Political Report: May 21

Since being re-elected, they've been arguing about it until they're blue in the face, although that's a colour that somehow suits them.

The Beehive burglars have turned the public service into something of a chainsaw massacre. Since coming to power a least 3,000 public servants have become private citizens with some of them becoming Government consultants and making more money in private than they could on the public payroll.

The burglars tell us they can do more with less which goes against all logic but then politicians always have their eye on the next election which doesn't make them ideal for problem solving.

But they know that if the books aren't looking more healthy come the next election then chances of them pulling it off are less likely.

They must envy the likes of Rob Muldoon, who once famously declared that the public wouldn't understand a deficit if they fell over one in the street. With all the talk these days of book balancing and borrowing, the public seem to know more than they did when Muldoon was ruling the sty.

This week the Dipton Drawler Bill English will no doubt practice what he's been preaching, that we all have to tighten our belts. It's been tradition for Finance Ministers to trot off to the tailor in Budget weeks and strut into the bear pit, resplendent in their new gear. We'll be keeping a close eye on The Drawer's kit on Thursday because in fact there won't be much else to look at.

The figures will push few buttons and most of what they represent we already know about anyway.

The Budgets in the old days were known as beer and baccy affairs, people would rush off to the supermarket to stock up on both items and go down to the petrol station to fill up. And if they're wise they should think about doing the same on Wednesday because the excise tax on baccy's almost certain to rise in the Government's drive to stamp out the wicked weed.

With so much talk about the booze culture in God's Own, particularly with the young revelers, don't be surprised if grog's on The Drawler's menu as well.

Certainly on that score he's been practising what he preaches in recent years, gone is the post-Budget party for all and sundry in his office, that's now reserved for his inner circle!