68,800 – The number of children whose odd jobs are going to be chased by the tax man. ‘The paperboy tax’.
25,333 – The number of words used by the media to describe a Budget of zero ideas.
150 – Million of the proceeds from selling state assets will fund a makeover of the New Zealand high commission in London.
17 – Per cent drop in exports in the last year, just days after John Key said exports are rising.
8.2 – Million to make more than 200 Defence Force staff redundant.
6 – Minutes – the amount of time John Key spent in his 18 minute budget speech actually talking about the contents of the budget.
a) Tax-free zone @ $30,000 please.
b) Did you count that? Looking at the Herald today was a laugh by even our pathetic journalistic standards…
c) The govt needs “proceeds” to spend, stop being a Treasury boffin – you know how Treasury spends…
d) Exports are irrelevant to improving NZ growth.
e) What is that in income that is been withdrawn from the NZ economy?
f) [YAWN]… Political.
Matt said:
Did Matt realise Matt was reading and posting on the Labour MPs blog?
Great post David.
Clearly… Maybe making a point would be better?
What’s a boffin?
?
It would appear that a boffin is someone who says things must be afforded by tax or borrowing, yet knows this to be untrue – because Treasury has other ways of financing spending.
(I suspect that Matt has Social Credit type ideas about affording government).
Much the same as a wonk Spud…
SPC, as usual, fails to understand how double-entry bookkeeping occurs. My point about Mr. Clark, as ex-Treasury, is that he should be well aware how govt. spends… And “borrows” for that matter, considering the DMO is Treasury.
Thanks Matt, thanks SPC
!
So Matt the trainee economist once again resorts to claims that others do not understansd things.
Resorts? Trainee? Of course, you continue to mock and obfuscate rather than address anything… Which, in turn, shows your intent to ignore any argument that disagrees with your ideological position…
Mock (the opening post and then subsequent posters) and then obfuscate, just about sums up what you do on this site Matt.
I wasn’t mocking David, I was pointing out the relevance of those figures, and their impact (if so) on the real economy. But, you again, resort to mocking and avoiding… Like a petty school-kid.
Stop being a troll matt, seriously young and old nats should just go spend their tax cuts on fine wine or something.. rather than trolling
“17 – Per cent drop in exports in the last year, …..”
Remember in the make believe world that Bill English inhabits there is perfect factor mobility. No doubt he really does believe that all the laid off public servants are going to move into export industries.
Deep, really deep. And witty too!
Come on guys, you have to do a lot better than this to get the electorate onside.
Another great way of summing up the problems we face and the inaction of Government. Thanks David.
@sam – So now I’m a Nat? Wow. If Labour doesn’t want to be critical of itself it will get nowhere…
David, are you saying that if you were in government, NZ House wouldn’t be refitted?
Why is the cost of running NZ House in London part of Treasuries budget ? Its only used by MFaT, why isnt it under McCullys budget
Oh yeah!
! Asset Sales gunna spruce up that embassy! 
!!!!!!
Another figure.
Last years reduction in income derived from exports due to increases in the cost of fuel oil $12billion. This is the primary reason for our recent rapid decline in our balance of payments.
To improve our export returns Government should be actively investing in ways NZ can effectively reduce the energy costs of export generating industries and the associated transport. This is particularly important given these costs are predicted by the oil industry to at minimum quadruple by 2016. and by a factor of ten by 2020 which would largely wipe out all value Profit in our exports by 2030.
Keeping State energy Assets such as Mighty River Power that do not depend on imported oil makes immense sense when one takes account in the future cost of imported oil.
53237 the number of people voting with their feet gone to Australia.