Mike Hosking: National’s election policies offer an ideas contest

COMMENTARY

Credit where credit is due. National cannot be accused of not taking this election seriously with politics.

Name me the latest Labor policy and when it was announced. At least National is pumping it. And put aside whether you agree or not, at least it’s there, at least there are options, at least there are ideas.

From $ 3000 for babies to $ 31 billion for infrastructure, most days there has been an announcement.

We have a border policy, a plan for Tiwai, and something for small businesses. That, by the way, with its 90-day trials is the first real example we’ve seen in which companies are given the opportunity to grow without the endless wellness checkbook being presented.

We have law and order covered. There was a car insurance policy built around third-party coverage that would hardly change the world, but once again it’s a good example of simple practical things showing signs of thought, research, and a gap in the status quo. There has been money for health, policy for schools both in infrastructure and in future planning.

It’s all there if you want it. The question, I suppose, is us? Are we open to ideas? Do we want a debate? Is there an alternative? How committed are we?

The real sadness would be, if this were all about Covid, we as a country are in serious trouble. Covid is ubiquitous, of course, but some seem to have been overwhelmed by it.

Certainly, it can be seen in the prime minister in that interview a couple of weeks ago where she knew nothing about municipal issues and a port proposal. She showed that she knows about Covid and little else. Even last week when we asked her about social housing and the apartment that paid $ 3,000 a week for houses worth $ 550, she didn’t know anything.

Add to that the lack of government policy. As taxes. Are they cutting or laying them? Apart from telling us from the podium of truth what is your last thought on the levels, what are you doing? What is your plan? Whats Next? Do they have anything at all?

His calling card, the plight of children, was surprisingly exposed last week by Unicef.

They seemed to have closed. The place is run by Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson, and Megan Woods. And their fingers are crossed, no one will notice.

So kudos to National for, at least potentially, making this election a contest of ideas.