Govt pulls a couple of middle-class rabbits from its Budget 2023 hat, but steers clear of widespread cost-of-living giveaways; Fiscal policy more expansionary in 2023/24, but less over four years
Fully agree, none of the structural issues in our economy have been addressed. This budget is stillborn by irrational fears of govt debt and the obstructive RBNZ and its inexcusable campaign to cause unemployment to control inflation by raising interest rates. As long as the current "govt is just like a household" analogy rules, we can expect no more. That is Depressing.
I am glad that they have highlighted ECE improvements in funding - actual funded ECE is the kind of investment that wins on so many levels - families get support, parents can make a free choice work (& pay tax/ Kiwisaver) and kids win too in improved school outcomes.
$369.2m into "restoring a resilient and reliable national rail service" - oh my goodness passenger rail, can it be?!?!? 😍 It's not very much but it's a start! 🚞
Yep, promising... Used effectively, it's possibly even more than it sounds like to our car-transport-addled ears... I understand Te Huia cost under $100m to restore and run for 5 years (vs the $2.4b car expressway)
Hi Bernard, following your chorus on Wednesday which spoke to you expecting budget funding for Kainga Ora for social housing will not increase, is what was in the final budget better, or what you expected?
But excellent news on abolition of co charges on prescriptions
Good they fixed the trust gap that they shouldn’t have put there in the first place.
Fully agree, none of the structural issues in our economy have been addressed. This budget is stillborn by irrational fears of govt debt and the obstructive RBNZ and its inexcusable campaign to cause unemployment to control inflation by raising interest rates. As long as the current "govt is just like a household" analogy rules, we can expect no more. That is Depressing.
I am glad that they have highlighted ECE improvements in funding - actual funded ECE is the kind of investment that wins on so many levels - families get support, parents can make a free choice work (& pay tax/ Kiwisaver) and kids win too in improved school outcomes.
And it’s a cheap -300m a year is peanuts.
And eases labour shortage particularly skill shortage with making more attractive to return to work.
What is happening re kāinga ora funding?
Thanks for opening thus up Bernard.
$369.2m into "restoring a resilient and reliable national rail service" - oh my goodness passenger rail, can it be?!?!? 😍 It's not very much but it's a start! 🚞
Yep, promising... Used effectively, it's possibly even more than it sounds like to our car-transport-addled ears... I understand Te Huia cost under $100m to restore and run for 5 years (vs the $2.4b car expressway)
We have the weakest electric vehicle charging network in the world? Is there a ranked list?
Hi Bernard, following your chorus on Wednesday which spoke to you expecting budget funding for Kainga Ora for social housing will not increase, is what was in the final budget better, or what you expected?