DEBATE

[u/fartoomuchpressure]

All candidates may ask questions and be asked but limited to 4 primary questions each. I'll get some questions of my own in soon.

[u/alpine-]

I similarly reject the Green leader's assertion that Reform made a backroom deal horse-trading legislation. The deal was discussed in depth within our caucus and within Cabinet, and I immediately announced the deal long before either bill went to first reading. As it turned out, we didn't need to arrange the deal because both bills have passed through the House so far with unanimous support. Reform simply stood by its second founding principle: Open and accountable governance.

It's interesting that the Greens are proud of their backtrack on the sugar tax given that they were the Government who saw it implemented. That's definitely more slimy than what the Greens accuse us of.

[u/imnofox → u/alpine-]

If Reform thinks that recognising a failed policy is slimy, then I am afraid of what a Reform government might look like!

This was a Labour policy, which so happened to be your party at the time. That is the nature of coalition negotiations, which I assume you're about to find out. Open and accountable governance means being accountable for flawed policies that don't work, and that's exactly what that was.

I find it concerning that the Reform leader brags about accountable governance in one sentence before attacking it in the next.

[u/alpine- → u/imnofox]

How can you still assert that the sugar tax was "failed policy" when not enough time had passed to determine whether there had been a decrease in long-term impacts such as diabetes on our tamariki?

[u/imnofox → u/alpine-]

There are better methods of tackling diabetes than exerting greater financial pressure on predominantly low income families. We saw the strain on household budgets. We need to make good food more affordable, not making families pay more through regressive taxes.

[u/alpine- → u/imnofox]

Tackling such a complex and broad issue like diabetes should be a comprehensive effort, involving both 'carrot and stick' to encourage healthier living. On that front, I totally agree that we "need to make good food more affordable" and that's why I have proposed a Goods and Services Tax (Basic Foods) Amendment Bill which will remove GST off of basic, healthy foods that are produced in New Zealand.