After Labor targeted the threat of One Nation in a recent appeal to supporters for donations, the insurgents played tit for tat.

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One Nation on Wednesday launched its own fund-raising campaign around the slogan "Fire the Liar". By evening it claimed to have raised well over $1 million, rising fast.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cast doubt on the numbers. Other Labor sources suggested it was a scam. One Nation said it would have the fund independently audited. That produced a tick.

Putting aside the dispute over figures, given One Nation's popularity surge, there are multiple reasons why alienated voters might be donating to its campaign. Among them, Albanese's cavalier breaking of election promises has poured kerosene on the fire under a party that can no longer be called "minor".

This week marked another big step in the so far unstoppable One Nation march this year. Having put the Liberals on the mat, and now become the top party on primary votes in the polls, it declared it was turning its attention to Labor. Trucks with billboards headed to the electorates held by Albanese and Energy Minister Chris Bowen in Sydney. At the least, One Nation is messing with the PM's mind.

Let's return to that issue of the budget's broken promises. Does breaking your word in politics matter?

Some respected economic and political commentators have argued breaking promises in the budget is of no consequence - indeed, it was necessary and desirable.

Their justifications include: all politicians do it; the tax changes are good policy; Albanese has a big majority and should use it to bring about reform.

It's true most prime ministers have broken major promises: Bob Hawke (tax cuts), Paul Keating (tax cuts), John Howard (the "never, ever" GST, although he did take his plan to a subsequent election); Julia Gillard (no carbon tax); Tony Abbott (no cuts to various things).

It's also true big majorities provide the opportunity to undertake reforms that otherwise wouldn't get done because they're too hard politically.

But the........

© Canberra Times