Responding to the Prime Minister’s pre-Budget speech, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Christopher Luxon is talking about fiscal responsibility while announcing nearly $3,780 per household in additional government spending.”

“A $2.1 billion operating package is not restraint - it is still $2.1 billion more spending. And increasing the capital package to $5.7 billion, when December’s Budget Policy Statement had it at $3.5 billion, is a $1,065-per-household blowout before Budget Day has even arrived.”

“If the Government is serious about getting debt down and returning to surplus, this should be a ‘zero Budget’ with no new net spending, like John Key’s 2011 Budget. Every dollar of new spending should be matched by a dollar of savings.”

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