A safe, profligate, cold, stable Budget - party leaders

This is how the party leaders saw the Budget:

Alliance leader Jim Anderton said his party's contributions to the Budget were centred on boosting security and opportunity.

"The security and opportunity package in Budget 2001 shows that the Alliance has contributed good ideas. They have been achieved within a fiscally responsible Budget which will produce more jobs and rising incomes."

Act leader Richard Prebble said the biggest item of expenditure was not mentioned in the Budget text. More than half of all new spending was for welfare, which was now taking nearly 40 per cent of the Budget.

"Last year's slogan was 'closing the gaps.' This year's is a 'transformation economy.' Jim Anderton would have us believe that the Coalition can transform the economy for just $193 million over four years."

United Future leader Peter Dunne said the Budget was cool and soulless and likely to do little for improving social cohesion.

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said total Government spending on Green initiatives this year was $16.4 million, up from $15 million last year.

"One of the greatest contributions Greens have made to this Government is to give it stability. Consequently, Government debt carries little in the way of political risk premium."

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the Budget highlighted how little the Alliance and Greens had gained for their respective constituencies in return for supporting Labour.

"The only time the Alliance gets a mention is in the opening paragraph of Michael Cullen's speech. Securing a mere $2.6 million per annum, the Greens fared no better."

- NZPA

www.nzherald.co.nz/budget

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