Australia Aims for Surplus Over the Economic Cycle, Tanner Says

By Jacob Greber

Oct. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Australian Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said the government aims to produce a budget surplus over the course ``of the economic cycle,'' and that international turmoil makes forecasting economic growth difficult.

``It is really very difficult to have any clear picture of next year when you have such extraordinary circumstances internationally,'' Tanner told Sydney-based Channel Ten in an interview broadcast today.

Tanner said the government expects the budget to ``remain in healthy surplus'' for the 12 months through June, 2009, as well as the following year.

``Our commitment is for surplus budgets over the course of the economic cycle,'' he said.

To contact the reporter for this story: Jacob Greber in Sydney at jgreber@bloomberg.net