Craig
McCulloch Deputy Political Editor
ACT
has published its campaign manifesto on the first day of
voting, pitching itself as the only party seeking to save
taxpayers’ money this election.
The document also
shows ACT has ditched an earlier promise to scrap the
existing Permanent Resident Visa category in response to
“anxieties” among migrant communities.
Instead, the
manifesto states those visa-holders will have to maintain “a
genuine connection to New Zealand”.
The plan brings
together all of ACT’s announced policies, including a
KiwiSaver tax break, a higher pension age and a three-year
freeze on the minimum wage.
Together, it promises to
cut $22 billion of “wasteful” spending over four years, with
government debt $12.4b lower by 2031 than currently
forecast.
Launching the manifesto in Auckland on
Monday, leader David Seymour called on voters to re-elect
the coalition, but he also made a point in the document to
distinguish ACT from its governing partners.
“Every
other political party, even National, wants to spend more of
your money,” he wrote.
“ACT alone is proposing to save
your money.”
Speaking outside the St Heliers Arts and
Crafts market, Seymour said the manifesto represented the
pitch ACT would take into coalition negotiations.
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He
said ACT would be “professional and collegial” in pulling
together a government “as fast as possible” but he scoffed
at Labour leader Chris Hipkins’ guarantee of a government
before Christmas.
“The only Christmas we’re
campaigning for is [Tamaki candidate] James Christmas!”
Seymour said.
Migration policy tweak
Seymour
told RNZ the party had heard the concerns of migrant
communities about its September pledge to “put ‘reside’ back
in ‘resident’.”
ACT previously
promised to axe the Permanent Resident Visa and impose
ongoing physical-presence requirements on Resident Visa
holders who wanted to retain their travel
rights.
Seymour said ACT had dropped the policy after
listening to feedback from the community.
“People felt
that it was disrespectful and exclusionary. That’s never
been the ACT party’s intention. And when we get feedback, we
can listen and we can change.”
Seymour said ACT would
instead campaign to bring New Zealand’s rules into line with
those in Australia and Canada.
“Permanent residence
will continue, and the rules will not change for people that
currently have PR.
“But if you get permanent residence
in the future, you will have to stay in New Zealand for at
least two out of any five years to retain it.”
The
manifesto included a commitment to “ensure new Permanent
Resident Visa holders maintain a genuine connection to New
Zealand, retaining sensible work, family, service,
humanitarian and investor exemptions”.
Among the
policies already announced is a plan to remove tax on
KiwiSaver investment earnings. In exchange, ACT would
scrap the government’s KiwiSaver contribution.
It
would also gradually increase the age of
superannuation.
By 2035, New Zealanders would have to
wait until 67 to receive the pension, with early access for
people in physically demanding jobs.
People could
still withdraw their KiwiSaver savings at 65.
People
receiving Jobseeker Support who were considered ready to
work would face restrictions on their spending after four
months on the benefit.
Their payments would be managed
electronically, covering essentials such as food and housing
while blocking spending on alcohol, tobacco and
gambling.
ACT would also require independent medical
assessments and gradually reassess people receiving
health-related Jobseeker Support and the Supported Living
Payment.
The party would also freeze the adult minimum
wage for three years and allow employers to pay workers
under 20 a training wage worth 60 percent of the adult rate
during their first year of employment.
On health, ACT
promised
an extra $400m for general practice over four years and
funding for pharmacists to treat more common
illnesses.
The party also backed a national
cancer centre with campuses in Auckland and
Christchurch.
ACT would scrap
the Climate Change Commission and the Zero Carbon Act,
including the net-zero emissions target, and seek to
renegotiate New Zealand’s Paris climate
commitment.
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