Chris Hipkins: Pre-Budget speech

Greenpeace sees the important topic "below the wheels". The WWF misses structural reforms.

Chris Hipkins: Pre-Budget speech

Tēnā koutou katoa. Good morning. I read recently that one of the keys to success in life is to do the hard stuff first thing in the morning. So as we gather here for an early conversation about next week’s Budget, it’s also a good time for us to have some hard, and honest, conversations about the crossroads our country finds itself at. We’re at a moment that demands honesty. A moment that demands leadership. And above all, a moment that demands…

The savings in the climate and environmental sector after the presentation of the budget have attracted a lot of criticism. While the climate bonus is abolished and the climate ticket becomes significantly more expensive, the commuter euro has been tripled. For example, environmental protection organisations, the Greens and experts have spoken about the lack of environmentally harmful subsidies. The responsible Agriculture and Environment Minist…

Austria's need for savings, with a budget deficit of 4.7 percent in 2024, is enormous. In his budget speech on Tuesday, Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) presented how consolidation is to succeed. Experts such as the President of the Fiscal Council Christoph Badelt see the presented double budget 2025/2026 as a "good first step" of consolidation: "But there is still a lot of work ahead of the government."

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer has today presented the federal budget for 2025 and 2026 – but many questions remain open for cities and municipalities. The announced measures threaten to exacerbate the financial situation of the municipalities even further.

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) indirectly criticised the previous government in his budget speech. In view of the savings, he tried to radiate confidence.