Cullen's first Budget conservative

3:00 PM

The Government has stuck to its promise and will spend just over $1.2 billion on new inititatives in the coming year.

IRN political editor Barry Soper says Labour's first Budget in a decade is unlikely to cause major ripples, with the Government being more than open about its intentions in the lead-up to it.

He says the problem with this Budget is that the exciting parts of it had already been announced, taking the gloss off the main event.

Predictably there is more money for health with the lion's share going to mental health; education gets a slice with a deal to freeze student fees next year.

Regional development gets a fair chunk as do Maori with almost $20 million earmarked to stop them smoking.

The pension for baby boomers is being catered for, with $3.6 billion set aside in a dedicated fund over the next three years.

- IRN

Budget 2000 feature

Minister's budget statement

Budget speech