Tony Abbott's budget emergency: what are the facts? | Penny Wong

Not one of the prime ministers claims about the 'budget emergency' stacks up against a simple fact check and here's the evidence

Its difficult to find words to adequately describe the spectacle of the Abbott government setting about hiking income taxes and fuel excise in its first budget. Beyond belief, as one of the prime ministers colleagues quipped, comes close.

From the man who promised no new taxes, and argued that no country has ever taxed its way to prosperity, here come the new taxes.