Oppn costings after PEFO review, Abbott

The coalition will release its policy costings after carefully considering the latest Treasury figures, says Tony Abbott.

Oppn costings after PEFO review, Abbott

Tony Abbott says the PEFO confirmed a $30b deterioration in the budget numbers since May.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the coalition will release its election policy costings after a "thorough consideration" of Treasury's latest update.

Treasury on Tuesday released its Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) statement.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney the PEFO had confirmed a $30 billion deterioration in the government's budget numbers since May.

"The starting off point now is significantly worse than it was back in May when the budget was brought down," Mr Abbott said.

"What we will be doing is telling you exactly how much our policies cost, exactly how we are going to pay for them and everyone will be able to see how the overall budgetary position is better off under the coalition."

Mr Abbott said the coalition's costings would be released much earlier than Labor's were during the 2010 election campaign.

Labor released its full list of costings on the day before the 2010 election.

"We will be starting to announce some of our significant savings after we have had a thorough consideration of the PEFO document," he said.

Mr Abbott was also asked about comments from Liberal backbencher Don Randall, who appeared to suggest in a newspaper article the coalition would reconsider its promises if it wins government.

"He knows what he said was wrong," Mr Abbott said. "I will keep my commitments. We will do exactly what we say we will we do."

Mr Abbott said he would resist any pressure to dump any of his promises, even if the budget position deteriorated further.

"I want to be known as a politician ... who keeps commitments," he said.

The opposition leader said he wanted to restore public trust in government, which had been trashed by Labor's "appalling" and "scandalous" promise-breaking.

Mr Abbott said he would be releasing his paid parental leave scheme details "soon" and the policy would become operational in the first term of a coalition government.

He also again dismissed Labor's claims that a coalition government was planning to change the GST.

"The GST won't change. Full stop. End of story."


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Source: AAP


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