‘Drug-test our pollies’: Australia responds to the Budget

Treasurer Scott Morrison had barely opened his mouth to deliver the 2017 Budget speech when Australia's preoccupation with the economy's night of nights exploded on social media.

#budget2017 pic.twitter.com/F3Il5YeKQy

- counter hoon (@wokestbloke) May 9, 2017

According to Twitter, the Treasurer has morphed convincingly into fictional political villain President Frank Underwood, and if you look under the bonnet of the Liberal Party you will find the ALP.

Deficit levy gone, Medicare levy up. Cynical? You may well think that but i couldn't possibly comment#Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/djla9wUdj6

- Tim Mackay 🎓💲 (@timqfadvice) May 9, 2017

#Budget2017 in a nutshell: Having doubled debt in 4 years, the nutjobs put on an ALP hoodie & hope no-one notices they remain mean and nasty

- Mr Denmore (@MrDenmore) May 9, 2017

And of course, it's all fun and games ... and politics.

Budget time is always an important reminder that for a lot of people, politics is just a team sport.

- Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) May 9, 2017

Others took to Twitter to point out the glaring omissions from this year's Budget.

Here's a really boring drinking game: drink any time he mentions climate change. Hint - you'll stay sober. #screwedover #budget17

- Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) May 9, 2017

.@sallymcmanus: #Budget2017 does nothing about raising wages, nothing about job casualisation, outsourcing, offshoring or inequality.

- Van Badham (@vanbadham) May 9, 2017

Tonight's the night, @TurnbullMalcolm. Victorians deserve our fair share of infrastructure funding. #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/zer3fyQ3Os

- Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) May 9, 2017

#Budget2017 silent on Aboriginal women. More investment into Aboriginal orgs needed to prevent family violence & build stronger communities

- National FVPLS Forum (@NationalFVPLS) May 9, 2017

The raft of welfare reforms was under fire, with many Australians calling for the same thing: random drug testing of politicians and CEOs.

The overwhelming Twitter response to the plan to drug test welfare recipients: drug test politicians and their staff too #budget2017

- Josh Butler (@JoshButler) May 9, 2017

When there are more jobs than job seekers, THEN we can call them "dole bludgers", not before. That day is not here.#Budget2017 #auspol

- Jenko (@7_jenkinson) May 9, 2017

"You may have your fish and bread but first I'm gonna need you to pee into this cup." -Jesus #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/0e2s8zB5Bb

- James Parkley (@jnarls) May 9, 2017

Some reflected on the "better days" Morrison promised just hours before unveiling the Budget.

"Better days ahead"* - #Budget2017

*Promise does not apply to

Migrants Indigenous Women escaping DV Unemployed Students Poor Disabled

- Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) May 9, 2017

But, to be fair, some people thought the Budget was just that. Like this guy.

I consider myself a centrist. 53yo fisc conserv, social progrsv, will be self-funded but want safety net 4 others. I find #Budget2017 fair.

- Patrick Turner (@pjxturner) May 9, 2017

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