This shows how Nats’ rise has spooked Labour Govt
This year’s Budget is an outstanding demonstration of just how much National’s recent gain in the polls has spooked Labour. Grant Robertson’s fiscal conservatism shines through with no meaningful new initiatives on housing, poverty or mental health or any serious steps on, for example, public transport after the completely inadequate climate change measures announced on Monday.
The expected major spend on health is in there but it’s really sleight of hand, paying down DHB debt and maintaining operational costs as the new structures get under way. The pitiful $42 million a year for the new Māori Health Authority is just 0.7 per cent of the health budget, making this potentially groundbreaking step symbolic rather than meaningful, and quite insulting in the face of the promise the MHA held for improved Tiriti-based relationships.
Lifting the emergency dental grant from $300 to $1000 is long overdue, but won’t cover more than a fraction of the cost of care for any serious conditions. The extra $27 a week for three months for people who aren’t on main benefits or super and earn under $70,000 will be welcomed, but is not the answer to ever-rising energy costs. Reversing privatisation and competition in the energy sector would be meaningful.
Labour has once again missed an opportunity to make even a few of the radical changes needed in this time of accelerating health, climate, housing and inequality crises. With an absolute majority in the House and the support of their Green partners, it could have chosen a very different suite of measures.
There is a lot of nice talk about “securing our future” and facing “multi-generational challenges” but sadly this Budget does neither.
Labour has once again missed an opportunity.