Libs slam Labor over budget deficit leak

The opposition has accused the federal government of playing politics by leaking the
size of the deficit of the eve of the federal budget.
The Seven Network reported Tuesday's budget would reveal a $58 billion deficit.
Seven described the figure as official.
Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey told reporters that Labor had lost control
of the nation's finances.
"It is unprecedented to have this sort of information leaked prior to budget night,"
Mr Hockey said.
"It is clearly a strategy based on politics, not on the best interests of the
Australian people."
Mr Hockey said $58 billion would make the deficit the biggest in modern history.
And it came despite predictions from the Reserve Bank of Australia that the current
downturn wouldn't be as severe at the economic slowdown in the 1990s.
"(They are) putting a debt burden on every child, every adult around today," Mr
Hockey said.
Economists had expected a budget deficit of between $50 billion and $70 billion for
2009/10 which, at five per cent of gross domestic product, would be greater than the
shortfall of the last two recessions in 1980s and 1990s.
In the Updated Economic and Fiscal Outlook, released in February, the government had
forecast a $35.5 billion budget shortfall.
Treasurer Wayne Swan has refused to comment on the size of the deficit ahead of
Tuesday's budget.
He will hand down what he has described as a tough budget at 7.30pm (AEST).