped or downgraded key policies and, after the stimulus largesse of last year, has potentially snookered himself in the lead-up to the election.
And another thing ...
THE general economic landscape, rather than a State Government attuned to the mood of the community, scuttled the plans to develop Killalea State Park.
And the Government's backtracking on Killalea and Wollongong Harbour clearly illustrates the need to engage the community from the outset.
When will governments understand residents will not be fooled by token efforts to consult after the fact?
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