Judith Collins Says Benefit Cuts Are Off The Table In ACT Coalition

By RNZ

Judith Collins, leader of the National Party, says cutting benefits is not on the table if a coalition agreement is reached with the Act Party.

Collins told Morning Report that he would not agree with the austerity measures promoted by the Act.

The continued rise of the Act Party does not worry Collins.

“Take action … they’re getting a significantly lower poll than us. We’re not lowering a benefit cut for people who can’t put food on the table, we’re not lowering mine.

“But there have been some good things that we can agree on, particularly around the RMA reforms, around the release of homes, bringing people into homes first by allowing the private sector to do. your job, but also … don’t worry about these things, these are coalition discussions, there’s a long way to go. “

She said the Act had been careful not to fool around on politics like the Greens did on the wealth tax.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw said his top MP made a mistake under pressure when he said a wealth tax was one of the party’s results.

Collins said NZ First frontman Winston Peters was on his “last leg when it comes to politics.”

The national caucus made it clear that they did not want an exclusion from him, he said.

“In the last election he chose to go with Labor and the Greens, it is his choice, but ultimately he is someone who I think his time in politics has come to an end.”

Collins also wanted to remind people that in the last general election in 2017, National got more votes than Labor.

“With MMP, you never know what will happen.

“At MMP, as we saw last time, the losing party ended up forming the government because of what Mr. Peters and the Greens did.”

He dismissed the question that National’s economic policy doesn’t add up.

“There is no tax plan from the Labor Party, so it’s very easy to criticize National because we have actually come up with a plan.”

Collins defended National’s finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith, saying he at least had a plan and acknowledged mistakes.

“Grant Robertson has no plans except to criticize Paul Goldsmith, that’s ridiculous; the finance minister of the ruling Labor Party cannot be allowed to participate in a debate and an election without any fiscal plan … where is his plan ? “

– RNZ