Greens promise free doctor visits, childcare on back of new taxes, higher borrowing
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick. Photo: RNZ
The Green Party has laid out its alternative Budget, pledging free GP visits and free childcare funded through new taxes and increased borrowing.
It comes just over a week before the coalition government reveals its spending plans in Budget 2025.
On Wednesday, the Greens released a suite of proposed policies and taxes - some new, some previously campaigned on.
They include a wealth tax, a private jet tax, ending interest deductibility for landlords, restoring the 10 year 'bright-line' test, doubling minerals royalties and changes to ACC levies.
The plan would see net debt climb from 45 percent of GDP to above 53 percent by the 2028/29 financial year.
According to the Greens' calculations, the new revenue streams would fund a free public health service providing GP and nursing services, free annual dental check-ups and basic dental care, as well as the restoring free prescriptions.
On the childcare front, it would give 20 hours' free care per week for children from six months until school age, and cap fees at $10 per day for hours above the 20 per week entitlement in the short term, transitioning over time to free provision.
The alertnative Budget also includes an "Income Guarantee" which would ensure anyone out of work or studying has an income of at least $395 a week, plus top-ups of $140 a week for sole parents.
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the alternative budget showed how people's lives would be better under a government run by them.
"This is a budget for a country that belongs to and works for New Zealanders."
Swarbrick said the party believed in fairness and common sense.
"A Green government will rapidly reduce emissions, reduce the cost of living and improve our quality of life."
She said her policies could be funded by taxing New Zealand's wealthiest people fairly.
The party also planned to reinstate the jobs for nature programme which was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic and is set to end next month.
It would also require farming to be included in the emissions trading scheme (ETS) this year and remove forestry from the ETS.
There would be funding for a range of regional rail lines across the country and light rail lines in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The Green Party planned to go on a tour across the country with their alternative budget this month.
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