Chris Hipkins’ “affordability” speech: anaesthetic, not answers

Responding to Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

“That speech wasn’t lightweight, it was featherweight. Any politician could have read it out, because who doesn’t want good things?

“Chris Hipkins says he’ll put ‘affordability at the heart of all decisions’. He forgot about his own policies. He presented no plan to pay for any promise.

“As I said in my own State of the Nation speech, I listen to Chris Hipkins and I hear Jacinda Ardern ‘light’, a lilting voice that says all the right things, promises nirvana, but never says how we will pay for it. He reminds me of an anaesthetist before he gives you the injection that knocks you out and makes you forget the pain.

“Underneath the smooth words there are no solutions, just new problems.

“Hipkins’ examples of affordable policies included ‘free’ GP visits and a new Auckland harbour crossing without tolls on the existing bridge. But he can’t make the cost of those policies disappear. Someone has to pay, he just hopes Kiwis won’t ask who.

“Hipkins pushed Labour’s Future Fund to invest in 'innovative' businesses. That’s classic Labour: picking winners with other people’s money, rather than removing barriers so every Kiwi business has the chance to innovate and compete.

“The most glaring omission was the idea New Zealanders can least afford: Labour still has not explained how it will fund the roughly $13 billion hole created by its commitment to reverse the Government’s pay equity changes. We’re left wondering whether Hipkins plans to raise taxes, borrow more, or cut services elsewhere.

“Hipkins didn’t even mention crime, and not a word on Labour’s view of the Treaty and how to keep the country united. This from the guy whose time as Police Minister led to a crime wave, and whose time as Prime Minister was met with record racial division.

“With cost pressures affecting every firm, farm, and family in this country, we can’t afford platitudes and half-truths. We need the courage to take on hard issues.

“ACT has the best track record of any party for telling it like it is and driving real change: getting inflation under control, backing people to earn and save, cutting red tape so businesses can invest, and making it easier to build the homes and infrastructure New Zealanders need.”

Note for Auckland journalists: David Seymour will take questions from media outside his electorate office at 3:05pm, 27 Gillies Ave, Epsom.