One wonders. Over the forward estimates, Labor has cut $15.2 billion off coalition spending programs like exceptional circumstances and drought relief for rural areas, but it has more than matched that with $30.1 billion of new Labor spending programs, which pander to its core supporters, not the broad range of struggling Australians. One of the greatest legacies of the Howard government and Peter Costello’s time as Treasurer was strong economic management, whereby budget after budget delivered surpluses and tax cuts for hard working Australians.