18 MAY 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Government’s decision to pre-allocate $15 million for any recommendations made by an advisory group on public media is putting the cart before the horse, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke says “The advisory group on public media could come up with an array of poor recommendations, or advocate spending less than $15 million. Pre-allocating funding means the full $15 million will likely be spent anyway.”

“Government policy shouldn't be a game of lucky dip – especially when taxpayers are footing the bill. It would be more fiscally prudent for the Minister to wait for the advisory group’s recommendations, examine their costs and benefits, and make a budget bid in the following year.”

ENDS

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