Aussie credit rating at risk, Treasurer calls for support to cut deficit

Sydney

AUSTRALIA'S Treasurer Scott Morrison warned of risks to the nation's top credit rating and urged opposition and minor party lawmakers to back plans aimed at curbing the budget deficit.

Australia's credit score "remains more generally under risk because of the impact of global parameters hitting our budget", Mr Morrison said in a television interview on Sunday with Sky News. "It will be difficult to retain that rating under existing economic circumstances, and we'll work very hard to achieve it, but what makes that job easier is passing savings that restore the budget to balance."