Another Carbon Copy From Tired Old National

“When will the imitation end?” asked New Zealand First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters today as he read of the National Party’s plans to introduce a so-called “Veterans Gold Card” which will supposedly enable veterans to better health and welfare services.

The National Party’s decision to offer a Gold Card comes more than three months after New Zealand First launched its Golden Age Card which offers full superannuation entitlement, subsidies for prescriptions and doctors visits, transport concessions, lower charges for utilities such as telephone and power, savings incentives, rates rebates, and many other discounts for all superannuitants.

“The National Party continues to show it is the ageing dinosaur of New Zealand politics, a party bereft of original ideas and the talent to make them happen, said Mr Peters.

“What is worse is that the National Party have an appalling record when it comes to taking care of New Zealand veterans.

“After the National-New Zealand First coalition dissolved the National Government went back on a signed commitment to fund up to $200,000 in legal expenses for a possible class action by New Zealand veterans against the United Kingdom government over their involvement in “Operation Grapple” – a British hydrogen bomb testing programme at Maiden and Christmas Island in 1957 and 1958.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, it was the Shipley government that set up a totally inadequate commission headed by Sir Paul Reeves to look into the effects of Agent Orange on New Zealand Vietnam veterans and their families. Against overseas evidence, it was a whitewash and nothing happened.

“National’s actions today, against their track record, are the height of hypocrisy.

“Unfortunately for Don, the veterans of New Zealand will see through his hollow promises and realise that the only party which has always acted consistently in their interests is New Zealand First.

“So its back to the drawing board, or in National’s case, our website, or maybe their spin masters will do a bit of original work for a change,” concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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