Helen Clark Talks to Grey Power
Trust Labour and Look at its Record in Government Voters Told
Oct 19, 2008
“This one’s about Trust,” Helen Clark told a Grey Power meeting in Lower Hutt just outside Wellington. “We put up a set of key promises and stuck to it,” said Ms Clark talking about her party’s record in the nine years it has been in Government.
Helen Clark referred to the Working for Families package introduced by her government, which has brought extra money into the pockets of a large number of New Zealand families with children. Another promise from the 2005 elections, which she said Labour fulfilled, was the wiping of interest from student loans. Under this policy students who borrow for their tertiary study have no interest building up either while they are studying or once they finish their course.
Prudent Government
“We are in the worst financial crisis since the 1930’s,” she told the audience of mainly retired people in a packed Church hall. “We have been a prudent government, but the opposition wants to borrow for tax cuts." Criticising National's record she said ten years ago in an international slowdown National did three things:-
- Sold Contact Energy.
- Pulled the rug from tariffs in the car industry.
- In the panic National put a sinking lid on New Zealand Superannuation- instead of 65% net (of the average wage) for a married couple it slid to 60%.
“We promised to take it back to 65% It’s now gone to 66% - 8% better than in 1999.”
Tax Cuts Helping those on Superannuation
Further wooing her audience the Prime Minister talked about the adjustment to tax rates the Labour Government announced in its budget this year. “This means an increase in your take home pay between now and 1st April next year of $75 a fortnight for a married couple and $38 for single people."
Also in the budget were hearing aid subsidies up to $500, and rates rebates also to a maximum of $500 for those earning under $20,000 (This will go to $21,000 earning limit next year and increase with inflation).
Free off-peak Travel on Public Transport
But the announcement that received the greatest cheering from the audience was free off-peak travel on public transport for super gold card holders (those over 65). This is available on trains and buses within city regional areas on off-peak hours.
Health
Many of the questions from the floor focused on health. In answer to worries about care in retirement villages Helen Clark said labour would bring in a new code of ethics. Labour, she said, was now doing twice as many hip and knee operations, and cataract operations were up by 50%. “In primary care we have halved the cost of going to the doctor.”
She praised her government’s buy back of the rail system and predicted freight by rail will be up 50%. She said labour’s election campaign would be based on “a vision for our future."
"I have deep beliefs. Endeavouring to express what I believe is important for our country. One’s work is never done - but a little bit of experience goes a long way.”
 |
