Duncan Garner: Mr fix-it drowning in cash, so why the broken promises?

OPINION: Grant Robertson is one lucky Finance Minister, but radical and bold he is not. 

Transformational perhaps? Hardly.

Robertson inherited the lucky golden ticket called the rockstar economy of New Zealand.

 

 

Basically it's like a pokie machine spewing cash. All of which makes Robertson's job easier. Truth is the economy was much stronger than anyone predicted.

The net result saw two billion dollars of extra tax revenue turn up screaming 'spend me now.' Grant nodded - 'you had me at spend,' he chortled. The 'fix it budget' became a major rebuild overnight. 

Robertson had so many choices and it's no surprise that he poured money into the massive black holes called health and education. They're sponges. They just suck cash and never get tired of it.

Actually would someone send Robertson a life raft because he's drowning in cash. If National had a resting bitch face today you could hardly blame them because Robertson was spending all their hard work and thrift. If National did the penny pinching it was Labour who today reaped the rewards of that.

 

 

 

 

But where was the fancy new creative plan, Robertson's stamp if you like? I've sent in a search party but they can't find it. It's called business as usual. Boring - just how Robertson wants it. 

Robertson is actually the chosen one, the favourite child, drowning in dough but he's still failed to deliver on what he and his party promised just a few months ago. 

That's the ultimate reality check - all this money and still Robertson can't claim to voters that he kept his word. 

Put simply, Labour promised everyone a new kitchen sink but didn't order enough of them. 

Labour has failed to fund a planned new giant prison, Dunedin's new hospital remains an empty promise and misses out on funding

And if you can find 1800 new cops on the beat over the next three years then I suggest you're a magician because it won't happen. They ain't there. 

 

 

 

Still, Robertson should have thanked National for getting the books in such good order.

 

 

 

But there's no room for grace today and Robertson would have to be a drunken drongo to have screwed this up.

He's spending $11.4b extra over four years - health and education hoover up so much of that and he can still post a $3b surplus today. 

There's 6400 new state houses over four years but 10,000 people want a solution now. 

Welcome to Government, Grant. You passed the test today but you ain't perfect. 

Your free student fees policy is a bribe and it meant you failed to deliver cheaper doctor visits for all. Priorities first, bribes second. Please.

Duncan Garner hosts The AM Show, 6-9am on Three, RadioLIVE and online