MP sees Budget spin-offs for region
Kieran McAnulty highlights cost-ofliving payment
Finance Minister Grant Robertson last Thursday released the 2022 Budget, which included $5.9 billion of spending over the next year. Spends include:
The health sector gains an extra $191 million over the next two years so Pharmac can buy more medicines for Kiwis; $168m to the Maori Health Authority for direct commissioning of services; $166m over four years for improved ambulance services including 48 new ambulances; $100m investment in specialist mental health and addiction services; $1.3 billion for a range of new and existing projects to improve hospital infrastructure (although no new major projects announced at Hawke’s Bay Hospital).
A fuel tax cut extends the 25¢-a-litre fuel tax cut and half-price public transport.
Millions of dollars have been allocated to address truancy in schools, and includes a regional response fund, and the Government has also committed to building 280 more classrooms at 40 schools. It is unclear which Hawke’s Bay schools could benefit.
A climate change response includes $2.9b over four years into the emissions reduction plan.
Police and Corrections get $562m over the next four years including to help tackle gang-related crime.
A $350 cost-of-living payment for roughly 2 million Kiwis was a major announcement: people are eligible
for the payment if they earn under $70,000 (and are not eligible to receive the Winter Energy Payment) and it will be paid out over instalments from August.
MP for Wairarapa, Kieran McAnulty, says there are wins for Central Hawke’s Bay in this year’s budget, not the least of which is the cost-of-living payment.
“The income level in CHB is lower than the national average. This support payment, given to those earning less than $70,000, will proportionately benefit more people in CHB than most other areas. It also comes over
winter when it is most needed.
“The health spend will also benefit CHB. Removing decision-making from the DHBs isn’t a reflection on their decision-making capabilities, we have had good people working in that sector. It’s a reflection of their funding structure.
“With the health reforms and this additional money in the budget we can place resources where they are most needed — including better access to medical care for rural people.
“For example, I have been working with the Takapau Health Centre for
a long time to get this amazing facility better resourced. These centres will benefit from these reforms.”
McAnulty also believes CHB will see an increase in police numbers following the budgeted increase in funding.
“We are aiming for one police officer for every 500 people. It’s the first time we have seen this amount of funding for police. This will mean more police for CHB.”
While the extension of the fuel tax cut will help motorists in rural areas, half-price public transport doesn’t at first glance offer a lot in regions with no public transport. But McAnulty disagrees.
“This certainty of funding gives the regional council more scope. If it means more people use public transport services, building demand, it could give them the confidence to expand. Anna Lorck and myself have been working towards a public transport option for commuters from Central Hawke’s Bay to Hastings — or ideally Woodville to Napier. It’s something the region has asked for and we will keep pushing for it.”
Farmers have also welcomed the Budget spend on climate change and biosecurity — which will help New Zealand’s fight to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis, which, if successful, will be a world first.
“This extra money shows an appreciation by the Government pest incursions can wreak havoc in our primary industries, New Zealand’s powerhouse for export earnings,” Federated Farmers arable chairman and plant biosecurity spokesman Colin Hurst said.
“Plenty of Budget rounds go by without any bolstering of funding for biosecurity so we congratulate the Government for making this a priority.”
The Budget includes $380m funding to support the agricultural industry with decarbonisation and developing emissions mitigations, and $156m to establish native forests at scale.
McAnulty says as climate change makes it harder to farm, New Zealand has to work harder to get ahead of the curve.
“Consumers need to justify buying products that have been shipped around the world. By addressing climate change and our biosecurity risks, we’re supporting farmers and horticulturists.”