Key Notes: National's Brighter Future Plan

NATIONAL'S BRIGHTER FUTURE PLAN

It's been another busy week on the campaign trail. In this edition of Key Notes I update you on some of the next steps in National's plan to build a stronger economy and a brighter future for Kiwi families.

First I want to mention the very sad news that Tamaki MP Allan Peachey passed away on Sunday. I attended the funeral in Auckland this morning. It was a fitting tribute to such a respected and effective MP and member of the National Party. My thoughts are with Allan's wife, Jeanette, and his whole family.

BUILDING BETTER PUBLIC SERVICES

Yesterday I announced National's plan to deliver more doctors and nurses, more elective operations, and shorter waiting times. We'll cut the waiting time for elective surgery and make sure even more people get the elective surgery they need. We'll also make sure emergency patients, patients waiting for important tests, and cancer patients face much shorter waiting times. This will be backed up by more doctors and nurses.

Read National's shorter waiting times policy here.
Read National's health workforce policy here.

PROTECTING COMMUNITIES

Our plan for tougher sentencing and parole measures will help keep families and communities safe. I announced this week that National will bring in civil detention orders for the most dangerous offenders. They will be held in a secure facility until the Parole Board is absolutely convinced they are safe for release. This is part of National's plan to put victims first and stay strong on crime.

Read National's policy on protecting communities here.

SUPPORTING OUR PRIMARY SECTOR

I launched our primary sector policy on Wednesday. I announced that we're putting money aside from the Future Investment Fund for irrigation and water storage development. This is a win for the economy and for the environment.

Read National's primary sector policy here.

REBUILDING CHRISTCHURCH

On Tuesday I announced a new temporary stadium with seating for 17,000 will be built in Christchurch.This is welcome news for the people of Canterbury because AMI Stadium is badly damaged. It means Cantabrians can experience the excitement of major sporting events, as well as concerts and festivals.

BETTER HOUSING FOR FAMILIES

National will insulate every State house built before 1978, by the end of 2013. This comes on top of our Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme, which has already seen more than 133,000 privately-owned homes retrofitted with insulation or clean heating. Our housing policy makes sure thousands of families will live in warmer, drier, and healthier homes.

Read National's housing policy here.

CREATING MORE REAL JOBS

We're helping businesses grow and create jobs through our commerce policy. Our next steps include further reforming securities law to improve investor confidence, criminalising anti-competitive behaviour, targeting loan sharks, and protecting unwary consumers.

Read National's commerce policy here.

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

We have a practical, balanced plan for the environment, which will see cleaner rivers and lakes, more trees, more renewable electricity, cleaner air, better management of our oceans, and more recycling.

We'll also continue to make sure our climate change policies balance the costs to households and businesses with the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. National intends to slow the phasing-in of the emissions trading scheme from 2013 to 2015. Any changes to our emissions trading scheme will be fiscally neutral.

Read National's environment and climate change policy here.

MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER

Today I announced National's road safety policy. We'll invest about $620 million a year on safety improvements to roads and road policing, to help lower the road toll. We'll also stop young drivers abusing the graduate licence system and introduce a tougher restricted licence test.

Read National's road safety policy here.

MORE POLICIES

Check out all the policies National has announced so far at: www.national.org.nz/policy.aspx.

SUPPORT NATIONAL'S CAMPAIGN

I'm working hard to make sure New Zealanders know they can have a brighter future if they give their party vote to National on 26 November. The National Party relies on the generosity of members and supporters to fund our election campaign. You can help us run a strong campaign for a brighter future by making a donation now. Thank you for your support.

Click here to support National's campaign.

Best wishes,


John Key
Prime Minister