Spending is higher as a proportion of GDP today than it was under the global financial crisis — higher today, Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese told FIVEaa radio on May 25, 2016.
Mr Albanese's claim is incorrect. Budget figures show the Labor government spent 25.1 per cent of GDP in 2008-09 and 26 per cent in 2009-10, the two years affected by the GFC. The budget estimates the Coalition Government will spend 25.8 per cent of GDP this financial year. As spending peaked at 26 per cent during the GFC, Mr Albanese cannot say that current spending is higher.
Fact check: Is government spending today higher than it was in the GFC?
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