Last night Treasurer Wayne Swan handed down a budget that is big on assumptions yet to be proven correct. The entire strategy depends on money flow - and that money flow depends on several " ifs ".
If the 40% resources tax survives the Senate.
If the mining companies do not cut back new projects.
If the Greek money problems do not flow on to the other PIIG nations.
If the economic revival continues.
If all of these remain positive then we have a very good budget indeed. The budget will return from negative to positive in three years. $7 billion will flow to health and fixing our hospitals in four years. $ 2.2 billion will expand GP super-clinics to ensure that citizens can quickly and economically access health care. There are also some welcome tax breaks for small business, personal superannuation and reform of the system of tax returns.
All that remains is to cross our fingers and hope that the budget planners got their thinking right - and that world events continue to shine on " the lucky country ".
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