14 May 2008
Balancing the Budget
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Swan lite, a nip and tuck, a highwire act, or a morphing Robin Hood - it depends on your perspective but those are some of the lines being used to describe Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and his first federal budget.
It aims to bring inflation under control, make good on the promised tax cuts, set aside the surplus for infrastructure and nation building, and reign in "middle class welfare" in favour of helping "working families".
By July next year over $40 billion in accumulated surpluses will flow into three funds for long term spending on Infrastructure, Education, and Health. Is this the best way to utilise our budget surpluses and will the budget deliver on the promise to curb inflation?
Guests
Peter Martin
Economics editor, Canberra Times
John Nicolaou
Chief economist, West Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ross Gittins
Economic columnist The Sydney Morning Herald and the Age
Lin Hatfield Dodds
President Australian Council of Social Service
Neil Warren
Head of the Australian School of Taxation, University of New South Wales
Presenter
Paul Barclay
Story Researcher and Producer
Debra McCoy
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