Hospital Costs Skyrocket

The Dominion Post Editorial calls on local MPs to lobby the Government to ensure the new regional hospital is completed. The escalating construction costs have blown the budget, and tenders have been frozen.

Construction prices in Wellington have increased a lot recently. Experts within the industry tell me that one of the reasons is the huge growth in the public sector which is forcing up costs and rental throughout Wellington.

So we not only pay extra tax to fund new quangos like the Tertiary Education Commission (whom have presided over a complete failure in the sector) but this also leads to construction inflation hitting businesses and consumers with increased prices, and also a need for more taxes on public buildings such as the new hospital.

Seems like a lose-lose to me.