We’ve recently released Budget 2023, which sets out more support for today and the next steps in our plan to build for tomorrow.
I wanted to use this opportunity to share a few key initiatives, including a cost of living package to ease the pressure on people here in Auckland.
We appreciate that many are doing it tough right now, and this budget aims to provide practical cost of living support across some of the core expenses facing New Zealanders – childcare, healthcare, transport and power bills. It will help to make things a bit easier for families, students and older New Zealanders by reducing or removing some of the costs they currently face. Millions of Kiwis will pay a little less as a result.
We’re helping parents stretch their budgets a little further, by making childcare cheaper with 20 hours free ECE for two-year-olds. This will be a major saving for families and will reduce barriers for working parents to take on more hours if they can.
Removing the $5 co-payment on prescriptions will make it easier and cheaper for Kiwis to access the medicines they need. Starting 1 July, this will have a meaningful impact for many households, particularly those who have multiple prescriptions to fill on a regular basis.
Public transport is now more accessible for young New Zealanders, permanently. We’re providing free fares on buses, trains and ferries for children aged five to 12 and half-price discounts for all passengers aged 13 to 24, from July this year. Free fares for kids under 13 could see savings of $30 a week for families with two children. This will make getting to school and tertiary education cheaper and easier.
We’re also reducing power bills by making Kiwi homes more energy efficient. In addition to the Winter Energy Payment, we’re helping to reduce power bills by over a hundred dollars a year through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme. We’re nearly doubling the existing retrofit programme that has reduced electricity use by on average 16% over the winter months.
These initiatives will help Auckland households now, while also delivering long-term education, health and climate benefits.
Budget 2023 also includes a massive boost to our country’s infrastructure which has been tested during the recent flooding and cyclone. That’s why we’ve allocated significant funds to build back better with greater resilience, to protect communities from increasingly severe and unpredictable weather events.
It’s a practical Budget focused on the basics, and making investments where they are needed most. However, we need to do more than just respond to the challenges of today, we also need to build for the future. That’s why we’re continuing to make targeted investments in areas that are critical to grow the economy and lift productivity.
Investing in infrastructure, skills, science and technology supports every area of the economy. It’s how we support people into work, drive higher wages for Kiwis and build a stronger, inclusive and more resilient economy. (HELEN WHITE) χPN
Labour List MP based in Mt Albert.
www.labour.org.nz/HelenWhite
Funded by Parliamentary Services.
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Published 3 July 2023