Those weren’t the good old days

Those of us old enough to remember Budgets long past will recall the great secrecy surrounding them and the attempts to second guess tax increases by stocking up on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes before prices went up.

Budgets nowadays are no less important but hold few surprises.

Finance Minister Bill English had given plenty of warning this will be a “zero” budget.

Major announcements on health, education, prisoner rehabilitation and welfare have already been made.

Any increases in spending will come not from “new” money but “old” money saved or reprioritised.

It might not be as exciting as it used to be, but at least in respect of Budgets, those weren’t the good old days and the modern no-surprises way is better.