Budget a ‘missed opportunity’
National Party leader Christopher Luxon said the Budget was a ‘‘missed opportunity’’, households were being squeezed by the cost of living crisis, and there would be likely more pain in the future.
He was addressing about 350 people at a post-Budget breakfast in Auckland yesterday. He spoke to the the crowd at Eden Park, along with deputy leader NicolaWillis.
‘‘Everyday Kiwis are really doing it tough. Kiwis are continuing to go backwards under Labour.’’
Luxon lambasted the Government’s spending, saying there had been a massive blowout.
‘‘Six billion dollars is the biggest budget increase in the history of this country. They conflate and confuse spending money, and announcements of spending money, with getting things done.’’
Luxon said he agreed with the
climate change targets, but disagreed with the method of getting there. He wanted to see the Government investing more into electric vehicle charging networks, R&D, and speeding up consents for renewable energy.
‘‘We do need to turn our mindset around – big time – when it comes to farming ... farmers aren’t villains, they’re the best in the world, why don’t we back them?’’