Budget Quotes

"The word 'surplus' used to mean a genuine mistake by the Government in taking more tax than what it spent; 'what is not required for the purpose in hand'. Now it means a calculated scheme of money collection for redistribution in election year" - Maxim Institute.

“Why on earth do we continue with the complicated process of taxing New Zealand families, filtering the money through an extensive bureaucracy and then handing it back in a complex process of family allowances, child allowances and the like?" United Future leader Peter Dunne

"The Government has partially recognised this discrimination by extending the 'in-work' payment entitlement to those on ACC, yet it has not extended the payment to parents in full-time study, even though they face equivalent extra costs to those in the work force". Green co-leader Rod Donald

"Working For Families (Fact sheet 7) suggests a Wairoa family with two children aged four and 16 would receive an extra $163 a week by 2007. "But the Government has made an embarrassing mistake. It has failed to take into account that one of the two children will no longer be classified as a dependent by 2007." National MP Katherine Rich

"People should be better off in paid work than on benefits - 'making work pay' is a good objective. But it's important that the work itself pays, rather than payment through redistribution of other people's taxes." Simon Carlaw Business New Zealand

"Low paid workers and beneficiaries and their children desperately need a boost to their incomes, but they need relief now, not in almost a year's time. You can't buy food and shelter with good news, you have to have real money" - Robert Reid UNITE.

"Much of the dosh won't be delivered until shortly after the election, so they are trying to imply that people who want to get that extra help will need to vote Labour in case a National Government comes to power and blocks that extra help" This is a vote-buying exercise of the same character as the policy U-turns which have been typical of this Government in the past few months." National Leader Don Brash.

"This is a pork barrel budget aimed at winning an election.Sadly, this is not a budget for opportunity, it is a budget for opportunists – political opportunists." NZ First leader Winston Peters.

"If you want work, the Government will pay someone else to care for your children while you earn. However if you chose to sacrifice an income in order to care for them yourself in those important early years, the Government will ignore you.” Christian Heritage Party.