Kids' test scores began declining way before COVID. These schools are making gains
New findings show kids' test scores have been declining for years, worsened by COVID.
NPR Topics: News1 min read
A Zara dress, the Jim Reaper and a communist state: how Australia’s media interpreted the budget
TL;DR
Australia's media reacted sharply to the federal budget, with some outlets labeling it a communist shift under Treasurer Jim Chalmers. The Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun used dramatic imagery to convey their criticism of tax changes and broken election promises.
Key points
- Australia's federal budget faced harsh media criticism.
- Daily Telegraph labeled the budget as a communist shift.
- Herald Sun depicted election promises as dead and buried.
- Major tax changes included cuts to negative gearing.
- Capital gains tax discount was also reduced.
The voters of New South Wales woke up in a communist state on Wednesday – at least according to the Daily Telegraph, which claimed that “Lying Jim” Chalmers was cackling like the devil as he gouged them with big taxes in the federal budget.
To underline this apparent sharp turn to the left, the Tele added a red hammer and sickle and used a red background.
“In the most radical redistribution of wealth since the Whitlam era, the Treasurer’s fifth budget last night locked in a major broken election promise by slashing negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount,” the Sydney tabloid said.
In Victoria, the treasurer was portrayed a deathly shade of blue as “The Jim Reaper”. The coffin theme was embraced by the Herald Sun as election promises were “dead and buried” and investors were given “last rites”. The Hun continued the Tele’s communist theme by referring to “old school Labor wealth redistribution”.
The Courier-Mail went for the jugular, accusing the treasurer of a flat-out fib with the headline “Jim’s Guide to Lying: Labor’s guide to broken promises and the secret plan for defending it”.
The Australian offered a pink hue and a counter-culture vibe as the broadsheet turned to a 54-year-old classic book, The Joy of Sex, to sell its message that the budget was just a $77bn tax grab. But would anyone under the age of 60 get the reference of “The Joy of Tax” or the “Chalmers Sutra” in the Johannes Leak cartoon? The Oz agreed with the Murdoch tabloids that Chalmers was waging “class warfare” in the 21st century.
The Nine-owned Sydney Morning Herald was more balanced than any of the Murdoch papers, giving credit to Labor for uplifting first home buyers and workers with an illustration of hot air balloons lifting these two groups, while “bursting Boomers’ bubbles” with sinking hot air balloons.
The Age focused on the loss of tax breaks for investors, with the prime minister and treasurer juggling the economy in a tiny row boat on an open choppy sea.
Thankfully, Sky News Australia and the Daily Mail gave us the update we all needed. What did Chalmers’ wife Laura wear to watch Jim deliver the budget this year, and would it annoy anyone?
Q&A
What did the Daily Telegraph say about Jim Chalmers and the budget?
The Daily Telegraph described Treasurer Jim Chalmers as 'Lying Jim' and claimed he was imposing significant taxes, portraying the budget as a move towards communism.
How did the Herald Sun depict the budget's impact in Victoria?
The Herald Sun referred to Jim Chalmers as 'The Jim Reaper', suggesting that election promises were 'dead and buried' due to the budget's tax changes.
What major tax changes were included in the Australian federal budget?
The budget included significant changes such as slashing negative gearing and reducing the capital gains tax discount, which were described as a radical redistribution of wealth.
