There are few other words that send our elected reps into a greater state of heightened verbal frenzy for foray.

The federal government is out to sell this year’s budget as the best thing since sliced bread. And the opposition is determined to prove it holds about as much water.

Here’s what they were saying, as Budget loomed. And what they had to say after it arrived.

“Above all this is an honest Budget. It is honest about our challenges and opportunities. It does not pretend to do things with money we do not have.”

“The Australian Labor party has given up on labourers. They are too cool for labourers. They think that labourers are a bit passe. They’ve moved on from labourers. So, we’ll start looking after labourers,” he said in Parliament today.

“You don’t need a focus group to learn about fairness, you need a heart, Mr Speaker. And that is what’s missing on that side of the house.”