Labour missing major commitment from fiscal plan
Two days after a $90 million error was exposed in Labour’s fiscal plan, another major commitment appears to be missing, National’s Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says.
“Labour has committed to establishing an independent redress system for survivors of abuse in care, but appears to have set aside no funding for it in its fiscal plan.
“Senior Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime reaffirmed the commitment just six days ago, after announcing it at the Whakamanawa 2026 conference last month.
“Yet despite Labour claiming its fiscal plan is ‘fully funded’, there appears to be no provision for it anywhere.
“An independent redress system will carry significant costs, both to establish a new independent agency and for ongoing operations.
“So where is the money? How much has Labour costed this commitment at, and why isn’t that cost in its fiscal plan?
“Labour’s plan is full of holes. It is not credible to suggest a Labour coalition will deliver four consecutive zero Budgets, with no additional funding for Police, education or corrections. Nor is it credible to claim it will bank $7.7 billion from cancelling Investment Boost when based on Treasury costings, a better estimate is $5.5 billion.
“If Labour stands by its numbers, why won’t it release its detailed modelling?
“The only way Labour will be able to fill its $18 billion hole is by hitting every Kiwi with new taxes. Conveniently for Labour, between its own tax plans and those proposed by its coalition partners, at least nine new taxes are on the table. At this rate, Labour will need all of them.
“This election will be tight and the choice could not be clearer.
“It’s either National with a plan to grow the economy, spend sensibly and pay down debt, with no new taxes so Kiwis can get ahead. Or it’s a Labour coalition that would squander surpluses, increase debt and hit Kiwi households with nine new taxes costing $2,263 a year.
“New Zealand will not recover if we go back. To stick with the plan that is working, party vote National.”
