The Oracle did not speak. Supplicants sat among vapours and their babbling was interpreted by high priests who provided solutions.

As the budget nears, we are anxiously waiting for The Oracle to reveal how to raise masses of money for programs, projects and infrastructure without frightening the voters.

We all realise middle and high earners need to lift a greater part of Australia’s burden of debt and new expenditure by cancelling most of John Howard’s boom-time, vote-winning gifts and subsidies.

Will Joe Hockey or Mathias Cormann dare to do so?

Will Bill Shorten be brave enough to clearly state his reform agenda — and how he will finance it?

Perhaps all three will stay mute and inscrutable like “The Oracle”.

Or will we instead see the poor, the weak, the powerless once again be slugged as the GST is raised, tax rates are “balanced” still in favour of those who have, not those who have not?

— BRIAN HARBICK,

Albury