Or perhaps you just want some more dollars in your pocket?

Budgets of both federal and state varieties often promise much, but deliver little for “the man on the street”, focusing on the big end of town and a few key big-ticket items that make the overall figures seem impressive while not really doing much overall.

It appears the same is coming from this week’s announcement, with Fairfax economics editor Ross Gittins among those commentators predicting “modest” tax cuts for low-income earners and small falls in unemployment (we went to print before the official announcement). 

Meanwhile, an Urban Congestion Fund is predicted to be dropping billions into road and rail projects in capital cities. Around $8billion is already slated for projects across Victoria, but no word on any deals with NSW as yet. Given Fairfax Media’s Fix It Now campaign for significant safety upgrades to the Princes Hwy from Eden to Nowra, it would be nice to see some focus on our part of the country.

We’re continuing to push for the highway south of Jervis Bay to be classified a road of national significance with an 80/20 funding split between the federal and state governments. The commitment would fund essential safety improvements including dual carriageways and dividers to help prevent further fatalities on our stretch of road.

The campaign is gaining traction, with the complete support of NRMA. And the Prime Minister was briefed on it during a trip to Nowra on Thursday, during which he visited the South Coast Register team and editor John Hanscombe. We’re not holding our breath for confirmed federal funds this week – but watch this space, we’re continuing to apply pressure.

This will likely be the last budget before the next federal election, so keep an eye out for those “issues inherited from the last government” statements on why certain budget measures can’t be achieved – like the oft-promised surplus that still is yet to happen, and looks unlikely for at least another term of government.

Just enough time for that government to blame previous iterations for also not being able to reduce the country’s deficit.