Fed: ALP committed to Budget surpluses: Crean

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2000
Fed: ALP committed to Budget surpluses: Crean

Deputy Opposition Leader SIMON CREAN says a federal Labor government would deliver
budget surpluses, despite promises to wind back the impact of the GST.

Opposition Leader KIM BEAZLEY has come under fire for berating the government for slashing
welfare spending and for wiping out the budget surplus with GST handouts.

Treasurer PETER COSTELLO has accused the Labor leader of walking both sides of the
street, while Mr BEAZLEY says the government had squandered billions on GST compensation,
with $1,600 million handed out last week alone.

Mr CREAN says it's this budget recklessness which most concerns the opposition -- and
the fact that the government has gone soft on cracking down on tax avoiders.

The opposition treasury spokesman has declined to say how far Labor's GST rollback
could go, but he's joined Mr BEAZLEY in ruling out any reversal of ALP opposition to the
sale of Telstra.

AAP RTV rft/dmc/rt

KEYWORD: BUDGET CREAN (CANBERRA)

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