KEY POINTS:
The Herald's Porkometer of Labour and National election-year promises ballooned after last week's Budget.
The centrepiece was Labour's promise to spend $10.6 billion over four years on tax cuts.
The tax cuts, with other highlights announced on Budget day, have added $12.29 billion to Labour's brag-bag of policies.
When added to the previous $3.99 billion identified on Pork Watch, Labour's Porkometer has reached $16.28 billion.
National has so far revealed very little about how much it will spend and on what, expect that leader John Key has said no one would be worse off under National's plan.
He has also said National will present an alternative Budget and say which of Labour's policy promises it would scrap.
Labour's total is not expected to grow much until the election campaign later this year. According to the Budget documents, Labour has only a $244 million between-Budgets contingency fund.
Its election promises are likely to bemade against the 2009/10 Budget year.
In the forward figures presented by Finance Minister Michael Cullen, only $1.75 billion is available in that year for new initiatives and that has to include $750 million for new health spending, and public sector pay increases.
Labour could promise an increase in capital expenditure to be funded by borrowing but Dr Cullen has already indicated he does not want to raise borrowing much more.
The cost of promises included in the Porkometer do not include every Budget item. They are items that parties themselves have highlighted and bragged about. Totals have not been annualised. They may be spread over many years. That is because parties tend to announce funding over four, five or more years.
Last week's Budget allowed for a total of $4.75 billion extra in operational spending in 2008-09 and $23.37 billion extra over four years. It also allowed $1.16 billion in capital spending and $1.91 more over four years.
LABOUR'S SPENDING PROMISES
Additional highlights:
* $10.6 billion over four years on personal tax cuts.
* $553.8 million over five years on faster broadband and digital strategy initiatives.
* $326.3 million extra in education including $182 million for extra teachers.
* $220 million over 15 years for Wellington City Council housing upgrade.
* $180 million for extra police.
* $155.2 million over four years to improve student allowances and eligibility.
* $72 million over four years for free off-peak travel for Supergold card.
* $37.8 million over three years for first phase of Hobsonville development.
* $30 million over three years for transport initiatives in Northland and Tairawhiti.
* $25.1 million over four years for Maori and Treaty initiatives including $5.3 million extra for the Office of Treaty Settlements.
* $24.6 million boost to caregivers of children.
* $23.3 million over four years to establish animal ID and tracing system.
* $18 million over four years to boost subsidy for hearing aids.
* $9 million over four years to monitor financial service providers.
* $7 million over two years to restore 19th century Mataatua Whare in Whakatane.
* $7 million to develop a Maori cultural venue on Wellington waterfront.
