Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Budget "like giving a starving dog a rubber bone"

Election year budget "like giving a starving dog a rubber bone" - PSA


Steven Joyce’s first budget is a predictable election year bribe that which will do as little for low-income families as it will for public services, says the PSA.

In place of the long-promised targeted tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners, National has delivered for wealthy New Zealanders - while some vulnerable families will be worse off.

PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay says it’s a budget that lacks compassion or any real sense of purpose beyond being re-elected.

"For eight years, National’s been promising a budget that would allow all New Zealanders to share in the fruits of a relatively strong economy," Mr Barclay says.

"Along with hard-working Kiwi families, public servants were hoping for a budget with heart.

"But this isn’t it.

"We’re deeply disappointed at the lack of substance in this budget, and it reinforces our view that New Zealand needs a change of heart."

PSA members said they wanted proper funding for equal pay, a significant injection of cash and resources for health (particularly mental health), and urgent action on housing in Auckland.

Mr Barclay says none of this has been delivered.

"This budget is about style over substance.

"There is no leeway for further equal pay claims, and a cosmetic top up to DHB budgets which won’t help them keep pace with demand and cost pressures.

"In mental health, it’s like giving a starving dog a rubber bone.

"There is some extra funding, but it’s very light on detail and nowhere near what’s needed.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"People will continue to wait for treatment, and Minister Coleman will continue to pretend there’s no crisis.

"And apart from the increase to the accommodation supplement, it’s hard to identify any movement on housing."

Mr Barclay says this budget shows a government that’s content to do the bare minimum - and has run out of ideas other than its highly questionable social investment strategy.

"For example, we’re disappointed Oranga Tamariki doesn’t have enough money to move from crisis mode to making a real difference for children who urgently need it.

"New Zealand needs a change of heart, but this budget doesn’t deliver it.

"It’s a missed opportunity from National and shows them to be a government lacking in inspiration and out of ideas.

"Kiwi families and workers deserve better than this."

ENDS


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.