Scoop's Budget 2007 Coverage
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PARLIAMENT WIRE..., POLITICS WIRE..., BUSINESS WIRE..., EDUCATION WIRE..., HEALTH WIRE...
Sludge Report: Save Some - GET MORE!!!
This morning in the wake of such comprehensive signaling of what to expect the pre-lockup working title of the Budget 2007 commentary had been "no surprises". Afterall we knew he was going to lower the company tax rate and grant savings incentives. But after a few hours locked up with what seems to be an alarming number of media and economists the conclusion has to be that this budget is significantly more interesting than expected. And lots of the interesting stuff is in the detail. More >>
- NZ Govt - Cullen: Budget Speech
- NZ Govt - Budget 2007 Executive Summary
- NZ Govt - PM: A sustainable future for New Zealand
- National - Money-go-round Budget fails to deliver
- United Future - United Future's Budget triumphs
- NZ First - Peters Welcomes Progress on Savings
- Progressive Party - Progressive Party bids do well in Budget 2007
- Maori Party - Sharples: Budget Speech
- ACT - Rodney Hide: Speech in reply to the Budget 2007
- Scoop Images and Audio - Budget 2007: The Lockup
- Dr Cullen Budget Lockup Msoft Powerpoint presentation (.ppt file - 4 megabytes)
Also:
Keith Rankin: NZ's 2007 Budget and the Overvalued Dollar - One of the biggest questions that arises from this budget is what impact, if any, will it have on our number one economic problem in 2007, the chronically overvalued exchange rate. The Budget had no impact on the exchange rate on Budget Day (17 May). ... See... More >>
Molesworth & Featherston: Budget 2007 May Surprise - Michael Cullen has unveiled a budget more substantial and containing more surprises than anyone guessed. See... More >>
Transtasman Political Letter - Budget Special - Obscure MP quits his party, shakes the Govt, but Clark says it's business as usual... Cullen's eighth budget could be economically brilliant and politically cunning, but will it impress the punters?... Public disquiet on policing and justice systems ... See... More >>
Scoop Satire: Budget Crisis - Lack of Nickname - Concern is mounting in political and media circles that Michael Cullen's latest budget may not receive a proper nickname. This puts media coverage of an important economic issue in jeopardy and raises the terrifying possibility that no part of the Government's spending programme for the next twelve months will be able to be summed up with throwaway catchphrases. More >>
Employers: Poll Says Business backs Budget - The first poll of business decision makers on last week's Budget shows the majority support moves to require employers to match staff contributions to KiwiSaver. They also support the new 10 cents a litre regional fuel tax, and don't favour immediate personal tax cuts, specially if they lift interest rates. However, they don't think it will close the gap between personal incomes in Australia and New Zealand. More >>
- ALSO:
- Mercer - Employers Forced to Pay More for Less - Survey
- Ernst and Young - KiwiSaver: employers to consider redundancies?
- Aventine Consulting - KiwiSaver - implications for remuneration strategy
- Finsia - Finance Sector Mixed Views on Govt Tax Package
State Of It: Cullen's Burden - Budget 2007
Scoop co-editor Selwyn Manning writes: The burden Michael Cullen carries into Budget 07 is the dilemma: how to deliver to Labour's historical constituency at a time when political pragmatism insists Labour must seduce center/centre-right voters. That burden has now caused much debate within the Labour Party, factions are dividing, and its angst is showing in the polls. The New Zealand Labour Party now faces the same conundrum that the Australia Labor Party (ALP) faced under the Beazly and Latham leaderships: how to win back support from those who have benefited from past Labour policies but who now demand centre-right economic policies as an assurance their wealth will continue to grow. More >>
- (95bFM Audio): The Wire Cullen's Burden: Paul Deady and Scoop's Selwyn Manning discuss why Michael Cullen is being laden with this Budget 07 burden. Really, should we demand tax cuts? What's it all about then?
Also Pre-Budget Analysis:
Pre-Budget Wobbles: UF Lose MP Who Played 'Cat and Mouse Game' In a stage-managed exit United Future MP Gordon Copeland announced he was resigning from his party today but would be staying on in Parliament as an independent MP. More >>
- ALSO:
- National - Instability plagues Labour on Budget eve
BUDGET 2007: HEADLINES
RELATED LINKS:For the full text (when released) of the budget see...
TREASURY BUDGET 2007 WEBSITE
See also the BEEHIVE BUDGET PAGE
For previous budgets see...
BUDGET 2006 - BUDGET 2005 - BUDGET 2004 - BUDGET 2003 - BUDGET 2002 - BUDGET 2001 & BUDGET 2000
Budget Reaction: Poll: Public Verdict Firms On Budget Measures
A rolling nationwide poll shows New Zealanders' verdict on the Budget is firming, with 64% support for company tax cuts and 77% support for KiwiSaver tax credits. These are among the results of a nationally representative online poll being conducted by the independent ShapeNZ panel. The results cover 629 respondents at 5.33am today. Results are weighted by age, gender, personal income and party vote in 2005, and are accurate to within plus or minus 2%. The second interim snapshot shows public opinion firming: 64% agree with the move to cut the company tax rate from 33 to 30% More >>
BUDGET DEBATE SPEECHES - AS PREPARED
SELECTED BUDGET DEBATE SPEECHES- AUDIO AS DELIVERED
Parliamentary Reaction:
Labour
National
Progressive Party
Greens
The Maori Party
NZ First
ACT
United Future
NZ Government (Reaction To Reaction)
Non Parliamentary Political Reaction:
Health Sector Reaction:
Education Sector Reaction:
Union Reaction:
Business Sector Reaction:
Scoop News: Employers Say Cullen Gives With One Hand... - Businesses will not benefit from the 2007 budget as the Government gives with one hand and takes with the other. The Government was praised for the business tax reductions outlined in the budget. However the employer contributions for the KiwiSaver scheme, which is compulsory for employers to offer, will in effect cost companies more than the tax cut received. More >>
Local Government Reaction:
Other Reaction
(Note see also pre-budget announcements below)
The Budget Speech
Coalition Leaders' Statements
SUMMARY SHEETS
Economy
Education
Welfare
Health
Housing
Law, Order & Security
Research, Growth And Innovation Framework
Art, Culture And Sport
Trade and Foreign Affairs
Other Stuff - Maori, State Sector, Local Govt
PRE BUDGET GOVERNMENT RELEASES:
Budget: Peters announces major increase in aid - Significant aid increases in Budget 2007 will allow New Zealand to rapidly redress its low level of overseas aid relative to other OECD donors, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said today. See... More >>
- Also:
- NZ Govt - Record increase for New Zealandâs Aid Budget
- NZ Govt - Foreign aid increase delivers on election policy
- Greens - Aid could finance Pacific climate change projects
- United Future - Dunne: Aid boost long time coming
- Council for International Development - Congratulations and well done, Winston Peters!
- Oxfam - Oxfam welcomes increase in foreign aid
- WWF - WWF-New Zealand welcomes govt increase in aid
Budget 2007 Money To Remodel Cape Reinga - One of New Zealand's premier visitor destinations, Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua), in the Far North, is to get a $6.5 million government-funded make over as part of Budget 2007. "Located a the very tip of New Zealand where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meets, Cape Reinga is home to some of New Zealand's rarest plants and animals. More
Racing: Safety fund, wider write-down rules for racing - An annual $1 million fund to improve racecourse facilities, and an extension of the accelerated bloodstock write-down rules are included in Budget 2007, Racing Minister Winston Peters announced today. See... More >>
- ALSO:
- Greens -
Odds not good for some small clubs despite boost
Tertiary: $129 Million For Universities - Universities are to receive an extra $129 million over the next four years to ensure they can deliver high quality and relevant training that meets our economic and social priorities, Tertiary Education Minister Dr Michael Cullen announced today. "The funding will support the new investing in a plan approach that seeks to ensure universities and other tertiary education organisations are equipped to meet the needs of all stakeholders - students, business, communities and taxpayers," said Dr Cullen. More >>
- ALSO:
- NZ Govt - Cullen: Towards a more vibrant university sector
- NZ Govt - Funding support for higher quality tertiary ed More Education:
- NZ Govt - More funding to expand & develop ECE centres
Tourism: New tourism funding for Chinese market - Tourism Minister Damien OâConnor has announced significant funding for Tourism New Zealand to manage and increase marketing activities in China, and for improvements to the administration of the China Approved Destination Status (ADS). See... Budget 07: New tourism funding for Chinese market
- ALSO:
- National - Chinese marketing millions must be spent wisely
Environment: Budget funds to combat hill country erosion - Budget 2007 has set aside $10 million over the next four years to fund a Sustainable Land Management (Hill Country Erosion) Framework, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton announced today. See... More >>
- ALSO:
- United Future - UF support for tree planting initiative More Environment and Heritage:
- NZ Govt - Budget 2007 will help fight climate change
- NZ Govt - Budget funding to help planning of fisheries
- NZ Govt - Budget bolsters border capability
- NZ Govt - $6.5m makeover for spectacular Cape Reinga
Health: Largest-ever investment in health of older people - The largest-ever investment in care and support of the elderly will see $150 million over four years invested in residential care and another $81.2 million in helping them stay in their own homes if they wish, Health Minister Pete Hodgson says.Largest-ever investment in health of older people
- ALSO:
- NZ First - NZ First Welcomes Huge Injection Into Eldercare More Health:
- NZ Govt - Further initiatives for suicide prevention funded
- NZ Govt - Fight against pneumococcal meningitis gets funding
- Other Announcements:
- NZ Govt - Budget to meet challenges to primary sectors
- NZ Govt - Budget strengthens rural communities in crises
- NZ Govt - Cullen - Budget 2007: stronger and fairer economy