SHADOW TREASURER JOE HOCKEY YESTERDAY:
"…unquestionably if the Government does run a surplus then it does give the Reserve Bank more room to move."
(Bloomberg TV, 4 June 2012)
SHADOW TREASURER JOE HOCKEY TODAY:
"Why does Swan keep running the line about a promised surplus when RBA does not even mention it in this and last statements? All spin!"
(Twitter)
The only reason Joe Hockey said something different today was because he was pulled into line by Tony Abbott.
Which probably explains why Tony Abbott felt the need to appear with Joe at his press conference today – just to make sure he didn't step out of line again.
Mr Hockey showed a rare moment of clarity yesterday - it's just a shame that he cannot maintain a consistent position only 24 hours later.
And the truth is households with a $300,000 standard variable rate mortgage are now paying over $3,500 a year less in repayments than when the Mr Hockey was last in Government.