Seymour sets out coalition priorities
WELLINGTON: Act New Zealand leader David Seymour’s top priority for any coalition negotiations with the National Party is to strengthen the Covid19 response, including more open borders and tracking risky people’s movements with cellphone technology.
Charter schools, RMA reform, lowering debt and a more businessfriendly environment — with no minimum wage increases, new public holidays or extra sick days — were also top of mind for any coalition talks, he said.
But while he is confident about Act’s prospects — he claimed his internal polling shows up to 10% support — he is less confident about National’s.
‘‘I think they’ve got to fight their own fight — shall we just say that,’’ he said with a laugh when asked what his numbers said about National.
Mr Seymour, along with topranked candidates Brook van Velden, Nicole McKee and Chris Baillie, were running all over Wellington yesterday to shore up support as polling day looms tomorrow.
With the latest poll showing party support at 8% , Act could have its caucus grow from one to 10 MPs.
That would mean Mr Seymour would return to Parliament regardless of whether he held on to his seat, Epsom, which he is expected to win easily because National is only campaigning for the party vote there.
He said his own internal polling was showing as many as a dozen Act MPs could be in the next Parliament, which would give Act more leverage if a NationalAct government was a possibility.
Mr Seymour said being the only party to oppose gun law reforms was part of Act’s rise, but it was also about charter schools, Labour’s failed KiwiBuild, and people feeling let down by New Zealand First.
National’s loose principles also saw voters coming to Act, he said.
‘‘When it comes to standing on principle, one against 119 [votes on the first tranche of gun law reforms], they [National] didn’t do that.
‘‘When it comes to working constructively with every party to get stuff done from the opposition benches, such as End of Life Choice [Act on assisted dying], they haven’t done that.’’
Mr Seymour’s End of Life Choice Act was given a boost yesterday, poll results showing majority support in each of the seven Maori electorates. — The New Zealand Herald