Anti-Budget groups stage quiet protest

As Finance Minister Michael Cullen delivered the Budget today, two small protest groups gathered on the steps of Parliament wearing photocopied Dr Cullen masks and belting each other with toy swords.

The Unemployed Workers Union came to protest the Government's "beneficiary bashing", spokesman Stephen Hay said.

"Not only has the Labour Government failed to reverse National's benefit cuts, they have launched their own attacks on beneficiaries.

"Jobs Jolt, the end to the special benefit and increasing the Domestic Purposes Benefit penalty for not naming the father are all direct attacks on beneficiaries."

Union members were joined by a similar-sized group from Libertarianz who released their own "alternative budget".

Libertarianz finance spokesman Nik Haden said the alternative budget was an attempt to "stop the theft and give back the stolen goods".

"It allows people to keep as much of their own money as possible rather than presuming that the Government knows best how to spend it," he said.

"All taxation is reduced to zero over five years."

- NZPA