Budget 2005: Pre-budget announcements

Pre-budget announcements made by Finance Minister Michael Cullen include:

* $4.6 billion for defence over the next 10 years;

* $24.6 million for the Conservation Department over the next four years, mainly to maintain national parks and improve protection for endangered species;

* $16 million to increase the use of information and communications technology in the preschool sector;

* $30 million for special education over the next four years;

* $21 million for international education over the next four years to increase the range of courses on offer and strengthen links with other countries;

* $5.4 million for the NZ Music Industry Commission to help it sell New Zealand music;

* A number of changes to tax law to help small and medium-sized businesses, which will cost the Government $230 million;

* $3.4 million for the Maori radio industry;

* $11.5 million for district health board to offset the extra cost of the Holiday's Act;

* $2.7 million to double the number of Fulbright Scholarships over the next four years;

* A "modest package" to help people with deposits to buy homes. No details or figures yet;

* $17 million for more cataract operations, aiming for a 50 per cent increase by 2007/08;

* $578,000 for Film New Zealand to help it support domestic and overseas productions;

* $27 million over four years to get sickness and invalid beneficiaries back into work;

* $6.53 million over four years to fund a depression awareness campaign;

* $3.23 million over four years for a drug reduction programme;

* $1.88 million over four years to help police enforce liquor laws;

* $39 million for extending or building five courthouses;

* $3.4 million for more early childhood trainee scholarships;

* $730,000 to Occupational Safety and Health;

* $70 million over four years for health research; and

* $8.4 million over two years rising to $9.4 million in 2008/2009 to encourage sustainable farming.

* $11.6 million over four years it is allocating in the budget to crack down on poachers and black market fishing operations.

* $54 million over four years to improve access to information and communications technology.

* $9.9 million over four years to develop biz.org website.

*$4.4 million over four years to increase co-ordination for services provided prisoners to help them adjust to life outside prison.

*$1.5 million to produce regional GDP statistics.

*$6.2 million over four year for the Family Court reduce stress for families undergoing parental separation.

*$55 million over four years for more childcare assistance for working parents and their employers.

*$1.2 million on Treaty of Waitangi exhibition to tour the country.

- NZPA