Owen Media Relations’ Michael Owen says the government is “softening up and preparing the public for no surplus” in the wake of the adverse effects of coronavirus on the Australian economy. After the bushfire crisis which gripped many parts of the country, Mr Owen said “there’s a bit of sympathy” towards the government not achieving a budget surplus. Mr Owen told Sky News host Peter Gleeson given the unforeseen economic hits caused by both coronavirus and the bushfires “most voters would be reasonably forgiving if that surplus wasn’t delivered as promised”. Fellow panelist Dan Petrie said if people keep their job “at the end of the day (they’ll) have a lot of sympathy for the government”. Image: News Corp Australia