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Politics
Billions lost in Senate stalemates
THE Abbott government could lose up to $119 billion over 10 years in savings promised in last year's budget, if it fails to get the Senate crossbench on-side.
The savings announced in last year's budget, but not legislated, were detailed in a Parliamentary Budget Office report on budget bills for Queensland Liberal backbencher Andrew Laming.
It shows the Senate blockages have cost the government up to $19 billion over the forward estimates on key budget bills.
Among the bills were cuts to increases to aged pensions, the higher education reforms and the now-abandoned GP co-payment.
