Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Robertson’s Savings Too Little, Too Late

After six years of high-spending and high-waste budgets, the Minister of Finance’s late and reluctant entry to the cost-saving party will be a huge let-down for struggling New Zealanders, National’s Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says.

“Labour have ratchetted up government spending by an extra $1 billion each week. Today, Grant Robertson could only bring himself to claw back $1 billion a year.

“In last year’s Budget Mr Robertson sprayed the public money hose around with wild abandon, adding $38 billion in new spending over four years.

“Now he expects New Zealanders to be grateful that he’s cleaning up a small corner of the spending mess, having only been able to sacrifice less than 1 per cent of overall government spending. It’s simply too little, too late.

“Mr Robertson should be doing far more to tighten the Government belt.

“It’s time for a government that will show taxpayers’ money more respect. Stop what’s not working. Push dollars out of the bureaucracy and into front-line services. Cut and cap spending on consultants, communications staff, government advertising and other ballooning backroom functions.

“Good intentions and a big chequebook are not sufficient for solving the long-term challenges facing New Zealand. Labour has conclusively proven that sugar-hit economics, money-printing and band-aid solutions do not deliver.

“New Zealand is enduring a prolonged cost of living crisis. New Zealand families need their money more than the machine of government.

“National would focus on driving productive growth, restore discipline to government spending and let New Zealanders keep more of what they earn.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.