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Hi John, Tomorrow is Budget Day, and while it might not be a date you have circled on your calendar at home, it’s a pretty big deal here in Parliament. This year, as we continue to face COVID-19, the Budget is another important step in our recovery. I can’t yet reveal everything that’s in Budget 2021 (you’ll have to wait until tomorrow for all the details!), but I did want to take a moment and explain why it’s something I care about, and why I hope you do too. This Budget marks the next step in our Government’s plan to support New Zealand as we navigate our recovery from the pandemic. Thanks to our decisive response so far, our economy is in a much stronger position than many other countries', but we’re still at a difficult period in our COVID recovery. The world is facing third and fourth waves of the virus, and every economic forecast talks of “uncertainty” and “volatility”. To ensure we can weather the challenges ahead, we need to continue to manage the economy responsibly and keep a lid on debt. Of course, as a Labour Government, at the same time we’re committed to supporting the people and places that need it the most, so we don’t leave anyone behind. This means making sure that we target investments at initiatives that not only drive economic growth, but also help us tackle long term challenges like inequality, child poverty, housing and climate change. This is something that is really important to me. As I’ve said in the past, a rockstar economy is meaningless if children are sleeping in cars, if people are struggling to access the healthcare they need, or if families are falling further behind. This was true when our Government was elected in 2017, and it’s even more pertinent now as we continue to respond to the impacts of a global pandemic. Right now, we have the opportunity to make sure our economy delivers for everyone - and we’re not going to let it go to waste. I’m committed to a recovery that supports all New Zealanders, a recovery that ensures our finances remain sustainable while tackling the long-standing challenges we were elected to address. Tomorrow, you’ll be able to see exactly how we intend to put this into practice. I’m looking forward to sharing the Budget with you, and setting out the next steps in our plan to secure our recovery for all New Zealanders. Keep an eye on our Facebook and website tomorrow for a full wrap of Budget 2021. In the meantime, if you’d like a sneak preview, you can read about a few of the projects we’ve already announced here. Thanks, |
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