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Defence and Border Protection Top Priority
Monday, April 8, 2002
By Kerry Taylor
The Age Company

Defence and border protection were the highest priority for the budget, federal Treasurer Peter Costello said yesterday.

The government was funding involvement in the war against terror, border protection, continuing East Timor engagement and capital investment.

"There are many legitimate demands that people have in the budget round, but the government's priority is strong defence and strong border protection. That is going to go before other legitimate claims in this budget," he said in Melbourne.

Mr Costello would not be drawn on whether this would be his last budget as Treasurer, with Prime Minister John Howard set to consider his future next year.
(More: TheAge.com News Source)
2002 © The Age Company, Ltd.

Dan