Australian PM calls for full senate support to budget

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 10:10

CANBERRA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Wednesday the federal budget must be passed in its entirety and called on the Senate to give full support to the government.

Referring to the 58 billion-dollar deficit budget which was released by Treasurer Wayne Swan Tuesday night, Rudd said the government must ensure that its policies to boost the economy can be backed up with bi-partisan support.

"These decisions are really, really tough," Rudd told Fairfax Radio Network.

"We believe we have a mandate from the Australian people to serve out our full term but it is really important, absolutely important, that this budget is passed in its entirety," he said.

"We must ensure that our actions to support the economy now and jobs and infrastructure investment, and our pensions and payments on parental leave are supported by the 22 billion dollars in savings," Rudd said.

"That's why it is important, because of the Senate, for us to know whether we have full support, and what on earth is their confused position on temporary borrowing and temporary deficit," he stressed.

In his second budget, Treasurer Swan said Tuesday night that total tax revenue this year will fall 23 billion dollars short of forecasts it made in its budget 12 months ago.

Editor:Zhang Yun