Updated: 7:52am – Labour’s 100 day plan is complete and issues such as child poverty, housing and climate change are a priority.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the completion of the plan on Thursday has demonstrated Labour’s commitment to setting the direction for a stronger and fairer future for New Zealand.
“(On Wednesday), I announced my Government’s targets to halve child poverty and material deprivation, and set New Zealand on a path to becoming the best performing country in the world for child well-being,” Ms Ardern said.”We said we would give renters confidence that their homes would be warm and dry and we did, by legislating for healthy homes.”Through these achievements and the programme of work that will follow, we will demonstrate that it is possible to have a strong, growing economy while looking after people and the environment at the same time.
Meanwhile, the final commitment in the 100-day plan was the announcement on Thursday of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse of children in state care.Labour’s 100 day plan also delivered their promise of making post-secondary education fees free for the first year and established the Pike River Agency.”The 100 day plan was just the beginning. There’s a lot left to do to restore the public services that keep us connected and strong, and to build a sustainable, growing economy, that works for everyone,” Ms Ardern said.
UPDATE ON 100 DAY PLAN
* Legislation to give effect to the families package – passed on December 14
* Extension of paid parental leave – legislation passed November 29
* Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill setting minimum standards for rentals – legislation passed November 29
* Ban on overseas speculators buying existing houses – legislation introduced December 14
* Fees free for post-secondary school education or training for first year from 2018 – announced December 5
* Issue directive to Housing New Zealand stopping the sell-off of state houses – issued on December 20
* Student allowances and living cost loans to increase by $50 from January 1, 2018 – announced November 21
* Begin work to establish the Affordable Housing Authority and KiwiBuild programme – announced December 19
* Tax Working Group – terms of reference announced and chairman appointed November 23
* Restart contributions to the Super Fund – first payment made on December 15
* Pike River Recovery Agency – agency opened on January 31
* Legislation to provide greater fairness in workplace – Employment Relations Act amendment announced January 25
* Minimum wage to rise to $16.50 to take effect from April 2018 – announced on December 22
* Introduce legislation to set a child poverty reduction target and to change the Public Finance Act so the Budget reports progress on reducing child poverty – Child Poverty Reduction Bill introduced January 31
* Legislation to make medicinal cannabis available for people with terminal illnesses or in chronic pain – Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill passed first reading December 30
* Set up an inquiry into the abuse of children in state care – announced February 1
* Set up a Ministerial Inquiry in order to fix our mental health crisis – terms of reference and members announced January 23
* Set zero carbon emissions goal and begin setting up independent Climate Commission – Interim Climate Change Committee announced December 18.
-NewstalkZB
Featured image: Jacinda Ardern and the labour caucus (Photo \ Getty Images)
