Grant Robertson: Finance Minister faces criticism over short-term cost-of-living package
Finance Minister Grant Robertson is defending his cost-of-living Budget package from criticism it is too short-term and narrow, saying long-term or widespread relief would only stoke inflation further.
Robertson delivered his fifth Budget yesterday – the first since 2020 in which Covid-19 was not the dominant feature but which addressed one of the hangovers of Covid-19 – rising inflation.
It included a whopping $11 billion for the health system as the Government beds in its reforms, pays off DHB deficits and absorbs the cost increases in the sector. It also included a total of $61.9 billion…
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