The 'Infra Boys' Highway to Budget Hell

Chris Bishop has enthusiastically dubbed himself and Simeon Brown “the Infra Boys”, but they need to take note of the sums around their roading dreams. Photo: Lynn Grieveson

Mōrena. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, September 10:

1. The Infrastructure Commission has advised Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop that the Northern Expressway highway would gobble up at least 10% of the entire Government’s investment Budget for the next 25 years, and possibly double.

2. A debate about some for of wealth tax is firing up, with billionaire Bruce Plested saying he’d pay more, although he worries about the Government wasting money.

3. In solutions news, a new report shows rail investments generate $3.3 billion of benefits to Aotearoa each year, but only $1.1 billion are captured in GDP figures.

4. In Quote of the Day, the WTO laments growing numbers of trade restrictions.

5. Our Chart of the day, the WTO shows how deeper trade connections lifts low and middle-income countries out of poverty, but that some losers from globalisation in rich countries need more help to keep trade’s social license.

6. Our Climate graphic of the day, China’s demand for oil looks to have peaked.

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(There is more detail, analysis and links to documents below the paywall fold and in the podcast above for paying subscribers.)

The Top Six on Tuesday, September 10

1. Expressway would crowd out hospitals, schools

Te Waihanga warns ‘Infra boys’ of highway’s shocking costs