Reported leaks from Australia's 2008/09 budget
CANBERRA, May 5 (Reuters) - Following is a list of reported leaks of Australia's 2008/09 budget, which is due to be announced by Treasurer Wayne Swan on May 13.
The budget will be the first by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's centre-left Labor Party, which won power last November after almost 12 years in opposition. Labor last delivered a national budget in 1995.
The Treasury Department's pre-election budget review, released in October, forecast an underlying surplus of A$14.4 billion ($13.6 billion) or 1.3 percent of GDP for 2007/08, and a A$14.3 billion surplus, or 1.2 percent of GDP, for 2008/09.
A Reuters poll of 13 market economists suggests the budget will deliver a record surplus in 2008/09, with a median forecast of A$19 billion. For more double-click on [ID:nSYD243314].
The government has promised to deliver a surplus of at least 1.5 percent of GDP in order to curb inflationary pressures.
Reuters has not verified the accuracy of leaks reported by media.
New items are marked by an asterisk.
SURPLUS/ECONOMY
* Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said the government would reach its target of A$3 to A$4 billion of annual cuts to outlays. Continued...
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