Robertson rolls out historic $12.1b virus lifeline

Tue, 17 Mar 2020

Finance Minister Grant Robertson will pump in $12.1 billion to soften the impact of covid-19, the global pandemic that threatens to tip the world into a protracted recession.The package is the equivalent of 4 percent of the economy, and is a mix of wage subsidies, tax breaks, increased welfare support, and targeted spending in health and aviation, outstripping similar programmes in Australia, the UK and the US.“This is the rainy day we have been planning for,” Robertson told media.“We hope to save some jobs, but we won’t be able to save all job...

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