Budget 2002: Highlights and key points
- The operating surplus for 2001-02 is projected to be $2.3 billion
- In the coming year, 2002-03, the operating surplus is projected to be $2.28 billion
- Gross debt is forecast to fall to 28.6 per cent of gdp in 2002-03, down from 36.8 per cent when the government took office
- The budget makes a contribution of $1.2 billion into the New Zealand Superannuation Fund
- A commitment of $35 million in 2002-03 on industry and regional development initiatives
- New spending of $400 million over four years on tertiary education and skills training, including $214 million for a new tertiary education funding system
- An extra $61 million over four years on the operating budget for early childhood education
- Police get an extra $34 million this year and $34.5 million in each of the next two years
- The budget puts another $620 million into the hospital capital programme, bringing the total spend by the Crown and DHBs over the next four years on facilities and debt refinancing to $2.04 billion
- An allocation of $200 million over five years for the meningococcal vaccine strategy
- Extra spending on research and science includes $33.5 million over four years to the Marsden Fund and the New Economy Research Fund
- $349 million increase over 10 years for Department of Conservation huts, tracks and other outdoor facilities