Within 24 hours of becoming National’s candidate for Auckland Central, we all went into lockdown again.
Over the last two months, I have been listening to you. I have personally called over 1500 households since the lockdown. You have shared with me your frustrations that the Government’s failure to test people has seen Covid come over the border again. There is some anger, and some Aucklanders are feeling desperate. But there is also a quiet resilience in the community that is vital to supporting Aucklanders through these challenges.
This election, we need to elect a government that has a clear plan to rebuild the economy. We need a government that is solely focussed on delivering jobs to people who need them and opportunities for business to thrive again. If we are going to regain our standard of living, we need a government that invests wisely in infrastructure and is determined to deliver it.
First, we need a safe border. National will establish a unified border agency. It will have the personnel, technology and capability to provide a world-class defence against Covid. This will give confidence to businesses that our borders are safe again, and that we won’t yo-yo between alert levels.
It is the private sector, our local businesses, who create jobs, not the government. Our Jobstart policy will provide a $10k payment to businesses for each new worker they take on, and we will make it easier for people who have lost their job to start new businesses.
We will invest $31 billion in infrastructure in the Upper North Island. A lot more investment in more buses, ferries and trains will transform the way people get around Auckland, and we will unlock the congestion that clogs the city.
National is committed to a second harbour crossing. The last National Government progressed work on an additional harbour crossing, which we said would be a tunnel, needed between 2025 and 2030. Since the change of government, no substantive work has been done on those plans.
National’s tax relief plans will provide an extra $3000 per year to the average worker. Although this will certainly help struggling families, it will also provide vital stimulus to our economy. We can support our local hospitality, retail, tourism and services, and create jobs if we have more money to spend. Put simply, we know you can spend your money better than the government.
The Labour-Greens’ tax ideas will really hurt the people of Auckland Central. Both Chlöe Swarbrick and Helen White have publicly supported a wealth tax. They both want to raise income taxes. We are committed to reducing the tax burden on New Zealanders, not increasing it. Rebuilding our damaged economy will be a long haul, but no country has ever taxed its way out of recession. We must invest and grow our way out of it.
At the last election, the Labour Party made many grand promises. They promised to eliminate child poverty. They promised to end homelessness. They promised KiwiBuild, and Light Rail. They have failed to deliver on any of them, even before Covid hit our shores.
We need a government that can bring optimism and hope to New Zealanders. Labour is campaigning on the fear of Covid, but National’s positive plans will give confidence to businesses to invest again, confidence to families that they’ll be able to manage through short-term struggles and confidence that National will support New Zealanders to get back on their feet again.
Auckland Central is the beating heart of our region’s economy and cultural life. I’m determined to do all I can as Auckland Central’s next MP to listen to you, understand your concerns, and fight hard for you. (EMMA MELLOW)
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