Amid the early morning hustle and bustle at Sydney Markets, Treasurer Scott Morrison has been served up an important economic reminder.
He hit the markets around 6.30am on Tuesday to spruik some economic cheer among the busy fruit and vege wholesalers after laying out an improved budget bottom line aided in part by spending cuts and a lift in company tax receipts.
Most stallholders and workers appeared more interested in chatting about the treasurer's favourite footy team, the Cronulla Sharks, than the budget though.
One gave the treasurer a box of cherries and another filled with north Queensland mangoes, a Christmas gift Mr Morrison said would come in handy for when he gets round to making his famous mango chutney this festive season.
Trying to get his audience back on message, Mr Morrison walked over to the Aussie Roma stall and stated talking shop about all the goodies he'd delivered in his MYEFO on Monday, including getting the deficit forecast down.
But the stall owner had this simple reminder for the treasurer: "But no one is spending money mate."
He had a point. The 0.1 per cent rise in consumer spending in the September quarter was the weakest in nearly a decade, putting a drag on economic growth.
As Mr Morrison tried to make a hasty exit, other workers from the stall implored him to "look after small independents", and "give us some money".
He wandered off to chat to another stallholder dressed as Santa's elf instead.
Share
