Critics of the government argue the budget, with its eye-watering cash splash so unlike any Coalition budget we've seen before, was as much about securing the jobs of government MPs as securing the immediate future of ordinary Australians.

Where the government has tried to paint a picture of a bold budget designed to buy our nation's way out of an economy-crippling pandemic, the opposition has painted a picture of government recklessness and self-interest.

Of course, the big variable in all of this is that no one can say for sure exactly when the next federal election will be.

Even government MPs were conceding on Wednesday morning that this was likely to be the last budget handed down before voters go to the polls, meaning the election will be called before May 2022, but we can be no clearer than that.

If the government enjoys a good few months in the polls then the PM might call an election before Christmas; if the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues its runs of missteps and hiccups then he might wait until March or April next year in the hope things have finally smoothed out.

But why should the PM be offered such a choice? Why do we continue to allow the federal government the flexibility of choosing an election date that best suits its agenda?

Our state government does not have that flexibility, nor does the local council.

And it's to see how our nation's best interests are served by allowing the government of the day to decide when circumstances are right for an election. Surely the election cycle should dictate to the government; not the other way round.