A year in perspective - Labour on the run

National set the agenda for 2004 with Don Brash's Orewa speech, which called for one standard of citizenship for all New Zealanders.  This was the first time this issue was discussed so openly, and the strong support and reaction from many New Zealanders showed this discussion was long overdue.

This led to panic in the Government. Not long after the speech, the Government announced that policies and funding would be reviewed to ensure they were needs based and not race based.  Despite the spin surrounding this move, we are still waiting to see any tangible results.

Just this week, National's Education spokesperson, Bill English, discovered that $6 million could be re-allocated among schools if race-based funding was removed.  Exactly what has Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard been doing this year?

Don Brash's law and order speech in July also drew strong support from right across the country.  National will fix two of the biggest problems facing our justice system and the Police - we will ensure there is effective sentencing and we will improve Police resources.

Major holes in police resources have been exposed this year, such as the strain on staff that handle 111 calls. Despite calls from around New Zealand to put more resources into the communication centres, the Government is yet to act.  Only this week, seven months after initial concerns were raised, the Police Association has revealed morale in the call centres is at an all time low, as are the staffing levels.  The lingering tragedy of the disappearance of Ireana Asher, due to her futile 111 calls for help, has exposed those concerns.

Many of us were shocked and outraged in September to learn that a group of prisoners were claiming compensation for alleged abuse of human rights - the total bill, including the award and legal fees, was around $1 million.  National offered support to the Labour Government to get legislation passed to ensure this didn't happen again, but the offer was turned down.

This week, in the rush before Christmas, the Prisoners' and Victims' Claims Bill was introduced to Parliament.  Instead of stamping out prisoner compensation, it gives the green light for inmates to make further claims under special circumstances.  Don Brash urged Labour to reconsider our offer to stop, block and wipe prisoner compensation for things like 'hurt feelings' yet the Government has remained silent.  Why aren't they listening to New Zealand?

The drug P has also featured heavily in the news this year, being implicated in some of our most horrific crimes in recent years.  But despite strong calls for more resources to wipe out the drug and the labs that manufacture it, it was revealed that Police aren't targeting the labs because it makes them look bad in statistics.  The Government is so intent on making Police statistics into trophies they are ignoring the real problems. 

It would seem they are also intent on collecting revenue though setting high-speed ticket targets for Police to meet.  This year they also hid in bushes with their speed cameras - presumably to increase the hit rate. The Government denied all of these moves were to collect revenue, yet in October, Police were ordered out of hiding and back onto the roads. 

However, it would appear the huge publicity regarding speeding completely slipped past the Prime Minister when her motorcade sped from Waimate to Christchurch in July.  The Police involved have been charged over the incident - yet the PM has mysteriously escaped the consequences. 

Talking of speed, it's highly unlikely that any person would be able to do that on Auckland's motorways at peak times.  Despite all the talk about solutions, we are yet to see any real results.  But the Government has decided it wants to add another tax to petrol to fund these so called solutions. 

They want to add 5 cents to every litre of petrol - and the timing of when that tax is introduced is entirely up to the Government, a very handy tool for election year.  This reflects their arrogance toward ordinary New Zealanders who are already paying too much tax.  This tax will go into the National Land Transport Management Fund, but with the historical surplus of $6 billion, where is the need for this new tax? 

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has revealed that the forecast surplus for this year will be $6.5 billion - and yet there is no talk of any tax cuts.  And there haven't been any since Labour took office.  Don Brash has promised to bring down the high tax rates we currently face - it will take more than one term in Government to significantly reduce the tax burden, but over time, we will ensure large benefits will emerge for hard working New Zealanders. 

National has had Labour on the run since the Orewa speech, and the Government has consistently failed to respond to New Zealanders on issues that matter most. 

Watch this space in 2005!! 

I would like to wish everyone Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.