2020 Election: Jacinda Ardern Weighs In On Judith Collins’ Obesity Comments

Labor leader Jacinda Ardern weighed in after comments from National Party leader Judith Collins that obesity was a “weakness” and a matter of personal responsibility, saying it appears to be a change of direction from the previous stance. of National on the subject.

Ardern has now also ruled out introducing a “wealth tax” while she is prime minister.

Speaking to the media after a walk on his last campaign visit to Christchurch, Ardern challenged

Collins says that people should take personal responsibility for obesity rather than blame the system.

“I do not agree with your position, this is a change for the National Party. Under the leadership of John Key and Bill English, they did take a scientific and evidence base for this issue. It is another area where you can see that it does not It is the same National Party that it once was. “

National Party MP Mark Mitchell also said in Newstalk ZB this morning that obesity was more complex than personal responsibility, and Ardern said that “that’s more in line with the view that Key and English once held. her team may not agree with her. “

Earlier, National Party Deputy Leader and Ilam MP Gerry Brownlee said that no one but himself can take responsibility for his own size.

But Mitchell broke ranks with his party leaders on the issue.

“Part of obesity can be treated with exercise and diet, there’s no question about that,” ZB told Newstalk. “But some obesity is related to medical conditions, including psychological conditions that need treatment, so it is a more complex issue.”

Health tax

Ardern also ruled out introducing a wealth tax while she was Prime Minister, going beyond her earlier comments that she would not consider it in the next term.

She wouldn’t go as far as her MP Stuart Nash’s promise that she would resign if a wealth tax came in.

“[The wealth tax] it is not at stake, so it is not necessary to make a hypothesis. I will not allow it to happen as Prime Minister.

“Now is not the time to experiment with fiscal policy when we must focus on our economic recovery.”

When asked if he would bring any proposed future tax changes to the 2023 campaign before implementing them, Ardern said that was what was routinely done.

“That has been what we have done as a Labor Party. People are very familiar with our politics, that is what we will implement. We are not implementing the fiscal policy of any other party.”

He said Nash’s comment was a reflection of the National Party’s “desperation and misinformation” on the matter, after Judith Collins said again at a public meeting that she did not believe the Labor Party would not implement some kind of wealth tax. .