Australian Senate passes A$42Billion Stimulus

Australian Senate passes A$42bn stimulus plan
By Kevin Brown in Hong Kong
Published: February 12 2009 07:41 | Last updated: February 13 2009 02:43
Australia’s Senate on Friday passed a A$42bn ($27.4bn) economic stimulus package it had blocked the day before after frantic overnight negotiations won a vital extra vote allowing the government to over-ride opposition from conservative parties.

Independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon switched sides after winning a commitment from Wayne Swan, Australia’s Treasurer, that the Labor government would commit almost A$1bn to help improve water flow in the ailing Murray-Darling river system.

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