Mark Mitchell

Well, I think probably a bit of both. I think as people get closer to the election that they're you're naturally human nature that your mind becomes a lot sharper and you start focusing it on what are the issues, where are we placed, um, who's best to lead us into the next term without a doubt. And that will happen as we get closer to the election. I think that um Labour has got a real credibility issue that's starting to emerge around their numbers because they said, Oh, well, we're not gonna give you any information or in detail until we see the budget. And now they've seen the budget and they're out there saying, Oh no, now you're gonna have to wait for another three or four months. I mean, it's uh they just they're losing credibility on it now.

Well, we've had our we we've had um policies like going for growth, which means doubling our export value over ten years. We've had a a massive program around um uh export support through um trade missions through we've delivered free trade agreements up into the Middle East and with India. You guys completely gave up on that. That's gonna be huge for us in terms of the economy, which pause puts more money in the back pockets of Kiwis. Invest New Zealand are focusing on increasing capital in the high potential sectors alongside our elevate fund, which is targeting start-up investment. We've lowered tax thresholds and introduced uh investment boost, which is um you know a partial way of being able to offset capital investment. That's been hugely successful for our rural sector, which is by the way, it's going gangbusters. If you'd had a stall at um field days, you would have seen. Yeah, field days when it's no question.

It's completely understandable. Well well, you and you've just highlighted the exact um issue there, Jinny. Is that was he was he representing the police or was it has he been representing the Labour Party for the last few months? Because the commissioner, because the commission is the because the commissioner's responsible for police neutrality in the service, and every police officer um recognises that and understands that, and members of the public do as well. Police have got very specific powers that no one else has. The police commissioner should have been able to put a plan in place to be able to manage that new that perception of political neutrality. He was never given that opportunity because Chris Hitkins and Mr. Nido decided that they were better placed to manage that. And it it is extremely disrespectful to the commissioner. And y when you talk about integrity, we've just had to deal with a whole lot of integrity issues within police that we inherited. Then I would have thought there'd be a really sharp focus on making sure that things were done respectfully and things were done right. And in this case, it's very clear they weren't.

He's a he's a strong well, you've just you have challenged his independence, and I just have to say, he's the guy that has to clean has had to clean up the mess around police integrity that grew under your government. He doesn't want to want to on our enjoyment time I've ever seen it. Now he's having to do now he's having to do deal with another issue. Can I can I say something to you, Mitch? I feel like he's having to deal with No, no, this is important. The commissioner is now having to deal with another issue that relates directly to an ex-police minister and leader of the opposition and a senior police officer, in my view, have shown such poor judgment and so little respect for the commissioner that they did not inform him. They decided that they would manage the um political neutrality themselves. They were not the right people to do that. That is the commissioner's job. End off.

Like 40 years ago, we were we he didn't have enough info, but now we surely do. But both he both he and the Prime Minister have been very clear that we're not revisiting our nuclear free status. Um Chris Pink is an outstanding new defence minister. He's got a genuine history and background in defence himself. I spoke to him last night, the trip up to the Shangular dialogue was quite simply outstanding with the bipartisan meetings that he had. Um and he's advancing our interests and that's the right thing to do, and he's doing the outstanding job of it.

So it's a bit rich. But look, and in terms of in terms of Matt Matt Burgess, look, um, you know, Ginny can sit there and r you know and ring your hands and worry about it. The Prime Minister's getting he's made it very clear in Ministerial Services, remind all officers in terms of what obligations are under the LIA. That was the right thing to do. He's getting on in governing the country and leading us through some pretty difficult times at the moment, doing a pretty damn good job again. If we're checking you, checking up on each other.

Yeah, exactly. You've got to remember you've got to remember, Mike, like on the scale of trusted uh occupations, we sit somewhere around um used car salesman. So we you know it's it's it's the province to do the job. It's um it is it's demanding, but you know, you do it because you want to get into your public service and it doesn't matter what party you're from. I was I've always believed that everyone that turns up here actually is is motivated by the same thing and that's trying to do the best thing for us as a country.

Well, all right. Well, no number one number one, um, you know, that that to me that is is blatant virtual signalling. Labour are well known to rot and and go after any um allowance they can take, and they've done that for years. Number two, we are reforming social housing to make it fairer. It's better targeted, more focused on helping people into independence where that is possible. Right now, people in similar circumstances get very different levels of support depending on whether they're in social housing or renting privately. And so we're trying to rebalance that so it's a level playing field for everyone. I think that's a good move to make. Um in terms of allowances and things like that, everyone could be up for it uh for a discussion and debate on that. But um, but that doesn't change the fact that and by the way, Jenny, the m the the the um economic pressure that people are feeling. Thank you very much to a previous Labour government who was so reckless with the books you put inflation through the roof, interest rates through the roof, and put us in a situation that we're in. The good news is is that we're slowly moving into a better space.

So this should the thead Labour are. This is their cornerstone. Oh, really? That's a surprise that you said that. Well, well, hang on, hang on, Jenny. You can't say policy. You can't say who's going into it. You can't say how many dividends you're gonna get, and you can't say how you're gonna replace those dividends to fund health education and police. It is ridiculous. It is a complete. No, we're not gonna say it's gonna be a good idea. And you and you're saying you're telling people that you're not gonna tell them till after the election. It is a it is comical. It is what it will do, Mark, is those what's the one that's gonna be better is some of those.

Last time we're in government, we were we had a very good track record of making sure that all of our focus and support went to frontline services delivered to Kiwis. Yes, we have got absolutely outstanding public servants. I'm one myself. Um, but the reality of it is this, uh Ginny. You know, five ten thousand. Under the previous government, you added sixteen thousand public servants. And guess what happened? Hospital waiting time soared, student achievement plummeted, thirty percent increase in violent crime. So numbers do not equate to better public services for the public.

So this should go. You should remind uh this should remind people how bad Labor are. This is their cornerstone. Oh, really? That's a surprise that you said that. Well, well, hang on, hang on, Jenny. You can't. You can't say who's going into it. You can't say how many dividends you're gonna get, and you can't say how you're gonna replace those dividends to fund health, education, and police. It is ridiculous. It is a completely other joke. And you're and you're saying you and you're telling people that you're not going to tell them till after the election. It is a it is comical. It is what we'll do, Mark, is those what a little bit about some of those companies.

Well, last time we're gonna work it went. Last time we're in government, we were we had a very good track record of making sure that all of our focus and support went to frontline services delivered to Kiwis. Yes, we have got absolutely outstanding public servants. I'm one myself. Um, but the reality of it is this, uh Jinny. Yeah, 19,000. You added 16,000 public servants. And guess what happened? Hospital waiting time soared, student achievement plummeted, 30% increase in violent crime. So numbers do not equate to better public services for the public. And that is what we're focused on doing.