Cullen Budget “The Revenge Of The Nerd”
Rt Hon Winston Peters has described this year’s Budget as like a fiscal version of a bad film script – full of bad
grammar, laughter in the wrong places and events that don’t happen.
Mr Peters said that if the Government is going to keep overtaxing New Zealanders then they should at least increase
spending where it counts on social services, the elderly and protecting our borders. This Budget fails on all these
counts.
“It is a Budget of bizarre priorities which emanates from Labour’s strategy of focus group polling and trying to keep
pressure groups happy and pandering to immigrants.
“For example, this Government will spend millions keeping ethnic communities happy but will not spend one cent raising
superannuation for struggling New Zealand seniors. In fact, there aren’t even sufficient funds for the promised rates
rebates to seniors if all those eligible apply .
“There is nothing in this Budget which seriously addresses our border security issues and no increased funding for
essential work at the Immigration Service, despite the clear failure of this department.
“This Government has abandoned any prospect of growing exports and has conceded that they will decline over the next few
years.
“All the extra money going into health and education barely allow these sectors to tread water.”
Mr Peters said he supported the increased funding to residential and home based care for older people and he was pleased
the government had finally recognised the importance of improving our savings record, although the measures outlined
wont work.
“Unfortunately though there is no real vision or blueprint for the future. Dr Cullen had a chance to write a script of
hope but he churned out a flop. His computer will be taken from him at the next election,” warned Mr Peters.
ENDS