Budget 2006: Your views

Who does this government think they are? As a single male who has worked for nearly 30 years and pays taxes, health insurance, rates, my own retirement plan and everything else two or three times it is a disgrace. The words communism, parasite and thievery by taxation spring to mind. I have never, and will never receive any benefit or entitlement, I do not expect to, but I object to paying exorbitant taxes to pay for everyone/everything else. I hazard to guess you will not print this as it is not PC. No wonder the country is a mess and so many are leaving.
- Malcolm

It is often asserted that the petrol tax is siphoned off to other purposes, but in fact more would be spent on roading than the total amount collected through petrol taxes. The extra transport funding is very good news. The National Party likes to bang on about tax cuts. But in exchange for tax cuts, you would have to give up increased health and education spending, as well as increased spending on the roads and vital infrastructure. They have no real vision for this country. The Labour government does.
- David Do

Well done to the government for a thoughtful longterm plan to continue to build NZs infastructure. I currently live in Sydney and I am horrified at how bad the traffic is in Auckland every time I return.
As for tax cuts - some people really need to understand that because of previous National government's poor funding we are having to play catch up to the rest of the developed world.
- Mischa

This budget tackles the big infrastructure issues that are the result of a decade of under investment from the National Party. It is great to see Labour taking the long-term view and building up NZ to a strong future. Those "moanagers" that complain that their staff won't work overtime because of Working for Families should wake up to the fact that their employees are simply choosing to have a healthier work-life balance, which is their right. A company that relies on overtime to survive is very poorly managed indeed.
- Nick Muir

Finally! A step in the right direction. This budget clears up the hurdles to providing the infrastructure for new economic growth. We can no longer just get by - we need rail, roading, and an effective telecommunications system, an education system that will meet the needs for a "knowledge economy" for today, and for our children.
- Geoff Hayward

I really like today's budget. Sure, I'm single with a big student loan on the top tax rate. But I like to see investment - in student support, in health services, in interest free student loans, and on making our roads better. Nothing would be worse than a few dollars in my pocket at the expense of families who need it more, and at the expense of all the public services that help define us as a progressive country. Well done Michael Cullen and the Labour government.
- Jordan Carter

I am sick to death of my wages, and those of my husband going towards services we never use, I'm sick of supplementing other people's incomes. I don't see why we should be discriminated against by not having children and working hard. We're constantly being hit in the pocket, paying out more and more money, and seeing nothing in return. The worst things is, by the time we get to the point of retirement, Super will also be a thing of the past. I echo the sentiments of many others - Australia is looking like a far more appealing prospect than staying here, working hard, paying for others and getting nowhere.
- Kerry

This budget relies on the belief that hardworking folk who've saved a few pennies, made some wise education and career choices, who want to get ahead before they settle down to have a family are happy to contribute a whole pile of money in the hope they one day will get some back in the form of family credits or a pension. The problem is that being one of those folk, I simply don't have the stamina anymore to keep reaching into my own pocket without securing any tangible benefit in the form of tax relief or any real security that I will get a decent retirement income. here is now a real advantage for Australia to arbitrage it's higher salaries and lower tax rates to finally convince me to reluctantly turn my back on my desire to live here... and relent to the pressure to let my company move me and my role over the Tasman.
- Alan

I hear a lot of people moaning ad nauseam about no tax cuts and chanting in unison to the point of obsession that "whats in it for me"? When did this country become so tragic? It is a very sad society that is obsessed with individualist handouts and the incessant "me me me" selfishness, and to all those leaving to go to Australia I say good bye, good riddance and good luck - because you'll need it over there when you see how little Australians tolerate whingers. There are plenty of people here who are willing to have your jobs. And you are leaving behind a lot of things that money can't buy in Godzone.
- Tony

I'm personally not getting anything extra from this budget, but I'm happy that the government is focusing on long term goals and not increasing foreign debt.
Looking after society as a whole and investing in infrastructure will have long term benefits for individuals and businesses that a tax cut bonanza couldn't achieve. National was using that to try buying their way into power, and we would be worse off in a few years especially if there are global economic problems and NZ needed to borrow money to keep going.
- Mike Glaser

I thought the mindless days of people analysing national budgets in terms of what's in it for them were long gone. The budget is about New Zealand not self-centred individuals.
- Dave

As a business manager, here's what working for families is doing: Staff not wanting to work overtime as it will impact on their thresh hold level to get handouts...why work and why take a promotion. The average employee not getting a handout is looking/needing a tax cut or telling me they are considering Aussie... it's becoming an epidemic. Winston Peters a few years ago said of Labour's social policies: "NZ will become another poor South Pacific island". Reality is, Labour's social statism policies are benefiting the poor (their target voters), yet turning its back on the workers and average Kiwis who just need a break. Roll on the next election, and this time, those who voted Labour will hopefully have woken up to the spooky Stalinist policies of Labour. And we haven't seen anything yet I expect.
- George

It's great to see investment in New Zealand and New Zealanders, particularly in the areas of roading, health, police and education. Tax cuts would have meant that there would be no room for this crucial expenditure required for long-term prosperity and well-being. This budget is about looking after all New Zealanders, and business will prosper much more from the investment in economic transformation policies than they ever would have with tax cuts. Congratulations Dr Cullen.
- Anjum

Just like Craig, I too get nothing from the working for families package. I miss out by a small margin. Therefore I'm am worse off now than ever. The price of fuel is up as is power, phones, food and a myriad of other day to day costs. Now I get nothing from the budget either - Thanks Labour (for nothing) Australia looks more attractive every day....
- Owen

Is it just me - or isn't Dr Cullen's statement (along the lines that we can't afford tax cuts because the operating surplus is evaporating over the next few years) inconsistent with the OBERAC not dropping below $3.8 billion, and then climbing again?
- Andrew

Working for Families, student loans, etc - I'm not a student, my family's all grown, I've paid tax all my working life and what do i get: 0, nil, nothing, not even a reprieve in petrol tax. I guess to this government that's what people in my position are worth to them: 0, nil, nothing
- Garry

This is why my family and I are selling and moving to Australia, I encourage all families to do the same, like a lot of people the Working for Families package doesn't give me anything? Good Luck NZ
- Craig

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