Australia to press on with economic reforms

MELBOURNE – Australian Treasurer Peter Costello vowed yesterday no let-up in economic reforms after a glowing report from the IMF on Australia’s economy predicted 3,75 per cent growth in 2004.

Costello said the annual International Monetary Fund review of the economy recognised that Australia had outperformed almost every other developed country in recent years. “This really is a stand-out report, but we shouldn’t rest on our laurels,” said Costello, the anointed successor of Prime Minister John Howard.”What we should do is take the reform agenda of today and we’ve got to build the opportunities of tomorrow.”Costello is widely expected to take over as prime minister during the current three-year parliamentary term, after an election victory last month won largely on the strength of the government’s economic track record.-Nampa-AFP”This really is a stand-out report, but we shouldn’t rest on our laurels,” said Costello, the anointed successor of Prime Minister John Howard.”What we should do is take the reform agenda of today and we’ve got to build the opportunities of tomorrow.”Costello is widely expected to take over as prime minister during the current three-year parliamentary term, after an election victory last month won largely on the strength of the government’s economic track record.-Nampa-AFP