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NSW: Rees' first budget to include a few surprises


16 Jun 2009 2:37 AM

NSW Premier NATHAN REES says his first budget will include a few surprises when it is handed down today .. but has confirmed it'll drag the state's economy into the red.

Mr REES .. and Treasurer ERIC ROOZENDAAL .. say their first budget will include a deficit of 1.3 billion dollars .. lower than the two billion indicated in the latest monthly account figures.

Mr ROOZENDAAL says the government has a plan to return the budget to surplus.

Most of the major budget figures have already been leaked .. including a 14.7 billion spend on education .. 15.1 billion for health .. and 4.4 billion for roads.

But Mr REES says there'll be surprises when the budget is handed down at noon (AEST) .. with some measures kept under wraps.

AAP RTV sg/psm/