ACT responds to Prime Minister’s statement
ACT Leader David Seymour has responded to the Prime Minister’s statement tabled in the House today, laying out ACT’s
approach to the 2017 election.
“MMP is about coalitions. This election, voters will decide what coalition of parties leading the nation.
“One option is a Labour-Greens-New Zealand First government. But we’ve seen the lack of policy ideas in the
Labour-Greens State of the Nation speech, and we know Winston Peters would draw out the worst anti-trade and xenophobic
instincts in his coalition partners, while sending interest rates spiralling out of control.
“Another possibility is a National-New Zealand First government. But Winston Peters has been in Cabinet three times and
been fired by every one of his Prime Ministers. Who would want him holding National to ransom?
“The final realistic option is a National-ACT government. For eight years, ACT has ensured stable National-led
governance. We’ve kept the likes of Winston Peters and the Greens out of government, and we’ve achieved some great
policy wins, from creating new opportunities in education through Partnership Schools, to sponsoring a bill to legalise
assisted dying.
“We’ve achieved these things with just one MP. If ACT is handed the balance of power, we will push National into
confronting the challenges ignored under John Key.
“We will raise real wages by cutting taxes and regulation. We will restore housing affordability through fundamental
reform of land use planning laws such as the Resource Management Act. We will ensure superannuation is sustainable for
future generations by raising the age of eligibility. We will get smarter on crime by tackling the causes of
reoffending. We will expand educational choice through Partnership Schools.
“Only a party vote for ACT will focus the Government on these issues.”
ENDS