17 August 2005

Brash cash slashed

Don Brash slashed his own care workers' petrol promise just hours before giving it, says Associate Health Minister Pete Hodgson.

"In a briefing on Monday it was closer to $40 million, but by yesterday lunchtime it had been slashed to $19m," said Pete Hodgson.

Don Brash said the $19 million was "just an estimate" and that he "can't be precise."

"This man wants to be Prime Minister yet can neither cost nor stick by a simple promise. It's clear he needs every cent he can grab for his tax cuts and he does not care where it comes from. In his statement announcing the pledge he linked paying for it to scraping subsidised doctors visits for hard working New Zealanders."

ENDS

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