Key Notes No.26

I was surprised by Helen Clark's speech at the opening of Parliament yesterday. I was expecting her to be bold, to be visionary, to have a sense of hope and aspiration, and to show that she understands the frustrations New Zealanders feel about where our country is heading, and the performance of her government after almost nine years in power.

Instead she gave us the same old stuff. She gave us her version of sustainability, recycling a host of previously-announced policies - some of them going back to a speech she made in 1994 - and re-using National's policies on tax cuts, NGOs, and Public Private Partnerships.

New Zealanders deserve better. They deserve a government that deals with the real problems we face - like interest rates nearly 4% higher than when Labour came to power; like the 77,000 Kiwis who left New Zealand for good last year; and the ongoing breakdown in our health system. They deserve a government that will arrest our fall down the OECD rankings, and lift the hopes and aspirations of all Kiwis.

It won't take National nine years to confront youth crime or housing affordability. It won't take us nine years to respond to the frustrations of NGOs. And it won't take us nine years to give New Zealanders the tax cuts they deserve.

Under National, there will be change and improvement, and it won't start after nine years. With your help and support, it'll start in around nine month's time!

Watch my response to Helen Clark's speech here and my latest video diary here.

EDUCATION CHANGES

This morning I made some changes to our front bench. Katherine Rich, our education spokeswoman, and a hugely-talented member of our caucus, has announced that she will not seek re-election this year. I fully understand her decision to devote more time to her young children and I wish her and her family all the very best.

Thanks, Katherine, for the great work you have done over the past nine years in our caucus and in your portfolios.

Education is one of our major priorities, and responsibility for it will be taken over by Anne Tolley, who will relinquish her role as Chief Whip. I have great confidence in Anne's abilities. She has proven herself since she re-entered Parliament in 2005. Nathan Guy is our new Chief Whip, and Chris Tremain is our new Junior Whip.

LOOKING AHEAD

Watch my first video journal of the year here, where I talk about Waitangi Day, the state of the nation, and our prospects for 2008.

Earlier this month, National MPs spent a few days in Rotorua discussing our policies and settling on our programme for 2008.

Our caucus is in great heart. We are focused on holding Labour to account for its poor management. We are developing the right policies for a more prosperous and more ambitious New Zealand. And we have a strong, talented and united team of MPs who can put those policies in place after the election.

At the caucus retreat, I made a couple of policy announcements on the bail laws and student loans.

- Making sure bail laws protect public safety

Last year, in an effort to reduce the prison population, Labour made changes to the Bail Act. These changes make it easier for violent offenders to get bail. Under these changes, murder-accused Chris Kahui was granted bail even though he had previously breached his bail conditions three times.

National will ensure that public safety, not a reduction in prison numbers, is paramount. We will repeal the 2007 changes and return the Bail Act to its previous form.

- Student loan changes

Half a million New Zealanders have a student loan. Many have made long-term financial decisions on the basis of the current policy and we want to ensure they can plan with certainty. National will, therefore, keep interest-free student loans for tertiary students, but we want to encourage students to pay off their debts earlier.

A National Government will offer a 10% bonus on a loan balance for voluntary lump-sum payments of $500 or more. The incentive will apply in the 10 years following the start of repayments by the borrower. For example, if a borrower pays $800 off their loan in a lump sum, above and beyond the compulsory requirement, the Government will take $880 off their loan balance.

We want young New Zealanders to realise their educational ambitions, and this policy will help them achieve this.


John Key MP
Leader of the National Party

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