I wonder if at heart he acknowledges that these small incentives are nothing more than blatant “pork barrelling” by the Liberals to keep their coalition partners, the Nationals, quietly in line?

And what he and the government fail to acknowledge is that the budget gives nothing to help farmers face their greatest challenge, climate change.

Indeed, Captain Abbott goes even further, denying climate change and referring to it as “absolute crap”.

So it is also not surprising that the federal government's budget does not prepare Australians for the "inevitable" transition from coal to clean energy.

Unlike almost all the rest of the world Mr Abbott, and presumably Mr McCormack, seem to prefer to keep their heads firmly buried in the sand.

We have already seen a decline in coal exports, and as the world transitions to clean energy they will shrink, eventually, to zero.

What’s the chance of a balanced budget then, Messrs Abbott and Hockey?

But this unimaginative and heartless budget “lacks any long-term vision and fails to reflect the values of the community”, as newly appointed Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale said this year's budget.

The 2015 budget also fails to address housing affordability and homelessness and takes Australia further away from a world-class health system.

What the government should have done was to make health savings by curbing wasteful spending, rewarding quality in primary care and removing ineffective subsidies.

And in a move I’m sure Captain Abbott would have hoped we didn’t notice, the government locked in cuts announced in last year's budget, such as slashing $11 billion in foreign aid and making young people wait one month to access the dole.

Interestingly, and frighteningly, the chatter that this budget might be aimed at setting up the situation for an early election.

Nothing of course about social and economic justice, just short term political gain.

- Ray Goodlass