Labour thinks Kiwis have short memories
It’s sad that a political party that presided over inflation reaching a 32-year high, soaring mortgage rates and sharply rising household costs is now throwing stones about the cost of living, National’s Campaign Chair Simeon Brown says.
“New Zealanders are still doing it tough and costs are still high. But Labour cannot rewrite history about how we got here.
“Under Labour, prices surged across the board and Kiwi families were hammered by soaring mortgage repayments and the biggest cost-of-living squeeze in decades.
“Under Labour, food price inflation hit 12.5 per cent. Today it’s 1.9 per cent.
“Under Labour, the Official Cash Rate hit 5.5 per cent, putting enormous pressure on homeowners. Today it’s 2.75 per cent.
“Under Labour, average rents increased by $180 a week. Under National, rents are flat.
“That was the cost of Labour. That was the scale of the cost-of-living crisis National inherited.
“Over the past three years, National has been working to turn things around. Yet Labour has opposed measure after measure designed to put more money back into Kiwis’ pockets.
“Labour voted against tax relief worth an average of $78 a fortnight for families, and they voted against FamilyBoost which is supporting families with the cost of childcare by up to $120 per week.
“There is more work to do. Costs are still high and too many families are still feeling the squeeze. But the last thing New Zealand needs is to turn back to higher spending, higher borrowing and higher taxes.
“Labour has made at least $18 billion of unfunded promises and will hit the Kiwi households with $2,263 in additional tax every year in order to pay that bill.
“National has a plan to grow the economy, spend sensibly and pay down debt, with no new taxes so Kiwis can get ahead and build a more secure future.
“Labour will ramp up spending and increase taxes, which will drive up inflation and only increase prices on Kiwis.”
