It's #Budget2018 day and the treasurer and finance minister have posed for their pre-budget happy snaps!
Historically the pre-budget photo provides a glimpse into the PM-treasurer relationship but, for the second year in a row, the government has decided to head in a different direction.
Enter bffs #ScoMoCoMa.
Treasurer Scott "let's go Sharks" Morrison and finance minister Mathias "don't be an economic girly man" Cormann.
Their Baby Boomer-friendly, beer-tax-cuts, big-spending federal budget is expected to be the last before the next federal election. It's ScoMo's third and the Abbott-Turnbull government's fifth budget.
We'll know more at 7:30 tonight when the treasurer delivers his speech, but here's everything we know so far.
First off — the 2018 photo is VERY SIMILAR to the 2017 photo. Just from a less flattering angle and with more teeth.
The pre-budget photo is important, because it signals what message the government wants to communicate to voters.
First of all notice they are wearing suits and ties because it's business time. This is supposed to signal to everyone that they've been working. Hard.
Also, check out all those phone lines and speed dial options on ScoMo's landline. Someone's doing well.
Secondly, there's the not-quite-symmetrically-placed budget booklets on the table in front of the camera. The symbolism of these budget books being just quite not perfectly placed is quite something.
These are very glossy, and remember more gloss = more important. Also, I assume more expensive? Oh right, we aren't in a budget emergency anymore, let's spend up on paper!
Tyra would be very impressed with the smizing going on in this picture. Serious, responsible, jobs and ~eye growth~.
But WHAT IS GOING ON with that nearly empty glass of water? As far as metaphors go for a government which has lost 31 Newspolls in a row and is about to head into an election...that's hardly a good one. Why didn't someone move it?
Let’s talk BANTER. Politicians are known for awkward photo shoots but in these pics ScoMo looks comfortable in the driver's seat taking charge.
I really wanted to make a Tina Arena joke here because ScoMo loves him some Tina, but hey, Olivia Newton-John's okay, too.
There have been rumours in the past that ScoMo and prime minister Malcolm Turnbull don't get along.
But #ScoMoCoMa seem relaxed and calm, cracking jokes but tragically not dancing to banger 'Best Day of My Life'.
Let's take a closer look at those budget papers.
These can't be too important — obviously they don't want to give the game away. But the intention is to make it look like they've been doing hard thinking about the FUTURE.
Ensuring the government lives within its means; Guaranteeing the essential services Australians can rely on; and Stronger growth to create more jobs!
Aka exactly what the treasurer has been saying for the last few weeks.
Worth noting that ScoMo is rocking an Australian flag, where politicians normally wear their parliamentary pins.
Let's not forget - he is Shire proud.
So how does this pic compare to past pre-Budget snaps?
Here's prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Morrison preparing their first Budget in 2016. Working hard, hydrating, and having some classic maths chats.
But pre-budget photos can also be disastrous.
Take this picture of former primer minister Tony Abbott and his treasurer Joe Hockey in 2015.
Why is he touching him like that?
125 days after this photo was taken, Scott Morrison became treasurer.
Compare that to former PM Julia Gillard and her treasurer Wayne Swan in 2012.
Friends!
Unlike this icy AF picture of Swan with his former boss Kevin Rudd in 2009.
The former best mates from Queensland had turned on each other, with widespread reports that Rudd was micromanaging the budget process.
I think we can agree Morrison and Cormann's pre-budget pictures are fine. To quote Joe Hockey — good on them for having a go.
