Australian government prepares to deliver budget
Updated
In Australia both sides of federal politics are talking tough ahead of Tuesday's budget.
The Treasurer Wayne Swan has now locked in the final budget figures and sent them off to the printers.
He says the government has made some hard, but necessary decisions to cut public spending.
"I'm confident that Australians understand the need for tough decisions in this budget," he said.
Opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott says all the tough talk is just that, and he predicts the government will baulk at making substantial cuts to spending.
"What I think we are almost certain to get from this budget is a whole lot of spin," he said.
The minority Greens party want the government to follow through on its talk by scrapping tax cuts promised to high income earners.
