Dec 17 (Reuters) -
* FITCH RTGS: AUSTRALIA'S STATE GOVERNMENT DEBTS A RELEVANT SOVEREIGN RATING DRIVER
* FITCH -AUSTRALIA'S STATE AGGREGATE FISCAL DEFICITS FORECAST TO REMAIN ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS THROUGH TO FY24
* FITCH ON AUSTRALIA SAYS STATE GOVERNMENT DEBT WOULD INCREASE FROM ABOUT 8% OF NATIONAL GDP IN FY19 TO AROUND 22% BY FY24
* FITCH - IF GENERAL GOVERNMENT DEBT REMAINS ON UPWARD TREND AS A RESULT OF DYNAMICS AT STATE LEVEL THIS COULD ADD TO DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON AUSTRALIA'S RATING
* FITCH -BELIEVES THAT FISCAL DEFICIT RESULTS WILL BE NARROWER THAN PROJECTED IN RECENT AUSTRALIAN STATE, FEDERAL BUDGETS