Costello gives something back

摘要

There was an unwelcome guest at the celebration that Australia's conservative coalition government, led by John Howard, hoped would greet the budget on May 9th, marking its ten years in power. Peter Costello, Mr Howard's treasurer (finance minister), certainly offered something to cheer about. He announced income-tax cuts worth nearly A$37 billion ($28 billion) over four years, a scale of largesse that staggered almost everyone.