"MORE WASTEFUL SPENDING ..."

Bleated National leader Chris Luxon to the 2023 budget announcement.

Luxon has accused the Government of a “blowout Budget” and “more wasteful spending” after the budget highlights were revealed.

Luxon - looking more like Rob Muldoon every day.

So what's he apoplectic about?

The budget included cost-of-living spending announcements - expanding free early childhood education, abolishing prescription co-payments, and free public transport for children - that could blunt the effects of higher interest rates and inflation, which Treasury now expects will be higher for longer.

Luxon, making a speech in the House, said he saw “no ideas” in the Budget to tackle the underlying causes of inflation and retain skilled New Zealanders.

“Prime Minister, your job is to fight to keep Kiwis home in this country,” he said.

Luxon told reporters afterwards that National did not support the cost of living initiatives. They preferred their own policy of tax credits to families for childcare and called free public transport a “nice-to-have”. 

OK, he's miffed but why apoplectic? Oh - I see:

The tax change

Tax rate for trustees to increase to 39 per cent from April 2024 - the same as the top income tax rate. Aimed at stopping people using trusts for their income to avoid the higher tax rate. Expected to raise $350 million a year.

He's worried that his friends - mainly the National voters might be slightly disadvantaged in their wealth (personal) creation ambitions. It's such a shame when they have to reconsider their next holiday plans - having to think about cruises off the Dalmatian coast instead of Italy.

Whoever thought that these pricks could change their spots?