Source: Radio New Zealand
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he wants to wait until nearly June to make any commitments following criticism of his State of the Nation speech from his political opponents.
On Monday, Hipkins promised a different Labour should they be elected in November, but he was offering up no new policy for now.
Criticism came in thick and fast, with ACT leader David Seymour labelling it “featherweight” and National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis desribing it as “a lot of words that amount to nothing“.
Hipkins told Morning Report, he’d set out his priorities which were around jobs, health, homes and the cost of living – but would not be announcing policy until Budget Day – May 28th.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins. (File photo) RNZ / Marika Khabazi
“When I make those commitments I want to know I can deliver on them. I want to wait until after the Budget so we know what we’re dealing with. I think that’s very responsible.”
Hipkins said more minor parties were able to promise whatever they wanted and regularly did so but they didn’t have to try and balance the overall budget.
He reiterated he was “absolutely committed” to setting a responsible set of promises Labour could deliver on.
“Fixing the long term challenges the country faces is absolutely my priority.”
Hipkins did not rule out the possibility of a minority government but said he wanted a bigger share of the vote than what had been seen recently.
“I’d love to get over 40 [percent]. If you look at the minority government’s we’ve had, John Key and Helen Clark have led minority governments… I would like to see Labour doing significantly better, the stronger our hand going into the discussions the better.”
He would not comment on which parties Labour would be willing to work with at this stage, but said that would be set out before the election.
“In the event you can’t reach a coalition agreement, minority government is an option we should leave on the table.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
