The morning after budget it’s always fun to look at the front pages of the newspapers. And while no one actually reads them anymore, they are good for giving an insight in to just how unhinged parts of the media are.
By Greg Jericho
Thu 14 May 2026 09.09 AEST
The morning after budget it’s always fun to look at the front pages of the newspapers. And I know that no one actually reads them anymore, but they are good for giving an insight in to just how unhinged parts of the media are.
Let first go through the old “broadsheets” (i.e. the “serious papers”)
Chalmers would love this. But of course the AFR is the only newspaper where its readers actually think they are wealthy, so the headline is really “you are being hit to woo next gens”.
But it’s a pretty straight front page. The big red graph is debt – but it’s in nominal dollars , which is quite silly.
Unhinged score: 2/10
The Oz, bless its little dark heart tries hard. But it doesn’t have the punch anymore.
The “$77bn tax grab” is complete make believe. And the cartoon in the middle of the page is just lame.
They know the $77bn line is bullshit as well because they bury the figures’ explanation until the 19th paragraph:
“Labor would not release the individual 10-year revenue estimate of each of the new tax measures, with the budget papers only showing the collective impact of the policies would raise $77bn by 2036-37.”
So yeah – they have extended things out for ten years.
Idiocy. And rather desperate. Come on guys, I expected much worse of you
Unhinged score: 4/10
The SMH is focusing on boomers, which is their audience, so no shock.
It is worth remembering even the youngest boomers are now in their 60s, so yeah it might be time to focus on another generation
It’s straight. No unhingedness. And nothing that would worry Chalmers because even rich Boomers’ know they had it good
Unhinged score: 0/10
The Age is a bit more colourful than the SMH
But “wave goodbye to investor tax breaks”? Chalmers would love that.
Also props to Clive Palmer for the advert at the bottom of the page (the gas tax really has a broad spectrum of support).
Unhinged score: 0/10
The Canberra Times wins for the most public servant-esque front page.
I mean they know their audience.
Yeah the broken promises subheading is a slap at the govt, but tbh I only noticed it on about the 6th reading.
This is so fully hinged that it gets a negative on the unhinged score.
Unhinged score: -1/10
Ok, now on to the fun stuff…
Oh my lord. I’ll have to check my copy of the Communist Manifesto where Marx advocates slashing disability support funding by 10%.
This is off the chain nuts.
Also “your capital” is rather a big stretch for Daily Telegraph readers – most of whom would not be sitting on a pile of family trust money from their investment portfolios
Unhinged score: 9/10 (The lack of a combination of Hitler and Stalin cartoon fails to get them unhinged full marks.)
I do love a straight report.
It’s all focussed oni the broken promises, oddly doesn’t explain what those are unless you read the articles.
Bit of a dull front page to be honest. The headline is unhinged but that’s about it.
Unhinged score: 4/10
Pity the poor Herald Sun editor who really would have preferred to run with Michael Voss resigning as Carlton coach as the big story.
The Jim Reaper is cute, but kind of dumb given they have to explain the joke with the line ‘last rites for investors.’
The weird photo of Chalmers ups the unhinged quota though.
Unhinged score: 5/10
The Advertiser front page look like someone neither read the budget papers in any great deal nor understands what capital gains are.
The big debt numbers is stupid given it is in nominal figures and it is also gross debt not net.
“Homeowner tax grab” is a rather lying way to say “property investor tax grab” though. If you have to lie about who will be actually affected by something by suggesting he’s coming for the family home then you really are turning up the unhinged meter.
The headline is dumb.
Unhinged score: 7/10
The West Australian is glorious for suggesting that boomers know Grand Theft Auto.
Why is Jim on a quadbike?
It’s weird.
Unhinged score: 2/10
I’m going to be honest, I needed someone to explain the Mercury’s headline.
I didn’t get that the “trill” was short for “trillion”.
It’s all a bit meh, and suggesting the GST is going up makes it’s a good headline for Chalmers.
Unhinged score: 1/10
And that’s how the papers saw Budget 2026.
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