Australian PM Abbott defends unpopular budget

CANBERRA, May 14 (AFP) : Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Wednesday defended his tough first budget which saw swingeing cuts to health and education spending in an attempt to slash the country's massive deficit.
The moves triggered anger and claims of broken election promises, but conservative Abbott said his administration was being upfront with the public about the state of the nation's finances.
"This budget is not about making the government popular," Abbott said.
"This budget is about doing the right thing by our country and that, in the end, is what the voters want."
The plan released Tuesday aims to bring the deficit down from its current Aus$49.9 billion (US$46.6 billion) to Aus$29.8 billion next year, with the government planning to reach a surplus around the end of the decade.