May 14, 2014
Greens picking developers’ budget
Greens co-leader Metriria Turei is picking hand-outs for the oil and gas industry and nothing for the environment in today’s Budget.
Finance Minister Bill English’s sixth budget is expected to mark a return to surplus after years of deficits caused by the tax breaks in his first.
Ms Turei says National talks about protecting the environment but puts its money into destructive industries like mining and drilling.
She’s also expecting only token social policies.
"They may do a nod to families and kids because kids are on the political agenda but they wont deal with low benefits and they wont deal with low wages which are the two major drivers of income inadequacy that families face" she says.
Metiria Turei says there’s likely to be talk about shifting more responsibility for social housing on to third sector agencies, but not building more state houses the country needs.
Ms Turei says the latest census data shows how the National Government has created an economy where the income of people in wealthy suburbs is increasing, while those in poorer suburbs and particular groups like Maori are falling well behind.
She says the budget needs to benefit all New Zealanders, not just the privileged few.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH METIRIA TUREI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTgwNjE=
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