"Gee whizz they could have produced a record budget surplus...

"Gee whizz they could have produced a record budget surplus though why escapes me even though the new government also seem to think a surplus is a good idea.
Dave R."

Maybe they're trying to set an example Dave :). We have developed a culture of spending beyond our means (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_current_account_balance).

Though generating a budget surplus isn't the solution to the current account deficit - but still the greater public may correlate the two, and so see it as a responsible policy.. Although surely during times of such prosperity, it would be a bit of a worry if the government was running a deficit