Leader's Letter
July 2005
Leaders Report
Rt Hon Winston Peters
While there had been some speculation of a July election, the date actually doesn't matter for New Zealand First as we are set to go whether the Prime Minister is ready or not. We have had some very interesting developments recently as the election draws closer. The first was the concession by the Prime Minister that Labour's years of neglect of our seniors, which New Zealand First intends to rectify following the election, is costing Labour (and National) support.
Her response has been to assert that our promises of a modest increase in superannuation and of the Golden Age Card are unaffordable. Yet what she fails to tell New Zealanders is that Labour had initially, upon becoming government in 1999, set the rate of superannuation at the levels we are proposing for the very same reasons we are claiming. But all those gains were lost over the past three years as they have let the rate drop below 65% of the Net Average Wage for married couples.
Our seniors are now being ripped off - plain and simple. They know it, we know and she knows it. But we are the only ones prepared to do something about it.
We now hear that the Prime Minister wants to go on a 'charm offensive' to Grey Power to spread her mean-spirited message that Labour wants to deny our seniors the dignity they deserve. Somehow, she seems to believe that just by claiming our policies are unaffordable, this make it true. We know that New Zealanders, especially our seniors, can see through this nonsense. New Zealanders have grown tired of the warped priorities of this government, which sees them place gay marriage above dignity for our seniors, which ensures legalised prostitution comes ahead of protecting our valuable land from foreign investors and which places the rights of immigrants over protecting our borders and streets.
We know that by reshaping our priorities, providing our seniors with dignity is eminently affordable. We have also witnessed the Leader of the National Party say that National is the only party which can provide change. What he failed to say was a change to what.
Ask yourself this question. What will change for our seniors mean under National? Well you can be sure there will be no increase in your income, but can you be sure it won't be cut? After all, that is what they did in the 1990s. Can you be sure that they are any different to Labour when it comes to rushing into Free Trade Agreements with China and other large Asian nations?
There will be no difference at all. And it is New Zealand's manufacturing base which will be destroyed by these deals and New Zealand jobs along with it. Are they any different to Labour in selling off our valuable land and assets? Well they may in fact be worse! Is this the type of change we want? Is National going to protect our borders any better than Labour? Unlikely given their track record. They are just as committed as Labour to open door immigration policies.
What about on race relations - what changes would really occur under National that are different to Labour? It was extremely revealing that following the supposed landmark Orewa speech, National would not commit to any actual details of change. They were alll talk and no action.
What about law and order? Again, actions speak louder than words, and as history shows, National was preparing to reduce police numbers in 1999 when it lost the election. Is that really a party you can trust to get tough on crime? I raise all these points because there is in fact only one party which offers real change - New Zealand First. We have carefully thought through solutions to the major problems confronting our nation, and unlike other parties we are willing to lay them on the table for all to see.
Rt Hon Winston Peters
MP for Tauranga
LEADER NEW ZEALAND FIRST
|
