Scoop's Budget 2005 Coverage

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Scoop Analysis: Budget 2005 A Very Political Baby Indeed!

NZ Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen briefs journalists on this year's Budget this morning.

Asked if this was his best, worst or perhaps just a middling sort of budget in today's lock-up press conference Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen responded: Like my children I love them all equally, but not always simultaneously. Like each of his four previous efforts, Dr Cullens Budget 2005 is a mixture of fiscal conservatism, thriftyness and guile tied up with a bunch of promises of future benefits if we can but see the wood for the trees. See... Sludge Report #167 - A Very Political Budget and Budget 2005 - Scoop Photo Essay

Cullen Details Key Points Of Budget 2005 - Budget 2005 delivers large increases in social spending together with significant cuts to business tax and a package to encourage New Zealanders to save, Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. Dr Cullen said the budget continued the governments commitment to maintaining a strong fiscal stance, supporting economic growth and building a fair and inclusive society. The savings and tax packages would encourage businesses and households to save and invest while the indexation of income tax thresholds from 1 April 2008 would give people a secure financial environment in which to plan. See... A budget for a more secure future

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Prime Minister Says Budget Builds Strong Foundation - Prime Minister Helen Clark says Budget 2005 is another important step in building strong foundations for sustainable growth, making social investments, and helping New Zealanders build a stake in their country. See... Budget 2005: fair, responsible, inclusive

Scoop Photo-Essay: Budget Day In The Lock-Up - Locked in a Logans Run type environment for two hours, more than a hundred lucky people where given the guts of Budget 2005 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Michael Cullen. See... Budget 2005 - Scoop Photo Essay

For the latest headlines and reaction see..
PARLIAMENT WIRE..., POLITICS WIRE..., BUSINESS WIRE..., EDUCATION WIRE..., HEALTH WIRE...

BUDGET 2005: HEADLINES

Scoop Budget 2005 Coverage Details - Scoop Media is providing extensive coverage throughout today on Finance Minister Michael Cullen's Budget 2005. Scoop co-editor Alastair Thompson and chief reporter Kevin List have been analyzing the detail and fine-print from within the Government's lock-up from mid-morning until early afternoon (May 19 2005). See... Scoop To Provide Extensive Coverage of Budget 2005

Budget 2005: KiwiSaver Represents Govt's Commitment To Retirement Savings - The creation of KiwiSaver complements the government's commitment to ensuring New Zealanders can enjoy a decent income when they retire, says Finance Minister Michael Cullen. See... A major advance for retirement savings

Budget 2005: Govt Announces Pro-Business Tax Suit - Budget 2005 reinforces the governments commitment to economic growth, delivering a multi-million dollar suite of pro-business tax changes, Finance Minister Michael Cullen says. He said the package more than delivered on the governments promise to recycle back to business any revenue received from the carbon charge. See Multimillion dollar suite of pro-business tax cuts

Budget 2005: Home Ownership Within Grasp - "The Kiwi dream of owning your own home will be brought within the grasp of thousands more New Zealanders each year as a result of Budget 2005," says Housing Minister Steve Maharey. See... A hand up to home ownership

Budget 2005: Saving Package Designed To Help NZers To Save - "Budget 2005 will help New Zealanders to save, giving them greater security and choice and strengthening the economy," says Finance Minister Michael Cullen. See... Securing Your Future: budget savings package

Budget 2005: Health Budget Gets $969million Over Next 12 Months - The governments commitment to effective and responsive health services for all New Zealanders is reflected in new budget spending of $969.7 million in 2005-06 and $4.09 billion over the next four years, Health Minister Annette King says. See Vote Health the largest ever

RELATED LINKS:For the full text (when released) of the budget see...
TREASURY BUDGET 2005 WEBSITE
See also the BEEHIVE BUDGET PAGE

For previous budgets see...
BUDGET 2004 - BUDGET 2003 - BUDGET 2002 - BUDGET 2001 & BUDGET 2000

BUDGET 2005 SCOOP COMMENTARY

C.D. Sludge
Asked if this was his best, worst or perhaps just a middling sort of budget in today's lock-up press conference Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen responded: Like my children I love them all equally, but not always simultaneously. Like each of his four previous efforts, Dr Cullens Budget 2005 is a mixture of fiscal conservatism, thriftyness and guile tied up with a bunch of promises of future benefits if we can but see the wood for the trees. See... Sludge Report #167 - A Very Political Budget

Keith Ng
The 2005 Budget Lunch delivered few surprises and commentators agree that, while it was not the usual pre-election splurge of a Budget Lunch, it satisfied the needs of its key stakeholders with its close attention to detail and well-targeted programme...See Keith Ng - 2005 Budget Lunch Special

Russell Brown
First, the government is now officially planning on a mid-September election. Second, this ought to be clear by now: Michael Cullen does not see tax relief as an end in itself, but as an overall policy instrument... See Russell Brown - Budget Blog: Short Version

Peter Cresswell
Helen Clark is saying this morning that all the talk of tax cuts prior to the Budget announcement was the result of journalists interviewing their typewriters. "Tax cuts don't do much for low-income earners," said a Labour Prime Minister offering nothing ... See... Peter Cresswell: Budget, and Tsunami Aid

Other Media & Blogosphere
NZ Herald - Budget 2005: Big tax secret turns into damp squib Stuff - Years before Budget delivers Just Left (Labour) - A solid budget Frogblog (Greens) - Of-pumpkins-and-hip-hop-tours Hidesight (ACT) - Budget 2005 Not PC Blogspot - Fisking the Budget No Right Turn - Sir Humphreys - Budget failure for Government ... See... Budget 2005 News And Web Diary Links

BUDGET 2005 POST BUDGET DAY DEVELOPMENTS

Cullen Snaps Back At National Finance Spokesman - Finance Minister Michael Cullen today welcomed John Keys acknowledgement that National would fund its tax cuts by cuts to spending, probably including health and education. See... Cullen welcomes Key lines
MORE DAY AFTER COMMENT FROM GOVT:

Govt. - Funding boost for Antarctic work and education

Govt. - Healthcare Providers' CEO's comments bizarre

Govt. Cullen - Post Budget Speech

Govt. - Hodgson: Speech to Enrolled Nurse's Conference

Govt. - Prime Minister: Post budget speech 2005

Progressive - See... robson-on-politics Budget 2005

OPPOSITION COMMENT THE DAY AFTER:

ACT - Liberty Belle

NZ First - Pathetic Response To Grave Situation

United Future - United Future Fingers All Over Budget Financials

National - Budget '05: Labour ignores justice needs

National - Transport increase barely covers exiting projects

National - Budget 05: Gone before it arrives

ACT - ACT launches tax petition after budget backlash

NZ First - This Election Is A Three Horse Race

National - Budget '05: Biosecurity funding more Labour spin

BUDGET 2005 THE REACTION - FULL COVERAGE

BUDGET DEBATE SPEECHES

Don Brash - Budget 05: Opportunity Lost For All NZers

Govt - Cullen Says Brash in mire

Govt - Cullen welcomes Key lines

Govt - Healthcare Providers' CEO's comments bizarre

Parliamentary Reaction:
National

National - Transport increase barely covers exiting projects

National - Budget 05: Gone before it arrives

National - Budget 2005: Insult to working NZers

National - Budget 2005: Police Get Too Little, Too Late

National - Budget 05: Opportunity Lost For NZers

National - Budget 2005: Poor Health Legacy Continues

National - Education bureaucracy big Budget winner

Progressive Party

Progressives - Economic growth supported by whole of government

Progressives - Don't turn the clock back with National

Progressives - Building the conditions for economic growth

Greens

Greens - Budget 2005 - Rod Donald MP, Green Party Co-Leader

Greens Greens agnostic on Budget

The Maori Party

Maori Party - Visionless Budget Punishes Treaty Partner

NZ First

NZ First - Cullen Budget The Revenge Of The Nerd

NZ First - Budget Blues for Schools

NZ First - Who is the Weakest Link?

NZ First - Budget Just Dampening Down Hot Spots In Education

ACT

ACT - Liberty Belle

ACT - Cullens Budget a sick joke

ACT - ACT spokesmen respond to the Budget

United Future

United - Copeland: UF helps people into their first homes

United - United Futures focus on families pays dividends

United - Law and order: Good start, but think smarter

United - Copeland pleased with tax bracket changes

United - Literacy, numeracy, schools: all in UF's checklist

United - Copeland: UF helps people into their first homes

United - UF's $27.7m to get beneficiaries back to work

United - Health: Good direction; more needed

United - Dunne on Budget: breaking the tax logjam

United - Dunne: UF delivers $300m Budget package

United - Housing funding needs to target first home buyers

United - Alexander: Elderly care funding to survive

Non Parliamentary Political Reaction:

Advance NZ - Cullen's 'Bodge it' Budget

Libertarianz - Cullen's Super-socialistic Budget is Atrocious

Health Sector Reaction:

Breast Cancer Action Trust - Vulnerable Cancer Patients Treated As Low Priority

Medical Association - Budget boost for medical students welcomed

Age Concern - Elder Abuse & Neglect Prevention funding welcomed

Medical Students' Assn - Medical students commend increase in Intern grant

Plunket - Budget 2005 delivers small package for families

Nurses Organisation - Govt. fails to live up to its promise on aged-care

Healthcare Providers - No Budget Money For Providers Of Residential Care

Education Sector Reaction:

ITF - Real budget for industry training in June

Kindergartens - Children the winners says NZ Kindergartens

Quality Public Education Coalition - QPEC - Education the Big Loser in 2005 Budget - QPEC

Auckland University Students Association - Budget all Fizz, No Bang for Students

Association of University Staff - University staff call for more investment

Early Childhood Council - ECE Funding Increase Welcomed

NZUSA - Budget improvements wont tackle student debt

ATSA - Budget message loud and clear.

OUSA - Students express disappointment at meagre budget

Vice Chancellors' Committee - University Investment Welcomed

AUS - AUS Tertiary Update

UCSA - Canterbury Students to Burn Budget

NZSTA - Trustees disappointed in govt. funding response

NZEI - NZEI Te Riu Roa Gives Budget 6 Out Of 10

OPSA - Labour adds 'Parent Debt' to graduate-debt crisis

Student Job Search - Changes to student allowance threshold welcomed

Union Reaction:

Council of Trade Unions - Budget covers the main bases - CTU

Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union - KiwiSaver good for workers, says union

Nurses Organisation - Govt. fails to live up to its promise on aged-care

Business Sector Reaction:

Russell Investments - Russell Investment Group Budget Commentary

Infometrics - Overdoing the gloom

BNZ - BNZ Weekly Overview - The Week Gone By

Staples Rodway - Government misses prime opportunity says expert

AMP - Budget initiatives 'a great start', says AMP

Maxim Institute - Budget fails to recognise top teachers

New Zealand Business Roundtable - Over-Spending and Over-Taxing Stifling Growth

Federated Farmers Budget: Minister Highlights Federation's Argument

Federated Farmers - Government Listens To Federated Farmers

Business New Zealand - Budget a great lost opportunity

Employers and Manufacturers Association Northern - Timid Budget

Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce - Chamber Welcomes Funding for Trade Agreement Negot

NZ Council for Infrastructure Development - Land transport budget increase business as usual

Auckland Chamber - A Budget to Manage Downturn, Not Lock-In Growth

Wellington Chamber - Wgtn Regional Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Budget

Spicers - Kiwisaver Scheme Fails to Address Savings Problem

ITF - Real budget for industry training in June

Federated Farmers - Budget Disappoints On Local Government

Newmarket Business Association - Dr Cullen Delivers Two-Finger Salute To Business

Other Reaction

World Vision - Budget: Could do better says World Vision head

Glenfield Ratepayers - Budget Gives to Business But Not to Ratepayers

Save The Children - Budget Is Hit And Miss For Children

NZCCSS - Budget Must Be An Election Year

Maxim - Budget fails to recognise top teachers

Salvation Army - Sallies Say BUDGET 05 is Promising & Disappointing

Council for International Development - Aid budget increase wont meet our promises

Caritas - Budget 2005: Hits and Misses

Automobile Association - Good and Bad News for Motorists in Budget

NZBio - NZBio congratulates the Government

ACRI - Sustained investment in science supports wealth

Te Mana Akonga - Budget 2005: Nothing for Maori

NZ On Air - More to Spend on Broadcasting

Auckland Museum - Budget money for Auckland Museum welcomed

Wellington City Council - Council welcomes Budget housing allocation

Manukau City Council - Manukau Libraries in Line With NZ Digital Strategy

North Shore City - Extra Police resources great news, says Mayor

BUDGET 2005 THE PRESS KIT
(Note see also pre-budget announcements below)

The Budget Speech
Budget 2005: Cullen Full Speech Notes - I move, that the Appropriation (2005/06 Estimates) Bill be now read a second time. Budget 2005 is about securing the future. Securing the future for the nation as a whole and securing the future for New Zealand families and New Zealanders individually. See... Budget 2005 Michael Cullen Speech (Full Speech)

Leaders Statements

Helen Clark - Budget 2005: fair, responsible, inclusive

SUMMARY SHEETS

Govt. - Budget Summary: Budget 2005 at a glance

Govt - Budget 2005: Promoting opportunity

Govt - Budget 2005: Making New Zealand safe

Govt - Budget 05-Protecting NZ's environment and heritage

Economy

Govt - Multimillion dollar suite of pro-business tax cuts

Govt - Boost for sustainable business practice

Govt - $100 million focus on jobs

Govt - Anderton - Building capability into the economy

Govt - Securing Your Future: questions and answers

Govt - KiwiSaver indicative balances

Govt - Income tax inflation indexed from 1 April 2008

Education

Govt - More teachers and funding for schools

Govt - Investment in technology in schools nears $60m

Govt - Quality in education critical to Mâori success

Govt - Effective schools funding rises to $28.5 million

Govt - Investing in early childhood education

Govt - Increased support for tertiary students

Govt - $44.6m for apprentices and industry skills

Govt - Budget: 2005: Tertiary Overview

Welfare

Govt - A sure start for children in need

Health

Govt - Older peoples needs recognised in budget

Govt - $71 million boost for residential aged care

Govt - $19.4m for injury treatment and rehabilitation

Govt - $59 million for disability support services

Govt - Government honours pledge to pay nurses fairly

Govt - Low cost health care visits for 18 to 24 year olds

Housing

Govt - $22.6 million of new funding for building services

Govt - Housing increase targets those in need

Govt - A hand up to home ownership

Law, Order & Security

Govt - $3 million towards global disarmament

Govt - Enhanced security for overseas posts

Govt - $156.5 million to ease Courts, justice pressures

Govt - Record police resources deliver record results

Research, Growth And Innovation Framework

Govt - $204 million boost for innovation

Govt - Boost for sustainable business practice

Art, Culture And Sport

Government boosts biosecurity again

Govt - $30 million boost for public broadcasting

Govt - Volunteers and regions get sport boost

Trade and Foreign Affairs

Govt - Funding boost for Antarctic work and education

Govt - Trade negotiations strength boosted

Govt - Increasing NZ's overseas aid

Govt - Government keeps Asian relations to fore

Other Stuff - Maori, State Sector, Local Govt

Govt - Tamihere Address: To Maori Leaders at AUT Forum

Govt - Realising Mâori potential

Govt - Minister for Ethnic Affairs

Govt - $8.9 million budget boost for tourism

Govt - $300 million more for land transport

BUDGET 2005 PREVIEWS

Every Child Counts Org Identifies Key Budget Expectations - With Budget 2005 set to be delivered this afternoon, Every Child Counts has identified some key initiatives that would improve the status of New Zealand children and contribute to sustainable social and economic development. The Budget is a unique opportunity for the Government to resource programmes that will make a measurable difference to children, and to New Zealands future, says Every Child Counts spokesperson Murray Edridge. See... Hopes that Budget 2005 will make every child count
ALSO:

Govt - Budget 2005: Greater Choice For Working Parents

Govt - Parenting Programme To Reduce Separation Stress

Nats - Parenting courses pale imitation of Don Brash plan

ACT - Shared parenting, not $6m, the answer

PRE BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRE BUDGET GOVERNMENT RELEASES:

Protection for Antarctica's history and artefacts

Support boosted for arts and heritage organisation

Budget 2005: Greater choice for working parents

Funding boost to help released inmates

Treaty exhibition to tour

Parenting programme to reduce separation stress

Digital Strategy Launched