The Australian Financial Review --- Page: 5 : 19 February 2007 Original article by Tracy Sutherland
ABIX Summary
The Australian Government will try to focus the 2007 election campaign on the economy and away from the Iraq war. The Prime Minister, John Howard, and Treasurer, Peter Costello, will attempt to repeat their 2004 victory by again claiming that they are better economic managers and that the Australian Labor Party does not have the experience needed. However interest rates have risen four times since then, raising questions about the strategy. Labor's Treasury spokesman, Wayne Swan, said families were spending more of their income on mortgage repayments than ever before.
