Vic: $3.8 billion torn from coffers in election year budget

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2010
Vic: $3.8 billion torn from coffers in election year budget

Treasury figures show the Victorian government has to plug a 3.8-billion dollar hole
in state coffers .. as it prepares its election year budget.

The figures reveal for the first time state revenues will have hemorrhaged almost four
billion dollars by 2012 .. based on forward estimates set in 2008 before the downturn.

Treasurer JOHN LENDERS says the state is over the worst of the financial crisis ..

but the economy is still fragile.

Flagging a budget centred on health and police .. the treasurer's ruled out any tax
increases this year .. but he's also scuppered hopes of tax relief .. saying it's highly
unlikely any government will make cuts in the current environment.

AAP RTV cmb/crh/psm/

KEYWORD: BUDGETVIC (MELBOURNE)

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