Next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis will deliver the Budget, which sets out the Government’s commitment to getting the books in order while continuing to invest in the essentials New Zealanders rely on – health, education, defence, law and order, and infrastructure.
Responsibly managing the economy is crucial to New Zealand’s ability to withstand international shocks and recover from unpredictable events. It means building up a buffer and restoring our financial security so there are more opportunities for hard-working Kiwis to get ahead.
Look out for all the Budget announcements after it's been read at 2pm on Thursday 28 May.
Scott's News
Public Service Reform
In a pre-Budget speech, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith announced that we’ll overhaul the public service by streamlining the number of agencies, increasing use of modern digital tools like AI, and delivering better value for money.
At the moment, the public service is a complex web of 39 separate departments which is hard to navigate and is full of duplication. It simply hasn’t kept up with the times, and it needs reforming so it can be more responsive and easier to use.
These changes will enable the Government to save $2.4 billion over the next four years, which we will reinvest into health, education, infrastructure, defence, and police.
Replacing NCEA and Abolishing Good Character Assessments for Sexual Offending
The National Party recently held its Central North Island Regional Conference, which gave party members and MPs an opportunity to come together and discuss our plans for the upcoming election.
We announced that the Government is replacing NCEA with a new, internationally benchmarked qualification. Too many parents, students and prospective employers have experienced the inconsistencies of NCEA and the difficulties it creates when trying to determine how a student has performed at school.
The new qualification will require students to study at least five subjects each year, with a consistent national curriculum. It will also return to a clear grading system, A+ through to E, which will provide a better indication of student achievement.
National also announced that we will abolish good character assessments at sentencing for all sexual offending, if we’re re-elected in November.
This will build on our previous work to limit the discounts judges can apply at sentencing, giving sexual violence victims the power to determine whether their perpetrators receive permanent name suppression, and making stalking illegal and a jailable offence.
Coromandel Locals Visit Parliament
At times, Wellington can seem a long way away from the beautiful Coromandel, but every now and again locals make their way to the capital to tour Parliament.
These parliamentary tours give people the chance to learn about our parliamentary processes and the history of the buildings. Moreover, there are opportunities to sit in the Public Gallery in the Debating Chamber and watch democracy in action.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure to catch up with a few locals from Thames and the surrounding area. It was great to hear about their trip, their thoughts on Parliament, and to show them the Beehive Theatrette.
For more updates, check out my Facebook page.
Coromandel Electorate Office
614 Pollen Street, Thames
0800 550 330