FED: Keep budget in surplus says Costello

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2000
FED: Keep budget in surplus says Costello

Mr Costello said this also applied to demands for the government to extend the assistance
given to sacked National Textiles workers, to ensure all retrenched employees are given
their full entitlements.

"All measures that involve government expenditure have to be, in my view, rigorously
examined," he said.

"We have to keep our budget in surplus."

He said it was also essential to keep a firm hand on spending if taxes were to remain low.

"If you want to keep taxes low, which I do, you've got to rigorously examine spending
proposal," he said.

"We've got to be disciplined on our spending."

He refused to speculate on what measures might be included in the budget.

But Mr Costello said if the government was able to sell the rest of Telstra, it would
be able to wipe out government debt, allowing taxes to be used to build up national infrastructure.

"Taxes, instead of going to pay interest on past bills, can build assets for future
generations," he said.

AAP ss/ska

KEYWORD: BUDGET COSTELLO 2 CANBERRA

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.