Chris
Hipkins promised a Labour-led government would be formed by
Christmas, as he cast his vote on the first day of advance
voting for the election.
He’s also set out five things
he would tackle in his first week as prime
minister.
If Labour’s elected, bringing down the cost
of living and fixing healthcare are its priorities, Hipkins
said on Monday.
“New Zealanders don’t want more
political arguments. They want a government that gets things
done.
“That’s why I’m committing to forming a
Labour-led Government before Christmas and getting straight
to work. Kiwis can’t afford to wait any longer for things to
get better.”
Hipkins said his Cabinet would take five
immediate actions:
- End what he calls the “Health
New Zealand hiring freeze” and start delivering Labour’s
guarantee of a job for every eligible New Zealand-trained
graduate nurse. - Launch Labour’s Emergency Department
Recovery Plan, urgently assessing what hospitals need to
open more staffed beds and get patients into wards
faster - Start work on a new Medicard providing three
free GP visits and free prescriptions each
year - Approve a three-year fuel tax freeze, progress
public transport fare caps of $20 a week in Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch and $10 elsewhere, and prepare
for a 10 percent student loan balance reduction for eligible
borrowers from 1 July 2027 - Agree to legislation
banning price gouging on groceries, power and petrol
illegal, ban hidden fees and unfair charges, and meet
supermarket leaders to set out plans to separate their
wholesale and retail operations.
Hipkins said he
would hold every minister accountable for delivering those
things.
“New Zealanders deserve a government that
works as hard as they do, and there will be consequences if
ministers fail to meet the standards I
set.”
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