Luxon pushes National’s economic values
National Party leader Christopher Luxon has set out how the party will counter Labour’s $6 billion budget announcement in a speech that blamed Government spending for the rising cost of living.
The speech cast National’s economic values rather than outlining any specific policy, with Luxon conceding there was no quick fix for economic issues.
It is the first major speech since Luxon announced a tax cut policy in March in response to the high cost of living. Labour has said National’s policy will give cuts to the wealthy.
‘‘There’s not one big-bang solution to this challenge – so I’m not going to announce a big policy today and claim it will be transformational,’’ Luxon said at the EMA Business Hub Conference Centre in Auckland yesterday.
‘‘Instead, National’s approach is to relentlessly target the big drivers of our economic engine – education and skills, infrastructure, technology, the business environment and our connections with the world.’’
Luxon rehashed National finance spokesperson Nicola Willis’ four-point inflation plan, which calls for the Government to stop adding costs to businesses, change immigration settings, review existing spending and prioritise tax relief for workers.
‘‘Inflation has pushed people into higher tax brackets when Kiwis need that cash more than ever. National would inflationadjust tax brackets, so Kiwis keep more of what they earn,’’ he said.
Luxon slammed Labour spending on education, law and order, and benefits, which he said had not led to better outcomes.
‘‘Unfortunately, Labour has no plan for the economy except to spend more money and to rely on the Reserve Bank to run loose monetary policy,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re spending $5b more in education, but have seen worse attendance and academic achievement outcomes, $1.9b on mental health, but no improvement in access to services, $1.7b in law and order, but violent crime is up, ram-raids and shootings are increasing, and gang membership has exploded, $6.8b more a year on benefits, despite
record job vacancies and labour shortages,’’ he said.
He also took aim at ‘‘Wellington bureaucracy’’ – a criticism of Labour’s centralisation of services.
He acknowledged his predecessor in the leadership, Judith Collins – who is now the party’s research, science, innovation and technology spokesperson – for her work, and said technology and innovation would be ‘‘championed’’ by a National government.
Former leader Simon Bridges, who was demoted by Collins
Tax promise unchanged: Ardern
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says ‘‘mischief is being made’’ over tax and her party’s policies haven’t changed. Both National and ACT have attacked Ardern after she failed to concretely rule out campaigning on a wealth tax at the next election yesterday morning. Ardern reiterated at her post-cabinet press conference that Labour’s tax policy had not changed for this term and there were no wealth taxes on the table – indeed, she said the entire tax policy had already been implemented. ‘‘[We have] ‘‘no intention of introducing a wealth tax here in this term and we are doing no further work on it.’’ She went on to say that Labour was not working on its 2023 election policy yet either. ‘‘We have no policy to report on. There is no election policy I am putting forward for debate.’’
when she was leader late last year, did not get a mention.
The demotion led to a no confidence vote that ended Collins’ leadership.
Luxon’s speech leaned on the language of aspiration, fairness and upwards mobility which he kicked off in his first address to his party as leader in February.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson in a December budget policy statement said this year’s budget would focus on health reforms and investment to meet climate change goals.