23 May, 2012

Duncan Garner and Guyon Espiner Present Budget 2012

Two of the country’s foremost political journalists are joining forces for the first time, for Budget 2012, a 3 News special, screening at 2pm, Thursday 24 May on TV3 – and streaming LIVE at 3news.co.nz/budget2012.

3 News political editor, Duncan Garner and 60 Minutes’ Guyon Espiner, former political editor for TVNZ, are joining forces for a 90 minute special on what both describe as a “tough budget delivered in tough times”.

Budget 2012 will bring viewers the definitive look at the 2012 Budget, including expert analysis on what the consequences will be for New Zealand business and for ordinary Kiwis.

Garner and Espiner will be crossing LIVE to Parliament as the Minister of Finance, Bill English, delivers his Budget. They will be joined by commentators on economics and politics, including business writer Fran O’Sullivan (NZ Herald) and economist Dr Ganesh Nana (BERL), Mark Weldon (former CEO of the NZSE), and Richard Wagstaff (National Secretary of the PSA), for additional insight.

Throughout the programme, Garner and Espiner will cross LIVE to Wellington to interview the opposition parties’ spokespeople, seeking their views on the Budget.

The special broadcast will be followed by comprehensive coverage in 3 News and Campbell Live, from 6pm, and 3news.co.nz/budget2012 will have continuously updated content.

Espiner says the European crisis will loom large in tomorrow’s Budget.

“In Europe, governments and their voters are clashing over cut backs, debt and unemployment as the argument rages over austerity versus economic stimulus.

“The arguments here might be on a different scale but they are the same arguments. This will be a hard sell Budget for Bill English,” he says.

Garner agrees: “With Europe tanking - the Budget's forecasts may become quickly out of date.

“It's another zero-budget which means there is no new spending. Every new dollar given to a certain area has been taken from somewhere else,” he says.

“What will that mean for Kiwi workers? Will the Government have to throw more money at our economy - or continue its drive to cut back?

“John Key now won't rule out a second recession because of what is happening in Europe. We're not immune to the meltdown.”

After many years of competing in the gallery, both journalists are looking forward to their first time working together.

"It'll be great to work with Guyon - he's a pro,” says Garner. “Hopefully with the two of us teaming up, we can shed some light on what will probably be a pretty dark Budget.”

Espiner adds: “I know what it's like to compete with Duncan - I'm looking forward to finding out what it's like to work with him.”

3 News Special: Budget 2012
2pm-3.30pm, Thursday 24 May on TV3 and streaming LIVE at 3news.co.nz/budget2012

MediaWorks NZ Limited (website: www.mediaworks.co.nz) is New Zealand’s leading private sector broadcast and online media company. Through its specialist divisions – MediaWorks TV, MediaWorks Radio and MediaWorks Interactive, it owns and operates the TV3 and FOUR television networks, national radio brands The Edge, The Rock, MORE FM, Kiwi FM, RadioLIVE, LiveSPORT, The Sound, The Breeze, George FM and Mai FM, plus several local radio stations, and a family of websites.

ENDS

© Scoop Media