Labor budget nothing but traditional - critics

Critics of the Gillard government's latest budget say it's nothing more than a traditional Labor budget.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has presented his fifth budget across the Tasman, promising a $1.5 billion surplus in the next financial year.

Australia correspondent Murray Olds says to achieve that surplus, the budget is full of spending in many traditional Labour areas and it's everything opposition leader Tony Abbott stands against.

He says Abbott has promised to dump policies like the carbon tax and the mining tax.

"Big, big ticket items, many billions of dollars rolling into treasury, and Abbots promised to thrown them out, the Labor side has really played them up. You've got big savings in many, many areas."

Mr Olds believes it won't be enough to save the Government at the next election.

ABC Canberra's chief of staff, Michael Donaldson, says the Government's trying to dig it self out of an economic recession - but critics are calling the budget a con-job.

He says business is a loser in the budget, with Treasurer Wayne Swan backing down from a planned one percent company tax cut.

"Welfare groups are reasonably satisfied with budget, saying that initiatives target low income and middle income families are well warranted, business though are very angry saying it's another broken promise from this Government."

Mr Donaldson says achieving a surplus is all about appearing fiscally responsible.

Photo: Labor Leader Julia Gillard (Getty Images)