Australian GDP affected

Australian GDP affected

SYDNEY (Reuter): Westpac Banking Corp. managing director Bob
Joss said yesterday he expected the financial crisis in the
Southeast Asian region to cut into Australian economic growth
next year.

"I think it will definitely impact on the Australian economy.
It is very likely that there could be some moderating impact on
our growth next year because we are such an important trade
partner with the region," Joss told reporters after giving a
speech to a banking function.

"(The impact could be) perhaps a quarter of a percent per
annum, something of that magnitude," he said.

"It is a hard thing to estimate but it has got to have some
dampening effect."