The BFD | ACT’s Week in Action

ACT Party

This week David Seymour visits Auckland, we offer improvements to Labour and National’s Housing policy, our Freedom Day petition reaches 28,000, Brooke van Velden reveals serious problems at ACC, and we fight Three Waters– if they steal it, we’ll repeal it.

In the News

David in Auckland

Auckland has now been in lockdown for 11 weeks and the Prime Minister hasn’t set foot in the city since. This week Epsom MP David Seymour was in Auckland, meeting with business owners and constituents. You can listen to David talking about his visit to Heather du Plessis-Allan here.

ACT rescues housing stunt

David Seymour has written to Labour and National outlining three policies that would significantly improve their joint-housing policy. ACT agrees that there is a major problem with housing affordability, we are pleased to see a supply side solution proposed. However, Labour and National are in danger of failing to deliver on their promise, while creating division and resentment in the community. They need to focus on infrastructure and pull the zoning changes back to a level supported by their own modelling. Labour and National have promised the public that they will deliver homes, and that they’ll work together to achieve it. Unfortunately, their solution ignores the real problem of infrastructure funding, and the price of working secretly together is that they couldn’t work with anyone else. David outlines his concerns and ACT’s positive solutions in the NZ Herald.

ACT exposes ACC failing

Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden revealed through Parliamentary Written Questions that 1414 staff at ACC have access to sensitive claims information. Her questions led to revelations that staff have been inappropriately accessing information. Brooke took on the ACC Minister in Parliament. A number of people have been suspended from their roles and the agency is reviewing its processes. Brooke showed the power of holding the Government to account on behalf of New Zealanders.

Freedom Day Petition

ACT’s Freedom Day Petition has reached 28,000 signatures. Traffic Light Friday has left Aucklanders feeling abandoned and held to ransom. ACT is challenging Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins to set a date for Freedom Day so we can start living our lives again. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the 90 per cent per DHB target is overly complicated and creates bad incentives. Labour’s plan means your freedom depends on the laziest person in your community. Restrictions might be dropped around 1 December, but exactly when will be decided by laggards. Every DHB reaching 90 per cent is not a realistic target and keeps people guessing. What businesses, students, and people needing healthcare need is certainty. By 1 December, everyone will have had the chance to have had both shots and gained full immunity, and it will be time to open up. ACT would take the following steps to freedom:

1. Set the date and stick to it
2. Supercharge vaccination with community partnerships and financial incentives
3. Engage every sector in all-in ‘sprints’ to reduce transmission, vaccination and death
4. Remove restrictions as we know them and get on with life. If you agree, you can sign our petition here.

IN THE HOUSE

David Seymour questioned the Prime Minister about the Government’s COVID response, revealing she might just be planning a trip to Europe now MIQ stays are shorter.

Brooke van Velden spoke on behalf of ACT about the debacle that is MIQ. Jacinda Ardern keeps saying we’re a team of five million… she’s abandoned the million Kiwis who live offshore and have no way to get back.

Mark Cameron challenged Climate Change Minister James Shaw about the good work farmers do for the environment.

David Seymour argued against the Government’s insistence that a new Select Committee be set up to consider the health care reforms. The Government wants greater Maori representation, it’s divisive and sets a dangerous precedent.