Tony Abbott is throwing his promises under the bus with glee. He promised no new taxes and has now pledged a debt levy and an increase in petrol tax.

He knows how electoral cycles work. Pain and broken promises early in your term are forgotten later:

The 2014 Budget is full of taxes and cuts.

The 2015 Budget will have a few more cuts and be austere.

Then in 2016, election promises will start getting made. “How can we afford these?” people willl ask.

Finally, with an election probably just a few months away, the 2016 Budget comes out. Lo and Behold! Australia’s fiscal position is in surplus, taxes can be cut and the spending can begin.

The press goes into a fury of congratulation over Mr Abbott’s “strong leadership.” Lots of photos appear of him standing outside new hospitals, with a big smile on his face.

To most people, the grumbling of early 2014 is as relevant to the political situation as the result of the 1974 VFL Grand final. Labor can’t get over the broken promises and keeps talking about the past, while Mr Abbott is focused on the future.

Don’t believe me? Evidence for how this works is right under our noses.

The coverage of the Victorian government’s first Budget looked like this:

“THE Baillieu government has been forced to slash more than $2 billion in spending from its first budget in an attempt to insulate the state economy from looming financial pain and deliver on its election promises. And with Treasurer Kim Wells’ budget predicting a $4.1 billion hit to GST revenue alone over the next five years, the budget also launches a tax crackdown, with 50 new jobs at the state revenue office to raise an extra $235 million. The Coalition went to the election promising $1.6 billion in savings, but yesterday announced deeper cuts totalling an extra $638 million.”

Coverage of the pre-election budget looks like this:

Mr Abbott is playing the long con. But with a shorter election cycle than was available to Mr Napthine, (federal is three years, not four) it’s more of a gamble. Will it work?