Budget Night
The Federal Treasurer presents the budget on budget night, which since 1994 has been the second Tuesday in May. In modern times, the budget has always been broadcast live from Parliament House on the ABC and Sky News Australia. It is hosted on the ABC, without interruption from 7:30 pm to 8 pm, normally followed up with a report by a panel assessing the changes, benefits and flaws in the budget.
Before the presentation of the budget, the day is spent behind locked doors briefing media and interest groups on various aspects of the budget. This is known as the budget lock-up. Those invited to attend the briefings are not allowed access to the outside world until the Budget has been presented by the federal treasurer.
A convention in Australian politics is that the leader of the opposition delivers a "right of reply" speech in Parliament, which is also broadcast on television.
Read more about this topic: Australian Federal Budget
Famous quotes containing the words budget and/or night:
“A budget takes the fun out of money.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“Now night perfumes lie upon the air,
As rests the blossom on the loaded bough;
And each deep-drawn breath is redolent
Of all the folded flowers’ mingled scent
That rises in confused rapture now.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)