Govt seeks $4b in cuts as tax take falls

Govt seeks $4b in cuts as tax take falls
Finance minister Grant Robertson is trimming the budget. (Image: Getty)
Staff reporters
The government says it will trim nearly $4 billion from its budget over the current and next three financial years as economic conditions and the tax take deteriorate.As part of his austerity package, finance minister Grant Robertson said he had identified about $1.5b in “immediate savings” and had asked most agencies (with police and defence notable exceptions) to also trim either 1% or 2% from their baselines, saving a further $1.4b.An additional $1b will be saved by trimming the operating allowance for the next two budgets. ...

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