Secrecy of old goes out the door

At least two dozen spending announcements totalling hundreds of millions of dollars were made in the build-up to yesterday's Budget.

The practice - in sharp contrast to the secrecy of former years - is designed to generate positive headlines in the weeks before the Minister of Finance unveils the Budget documents.

Last week the Government pushed through a tax increase on some spirits - a move which, had it been made yesterday, could have dominated reaction. .

The list of spending announcements:

* $56 million to get young people into training, education or work - 15 to 19-year-olds, more apprenticeships from 2006, work placements, over four years.

* $15.2 million more for preservation of heritage sites, over four years.

* $400,000 to Youthline over four years.

* $2.65 million to best practice teaching, over four years

* $14.5 million to National Radio over four years

* $19 million for pay rise for defence forces.

* $162,000 annual funding for health and safety in employment advisory committee.

* $19.8 million to lower primary health care costs for under 18s, part of $165 million to continue primary health care strategy in 2003-2004, plus another $8 million this year for PHO funding adjustment.

* $78 million to NCEA, NZQA over four years.

* $3.6 million over four years for community and voluntary groups.

* $85 million extra for industry training over four years.

* $28.2 million to Families Commission legislation, over four years

* $167 million extra for teachers, to take ratio to 1:20, over four years.

* $8.6 million for social science research funding.

* $5.9 million next year, $1.9 million in future years for security, counter-terrorism and emergency response, to MFAT, plus $2 million for Pacific Security Fund.

* $2 million over four years for victim support.

* Probation Service budget up by $8 million 2003/2004, rising to $11.3 million in following year.

* $2.6 million over four years for drug abuse and suicide prevention.

* $550,000 for infrastructure stocktake.

* $620,000 annual funding plus $250,000 start-up for Christchurch youth residential treatment centre.

* Medical student funding up from 285 to 325 students a year.

* $15 million to boost NZ's tourism market share in US, over three years.

* $20 million to international aid budget, 45 per cent going to Pacific.