Ardern reports on progress

WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has talked up the Coalition Government’s progress in delivering its firstterm work plan, and what is still to come, in her Statement to Parliament yesterday afternoon.

As is usual on the first day of the sitting year, the Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament was tabled when the House resumed at 2pm.

The 11page statement held no surprises but provided an update on the Government’s work plan, which Ms Ardern outlined during a speech in September.

She said the Government had made good progress but there remained much to do.

It was the same line she used repeatedly in her speech at Waitangi last week.

Ms Ardern went into detail, under the three themes of economy, wellbeing and leadership, about what had been achieved, mostly under the Government’s 100day plan, and what was yet to come in this term.

The Government was ‘‘acutely aware of the risks posed by the global economy, and the need to ensure we are well prepared to withstand global uncertainty’’.

Careful management of the government books and sticking to the selfimposed budget responsibility rules meant the Government was able to invest in vital public services and ageing infrastructure, Ms Ardern said.

On the economy, the Government was still waiting for various working groups to report back before taking action. — NZME