Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb has this evening refused to commit the Liberals to a budget surplus in the first term of a Coalition government let alone in 2012-13.
Mr Robb this evening said on ABC 24s Capital Hill:

LYNDAL CURTIS: With all that then could you see a Coalition government in a first term delivering a surplus?
ROBB: Well it just depends. As I say there's so much uncertainty around the numbers.

(ABC 24 CAPITAL HILL 6 FEBRUARY 2012)

It is hardly surprising the Opposition cant commit to a surplus, given the Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has announced a $70 billion crater in the Liberals budget on live television, which the Shadow Finance Minister has expressly confirmed.

PAUL KELLY: Andrew Robb, what is it, how big is the figure and why does Tony Abbott cite that $70 billion, as nominated by Labor, when you, clearly on the record are talking about $70 billion and Joe Hockey is talking about $60-$70 billion?
ROBB: Well, we are all right in the sense that that is the order of magnitude unless we make significant decisions about programs and wastes and all the rest.
KELLY: It's not like a furphy, then?
ROBB: No, it's not a furphy. We came out with the figure, right?

(ROBB MEET THE PRESS 4 SEPTEMBER 2011)

Today, Andrew Robb has exposed the Liberals economic strategy for what it is all negativity, no substance. Surely this is the final nail in the coffin of the Liberals economic credibility.
Tony Abbott talks about the hard decisions but his Finance Spokesman has admitted today that the Liberals wont commit to a surplus in the first term of a Coalition government.
Contrast this with the Gillard Governments fiscal strategy, which has received a resounding endorsement from the international community, including the coveted gold-plated AAA rating from all three global ratings agencies for the first time ever.
Unlike the Liberals, the Government remains determined to return to surplus in 2012-13, despite global volatility making the job harder.
Andrew Robbs inability to grasp the most basic economic concept should be extremely concerning for Liberal MPs.
Australians should be very concerned about the economic circus that sits on the Coalition front bench and whose so-called election auditors were found guilty and fined for professional misconduct.