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The Labour Party really has a bad reputation for the non-delivery of promises; breaking major promises almost weekly. Following the failures of Kiwibuild, light rail, solving child poverty, mental health funding amongst many, many others, they’ve now broken another election promise:
Labour has shifted the goalposts on one of its key election promises, saying $176 million for emergency dental grants promised at the 2020 election would be funded in a later budget.
That’s a departure from the party’s 2020 election health policy which promised that, from 2021, the party would make $44 million a year available to increase the amount people could claim for an emergency special needs grant for dental care, from $300 to $1000.
That $44m was charged against the party’s promises for Budget 2021 – meaning it should have been funded in Thursday’s Budget. The policy as a whole was costed at $176m over the forecast period.
The party’s health policy said: “Labour believes that the amount provided for an emergency grant should actually cover the costs of urgent dental work. The rate of Special Needs Grants for dental treatment has not moved in over two decades, despite the rising costs.”
The policy document said extending urgent dental grants was recommended by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group and the New Zealand Dental Association.
Health Minister Andrew Little’s office confirmed that it was still committed to the policy, but it had not been funded in Budget 2021.
Stuff
No matter how many weasel words Andrew Little uses, if it is unfunded, then it isn’t happening.
That’s another broken promise.
When Labour promises things in election campaigns they invariably falter when it come to delivery. In fact, the only thing they deliver is failure.
The voters won’t be fooled again if this keeps up, despite the cynical pouring of billions into bludgers’ pockets in the ‘Bludget’.
I suppose we will hear tomorrow that she’s chosen Neve’s outfit for the wedding.
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