Thread by @NickMcKim

So as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivers his budget speech, and outlines the Liberals’ plans to make Australia less fair and the climate crisis worse, here’s a helpful translation of his speech.

Frydenberg: “Australians have been tested like never before. Flood, drought, fires, and a global pandemic.”

Translation: “Floods, droughts and fires are made worse by the climate emergency, which we are actively making worse by doubling down on coal and gas.”

Frydenberg: “In the space of just one month, more than one million Australians lost their jobs or saw their working hours reduced to zero.”

Translation: “We have already cut support for most of these people and this budget has bugger all to help them.”

Frydenberg: “There remains a monumental task ahead. But there is hope. Australia is up to the task.”

Translation: “You’re on your own everyone. Good luck!”

Frydenberg: “Our plan is guided by our values.”

Translation: “Our plan is guided by our donors.”

Frydenberg: “We owe it to the next generation to ensure a strong economy so that their lives are filled with the same opportunities and possibilities we have enjoyed.”

Translation: “We’re cooking the planet, charging more for uni degrees and keeping the housing market rigged.”

Frydenberg: “Australians will have more of their own money to spend on what matters to them, generating billions of dollars of economic activity and creating 50,000 new jobs.”

Translation: “Millionaires will use these tax cuts on shares and investment properties.”

Frydenberg: “Under the Coalition taxes will always be lower.”
Translation: “For the super wealthy and the big corporates.”

Frydenberg: “We are also helping to unlock five key gas basins starting with the Beetaloo Basin in the NT and the North Bowen and Galilee Basins.”

Translation: “Our donors will profit from making the climate emergency worse and we’re using your money to help them.”

Frydenberg: “Rebuilding our economy includes building more roads, rail and bridges.”

Translation: “That’s literally all we’ve got.”

Frydenberg: “Mr Speaker, our regions have endured the most widespread natural disasters in decades.”

I WONDER WHY THAT MIGHT BE JOSH

Frydenberg: “Mr Speaker, protecting our environment and this magnificent continent is our responsibility.”

Translation: “We have totally abrogated this responsibility.”

Frydenberg: “With our reforms to insolvency and the provision of credit, we are giving Australian businesses their best chance to succeed and keep more people in work.”

Translation: “We are letting the banks do whatever they want, despite the GFC and the Royal Commission.”

Frydenberg: “Mr Speaker, tonight we help thousands more Australians achieve home ownership, and support thousands of jobs in the construction industry.”

Translation: “Home ownership levels are at the lowest level since the 1950s and we’re making it worse.”

Frydenberg: “A further $450 million is provided for our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to keep Australians safe from foreign and domestic threats.”

Translation: “If you thought a pandemic would stop us increasing the surveillance state, you were wrong.”

Frydenberg: “Next calendar year, the economy is forecast to grow by 4.25 per cent and unemployment to fall to 6.5 per cent by the June Quarter 2022.”

Translation:“2 million Australians will be unemployed or underemployed and condemned to poverty because of our policy choices.”

Frydenberg: “This Budget includes our second Women’s Economic Security Statement, with $240 million in measures and programs.”

“This is less than 1% of what we are spending on corporate welfare and tax cuts.”

Frydenberg: “Our economic and fiscal strategy sets out the path to grow the economy, stabilise debt, and then reduce it over time.”

Translation: “Our strategy looks after mining companies, the banks, the super wealthy and our donors.”

Frydenberg: “Tax incentives will unleash a wave of investment across the country.”

Translation: “This time it’ll trickle down, I promise.

In summary, this is a budget that chooses high unemployment, low wages and tax cuts for the super-wealthy over full employment and a green recovery. It ensures the effects of the recession will be long and painful.