The Botany by-election on March 5 is an opportunity for voters to tell the Government that they are not prepared to be taken for granted.
The National Party believes that it has a right to the Botany seat but refuses to say anything about the issues that matter to local people.
In contrast, I have been campaigning hard for Labour every hour of the day, meeting as many people in the community as possible, and discussing the serious issues.
Overwhelmingly, people tell me that the failing economy concerns them the most. I have spoken to people with a lifetime of work experience, who have been thrown on the dole queue, mothers who are working hard to raise their children but can no longer afford the basics like milk, and small business people who say that these are the worst economic conditions they have ever seen.
But in their campaign for Botany, National has nothing to say about these important issues and has done nothing to address them. That is because the Party thinks that it will breeze through the election based on John Key’s smile, a big-budget billboard campaign and some slogans. I think this is disrespectful to the people of Botany and I will be fighting for every vote.
ECE Centres suffer
I am standing for Labour because I have two young sons and I want a better future for them. I believe in a society in which we value every person. I want to put in place policies that allow our people and our communities to flourish.
That is why I am so angry about National’s cuts to Early Childhood Education (ECE). I have spoken to ECE Centres in Botany, each of which has lost $80,000 of government funding. The cuts will lower quality, lift fees and result in fewer children having access to quality education.
This is short-term thinking at its worst because research shows that every dollar invested in ECE saves $11 further down the track, as it sets children up for school, reduces long-term criminality and delivers a more productive workforce.
National slashed ECE funding to finance its tax cuts, which overwhelmingly benefitted the very wealthy.
They prioritised a $1000/week tax cut for Mr Key ahead of investing in the education of our youngest children.
Remember that National also subsidised those tax cuts by raising GST to 15% on everything you buy. Those priorities are wrong and they demonstrate how National is taking ordinary New Zealanders for granted.
Your vote on March 5 will not change the Government but you can take a stand on the issues that matter. National is ignoring the failing economy and rising prices. All they have to offer are cuts to important services and the sale of our most precious national assets.
They still expect your vote. Show them that you will not be taken for granted.
Michael Wood is Labour Party’s candidate at the Botany Electorate where a by-election will be held on March 5, 2011.
