Every budget has a theme, whether real or concocted. For the NSW budget tabled last week, the theme is “putting people first”, backed up by a raft of gimmicky spending measures such as free baby hampers (don’t ask) and a Generational Fund with a dash of participatory democracy.

As the clock ticks towards the next state election, the Berejiklian government is attempting to rebrand itself from one that sells assets, balances the books and builds economic infrastructure to something more touchy/feely and caring.