The voters of New South Wales woke up in a communist state on Wednesday – at least according to the Daily Telegraph, which claimed that “Lying Jim” Chalmers was cackling like the devil as he gouged them with big taxes in the federal budget .

To underline this apparent sharp turn to the left, the Tele added a red hammer and sickle and used a red background.

“In the most radical redistribution of wealth since the Whitlam era, the Treasurer’s fifth budget last night locked in a major broken election promise by slashing negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount,” the Sydney tabloid said.

In Victoria, the treasurer was portrayed a deathly shade of blue as “The Jim Reaper”. The coffin theme was embraced by the Herald Sun as election promises were “dead and buried” and investors were given “last rites”.…