Review of Australian and NZ budgets

Every year around mid to late May both the Australian and New Zealand Governments announce the budget for the next 12 months. It's always a question of who will be the winners and losers and becomes a bit of a lolly scramble.  Being the politico that I am I always tune in for the announcements.

I must say I am very disappointed with the budgets.

Nobody disputes that people are "doing it tough" especially families but both countries have a deficit - $40 billion in Australia and $800 million in NZ.  The last thing we, and by we, I mean both governments, should be doing is increasing welfare for families.  You can dress it up as tax credits all you like but come on, let's call a spade a spade.  Instead of further handouts, why not promote independence and why not give people real tools to help them?  As one of my Twitter followers suggested, why not promote fruit and vegetable growing in schools and local communities? This would help families be more self sufficient, reduce the need for welfare increases and curb obesity therefore helping people to be healthier in the long run.

Nobody doubts that housing is unsustainable at current prices but it's not the governments' role to hold people's hands into home ownership.  Home ownership is not a right.  We do have a right to shelter and food but nowhere in our Bill of Rights does it say that people have a right to own their own home.  What about other investments like in business? People make choices and we need to remember that.

I'm disappointed that there are no actual personal individual income tax cuts in both countries.  Bracket creep is a major problem in Australia and I have written about this in the past.  I'm concerned that the MSM says people are better off in NZ when the reality is a different story all together and finally, I'm disappointed that students and grads aren't being given a break. Just because the majority of grads are SINKS doesn't mean we have money to burn. New just have a different set of expenses.  Families may be the majority but it's time to start thinking about SINKS and DINKS as well, personal income tax cuts help everyone.

The Australian budget was marginally better than the NZ one with a hand up for small business.