Scrooge Surplus At Cost Of Surgery

The Government’s financial position reflects a miserable string of broken promises rather than any economic expertise according to New Zealand First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

Mr Peters said the operating surplus of $909m for the four months ending 31 October 2002 is cold comfort for New Zealanders expecting an improved public health system.

“Labour can wipe the smirk from its face because all the figures show is that the Government has benefited from a low exchange rate, bumper farm production and money saved from promised state spending.

“Labour are fooling themselves if they think a surplus, a large proportion of which is the result of delays in contracting for basic healthcare, will deflect from all their broken promises over extra funding in areas such as health and police numbers,” said Mr Peters.

“New Zealanders faced with paying for and suffering long delays in elective surgery would not be surprised at the figures released today, nor would they appreciate the Government profiting at their expense.

“The Government is simply achieving its surplus at the cost of ordinary New Zealanders,” said Mr Peters.

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