Negotiating is impossible for Abbott

Further evidence of Abbott's inability to negotiate from Phillip Corey. Abbott considers that his way is the only way, and is known in the Lieberal party for digging in his heels. This of course would not be a style that would help with negotiating the worst budget in 20 years through the Senate.

“I will say, ‘Look, there are a lot of merits in this and this is what they are. They will get us out of Labor’s debt and deficit disaster. If you have a better idea, tell us what it is,’ ” he told the ABC’s Jon Faine when asked about how he would approach negotiations. 

But ultimately: “There’s only one plan. There is only one plan, Jon, to tackle Labor’s debt and deficit disaster, and it is ours.” 

Despite the unpopularity of the budget, Abbott has no choice at this stage but to keep backing it. To show a preparedness to blink this far out would only weaken his negotiating position when talks begin. 

This budget is unpopular because the voters believe it to be unfair in its emphasis and because it contains broken promises. The damage was exacerbated by the initial defensive tactic to deny the tax increases were tax increases and, for example, to deny that cutting funding to the ABC broke a promise not to cut funding to the ABC. 

“In relation to the ABC, I plead guilty,” Hockey conceded on Monday night. 

As the battle ahead unfolds, MPs will be nervous that unless the government can convince voters of the merits of the budget, the Prime Minister’s propensity to dig in his heels the more he is urged to do something risks dragging out the more damaging debates for months, if not for much of the duration of this term. more

Like I said, he couldn't negotiate himself out of a wet paper bag. And he's completely underestimating the Senate resolve against his policies.