Hipkins leaves the school gate open to votes at 16

“If Chris Hipkins can’t even say no to votes for schoolkids, what hope has he got of saying no to his coalition partners?” asks ACT candidate Paul Henry, responding to the Labour Leader saying he is open to lowering the voting age to 16.

“The Greens, Te Pāti Māori and Opportunity have all backed it. With Hipkins keeping the door wide open, it’s a done deal if he’s allowed back in power.

“I’ve thrown around the term ‘barking mad’ a few times this campaign, but this takes the cake.

“We need a government that can control spending, get criminals off the streets and get Kiwis faster, better healthcare. Labour can’t even commit to keeping the school roll separate from the electoral roll.

“Voting means helping decide who gets to tax, spend and borrow (or not) on behalf of the whole country. The last thing we need is more non-taxpaying voters that will only lead to more of the big-spending policies that got the country into this mess. 

“As I’ve toured the country, young people have told me they voted Labour for fees-free study, only to regret it when they found themselves paying the tax bill.

“The free stuff looks considerably less free when your first proper payslip arrives.

“Hipkins was handed a straightforward opportunity to rule this out yet his true colours shone through.

“We must lock them out.”