Lightening burden on families

TREASURER Ian Ling-Stuckey says the Government is lightening the burden on families through major health and education programmes.
He said the 2022 budget had significant increases in health spending rising from K1.745 billion this year to K2.594 billion next year, a 46 per cent increase.
Ling-Stuckey said spending on health had now increased by 89 per cent.
“We want our people to have access to better hospitals throughout the country,” he said.
“We want more nurses and doctors and medical supplies going all the way down to our aid posts to help our people.”
Ling-Stuckey said the Government had increased spending on education from K1.095 billion this year to K1.47 billion, an increase of 34 per cent.
This includes K632 million for Government tuition-fee subsidies making next year the highest level of support ever provided.
“I am proud that this Budget invests more in our community services with an increase in funding by 52 per cent, up from K102 million to K156 million,” Ling-Stuckey said.
“This includes full funding for establishing the gender-based violence secretariat and support to important NGOs (non-government organisations) working to address domestic violence.”
He said the Government remained committed to advancing development across the country, particularly through its continued efforts with the Connect PNG initiative.
“This budget sees a massive increase in the PIP (public investment programme) capital budget of 19 per cent, from K4.824 billion to K5.758 billion,” he said.
“Through Connect PNG 2,242-kilometres of roads are already being improved and 323 projects, most of them at local level generating jobs and incomes for our people, are ongoing.”