Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Finance Minister Nicola Willis on the choices and trade-offs in yesterday's budget. A promised boost to health, education, and law and order and defence, plus tax breaks for businesses to boost investment But $12.8 billion came from funds set aside for pay equity claims to boost 180,000 mostly female, low income workers.
There's also pared back government contribution to KiwiSaver less support for Best Start, and shifting responsiblity to parents to pay for unemployed 18 and 19 year olds. Meanwhile a return to surplus keeps getting pushed out further- the books expected to stay in deficit until 2028, with a wafer thin surplus of $200 million forecast for 2029.
Nicola Willis joins Kathryn.
