Voters are tiring fast of Labour’s “non committal attitude” in the lead up to this year’s election, said National’s Hunua MP Warren Kyd today.

“All Labour has given voters so far is a credit card with seven vague statements and the promise that it will set up reviews, committees, commissions and summits on seemingly every Government portfolio.”

Mr Kyd’s comments follow Labour’s announcement that if it was to become Government it would convene a summit to talk about its e-commerce strategy, another initiative Labour has yet to fully explain.

“Across the board, Labour’s policies lack new ideas. Their education policy, for example, included 99 separate initiatives but about half are continuations of existing National policies, and many others are dependent on reviews, consultations and the likes. Our Minister of Education described it as ‘Clayton’s policy’ and said Labour had a responsibility to come clean with its plans.

“Then only a few days ago we saw Labour endorse National’s approach to turning young people from a life of crime. Our Justice Minister rightly said it was flattering for Labour to claim National policy, but pointed out that it was a sad reflection of a party devoid of talent and ideas.”

Mr Kyd said Labour’s tax plans are equally as vague. When forced on the issue of additional tax hikes, the only promise Labour makes is to conduct its ‘tax review.’ The review will see divisive issues such as capital gains taxes forced onto the table by Alliance.

“National has clear policies. It’s now time for Labour to stop treating voters as stupid and give them some fat to chew over,” said Mr Kyd.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>