An Economic Divide

It now looks like the Federal election is set for early May.

That means we'll have another budget handed down later this month, which will test how the Labor Party can massage the national accounts.

After two years of surpluses, Labor desperately needs a third to highlight their economic credentials.

There's an outside chance they can manipulate the figures to show a headline surplus despite the economy's behind-the-scenes collapse.

That said, we very much have a two-tier economy.

Those with mortgages, rent, and family commitments find it very hard to manage the household budget. Those who are free of such ties spend freely.

The older generation is in the latter category, having amassed assets over recent decades, they are now enjoying their labours' fruits.

However, a younger cohort, who have accumulated next to nothing, now seem content to spend what they have to enjoy life. It's the YOLO approach - You Only Live Once.

The economic divide is evident everywhere, particularly in some big metropolises.

I've been in Sydney this weekend, and as is his custom, my Sydney resident son chooses a restaurant for his parents to take him to. It's always our pleasure, but I am gobsmacked by the cost of dining in our most populous city.

This particular restaurant was at capacity on a Saturday afternoon, and almost all the clientele were older or younger.

For the record, I'm counting myself in the older group despite being five years under the threshold!!

So, there's a bunch of 60-plus tables and then a surprising number of 20-somethings.

It was the middle ground that was absent.

And it's going to be this middle ground that will likely decide the election.

Will they blame the Albanese government for their woes, or will Labor's handouts in the next few weeks rent their support for another term?

From the Coalition's perspective, I don't think they have announced any confidence-boosting measures for those worried about the future. Perhaps they are keeping their powder dry for the campaign, but it's past time to build the narrative about why they will be better for the country.

I still believe the non-labor vote will scatter through minor parties and independents rather than flow directly to the Coalition.

That suggests that some of the minors may be successful; hence, we are set for a hung parliament.

Based on recent history, that could be the worst possible outcome for the country.

“One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are."
Cal Thomas