The 2012 Budget: At a glance

The Government is making an up-front investment of $287.5 million over the next four years in the first phase of its welfare reforms, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says. "We always said welfare reform would cost more up-front to save over the longer term and that translates to more support to help people off welfare into work," Mrs Bennett says.

Photo by SNPA May 24, 2012