The Star: September 21, 2017

20 Thursday September 21 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
ELECTION COUNTDOWN
The Star
PATROL:
National plans
to increase
police numbers
by 880 over
four years if
re-elected.
National’s policies
•From page 19
Health
Plans to invest an extra $1.76
billion in health over four years.
It would cap the cost of a GP
visit at $18 for 600,000 people on
low incomes. Over four years,
it would put $59.2 million into
double-crewing ambulances. It
would increase the number of
elective surgeries from 178,000
to 200,000 per year by 2022.
Education
Replace the school decile
system with one based on the
number of “at risk” children
enrolled. Allow “community
of online learning” providers,
where children could enrol
instead of attending school.
Crime
Increase police numbers by
880 over four years, plus an extra
245 non-sworn staff, at a cost
of $503 million. Run boot camps
for youth offenders. Allow
police to fine parents if children
under the age of 14 are on the
streets between midnight and
5am. Introduce a $30 million
contestable fund for community
programmes aiming to reduce
offending.
Tax
Tax cuts of up to $20 per
week for anyone earning more
than $14,000. Change income
tax thresholds from $14,000 to
$22,000, and from $48,000 to
$52,000.
Transport
Take over the $955 million
Mill Rd project from the Auckland
Council, and speed up
other Auckland road projects.
Pledge an extra $267 million for
commuter rail systems in Auckland
and Wellington.
Key promises for
Christchurch:
Rebuild
National would put an extra
$120m toward a multi-use stadium,
bringing the Government
contribution to $179m.
‘Stability’ key to success
Sam
MacDonald,
National Party
member
and deputy
chairman of
the Fendalton
Waimairi Community Board
OVER THE last six weeks, this
election has focused in on the
two main candidates who, I’m
sure we can all agree, want the
best for our country.
As someone who has been
newly-elected to local government
here in Christchurch, I have
the upmost respect for anyone
who sticks their hand up and
puts their beliefs out there for
others to vote on. It takes real
courage.
It’s the beliefs of both Bill
English and Jacinda Ardern that
are currently out there for us the
public to assess and then vote
on (I accept there a few smaller
parties too).
In my view, this election, more
than any other in recent time
presents a clear choice. Do we
want to risk it all? Or continue to
capitalise on years of hard work?
This hard work I speak of isn’t
just the Government’s, it’s that of
you, me and our neighbours.
As a city, we continue to grow
as we modernise post-rebuild,
where hard work, commitment
and substantial investment
have seen our city prosper in
contrast to those initial forecasts.
Our city was never going to be
rebuilt overnight, but daily we
can see the ongoing progress of
well thought out planning and
partnership.
So why would a National-led
Government continue to benefit
Christchurch? Without analysing
every policy in this word limited
opinion piece, broadly, I’ve got
three reasons:
Leadership: English and his
experienced team are delivering
on their commitment to
Christchurch. They’ve worked
with the private sector, local
government and fronted up with
the cash our city needed ($17 billion
so far). Leadership is about
getting things done. An example
we’ve seen lately is with Nicky
Wagner and the Christ Church
Cathedral.
Certainty: They have well
thought out, detailed and costed
policy. With continued stability,
we will see more investment
in our city, not only by the
Government, but by the private
sector too. The opposition has
continued to flip-flop on the key
policy areas, which won’t give
confidence to those wanting to
invest in our city.
Fairness: Canterbury’s economy
will continue to prosper with
a Government which supports
lower taxes and less compliance
costs for small businesses. A
National-led Government will
continue to back hard-working
Kiwis by letting us keep more of
our own money as Government
surpluses grow.
Change for the sake of change
won’t get us anywhere. On Saturday
I will have voted for leadership,
certainty and fairness. I will
have voted for National.
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