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Axe NBN to reach surplus: Abbott

Opposition leader Tony Abbott claims the government doesn't have the "ticker' to make tough decisions to avoid further deficit

Axing the National Broadband Network would help bring the federal budget back into surplus next financial year, Opposition leader, Tony Abbott.

But he said he doubts the Gillard government "has the ticker" to make tough financial decisions to avoid further deficit.

A report by Deloitte Access Economics says the budget will be in deficit in both 2012-13 and the election year of 2013-14.

It warns Treasurer Wayne Swan against cobbling the budget into surplus by finding billions in extra savings.

But Abbott says the government must show fiscal responsibility.

"I think it's important that the government gets us back to surplus. I doubt very much that this government has the ticker to do so," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"Obviously if the government does deliver the fiscal responsibility that Australia needs, we'll applaud it."

Asked if he supported the government cutting spending, he said: "There are so many examples of waste under this government, the classic example is the $50 billion-plus National Broadband Network, which will turn out to be one of the all time great white elephants in our history."

Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.

More about: Access Economics, etwork

Comments

1

Tom Brown

Tue 08/11/2011 - 11:00

I think Tony Abbott does not have the ticker to applaud anything the government does!

Consider that the rest of the world applauds the government for their fiscal responsibility and management through the last GFC. Abbott and Hockey would have reduced spending, putting all the responsibility on the ordinary person and the fat cats would still get their million dollar pay rises.

Speaking of fat cats.

Mr Turnbull applauded Qantas COE on Qanda for grounding Quantas. Why, the engineering staff wanted a commitment to Australian operations by the building of an Australian premises and Qantas CEO and Mr Turnbull thought that was something the union had no business in. Mr Turnbull appears to pay lip service only to the concept of Australian made.

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