Budget skips over Warwick roads
HIGHWAY upgrades were a hot item on the Federal Budget, but all roads leading to Warwick were left out of the final cut.
Upgrades on the Bruce and Warrego Hwys received significant boosts, but there were no new funds for the proposed Cunningham, New England and Mt Lindsay projects.
Treasurer Wayne Swan, in handing down his fifth budget since Labor came to power in 2007, achieved - on paper at least - his promised surplus.
The modest $1.5 billion surplus for the 2012-13 financial year was achieved through "saving and redirecting $33.6 billion" over the next four years.
Mr Swan had promised a "fair-go" budget in recent days, and last night he revealed how he would pay for it. The mining boom.
He unveiled a $3.6 billion Spreading the Benefits of the Boom package, which he said had been designed to "share the proceeds of the mining tax with families and small business".
Forward estimates indicate the mining tax will generate $13.4 billion in revenue over four years.
