"The message in the Update and the Budget Policy Statement is clear. The Government for the next three years, whether that be a Labour or National led one, must act with a high degree of fiscal rectitude and focus on the quality of it's spending."

"This message is of special importance to the Labour Party who are showing increasing signs of reverting to the flaky 'tax and spend and damn the consequences' policies of old."

"As I predicted there was certainly no rational reason for agreeing to the New Zealand First demand of an extra $5b spending as hammered out in the 1996 coalition agreement and now all efforts must be made to minimise the damage inflicted by the previous Treasurer."

"Overall these Statements issued today indicate that we can progress our economy without resorting to changes in direction driven by ideology and fringe extremists promising us a 'better way'".

ENDS