A budget ‘goodie bag’ was a necessary move for the federal government’s reelection hopes, Neil Breen says.

Low and middle income earners are big winners in this budget, with a tax offset 1 of $420 beginning from July 1.

The fuel excise has been halved for six months as part of a key cost-of-living measure, expected to save families more than $300.

Neil said after suffering a turbulent time in power, the Coalition was in a tough spot to win voters.

“We spent so much money during the pandemic keeping the economy afloat,” he said.

“At some stage when the economy was in better shape, the public’s going to say ‘Hey, let’s try and reduce the debt’.

“But the government’s in so much trouble, it needed a goodie bag.”

He has no doubt that this was an election budget.

“[If you] didn’t think it was an election speech, then you didn’t have your thinking cap on.”

Press PLAY below to hear Neil Breen’s comments in full