The Labour Party is so devoid of ideas that it cannot form a position on Chris Hipkins’ own Fees Free policy, National MP Simeon Brown says.

“Fees Free was an expensive failed experiment, funded by hardworking Kiwi taxpayers.

“When Chris Hipkins introduced Fees Free in 2018, he promised it would increase tertiary participation and help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds into study. Instead, taxpayers spent nearly $2 billion on a policy that failed to deliver either outcome.

“Even when the evidence shows a policy is failing, Labour still cannot bring itself to walk away from wasteful spending.

“It could not be clearer that Labour has not learnt a thing and continue to see Kiwi taxpayers as bottomless ATMs.

“Fees Free was a policy Chris Hipkins led, implemented, and championed in government. The fact he cannot say whether he supports it today is deeply embarrassing.

“It is hard to find a track record as perfect at illustrating Labour’s failure to deliver for New Zealanders than Chris Hipkins’ time as education minister. His management of our schools led to plunging achievement and soaring levels of truancy, while his management of the Polytech sector became an expensive mess.

“Not content with not delivering in government, Chris Hipkins has taken to not delivering in opposition – unable to even deliver a position on a policy he himself introduced.”

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