Nicola's News: 25 August 2023
Nicola Grigg 
August 25, 2023
Last weekend, the National Party released its list for the upcoming election, and I was privileged to be ranked at number 19.
Over the next 50 days, we will be doing everything we can to share our vision for the country with New Zealanders, including our plans to fix the economy and get New Zealand back on track. As always, if you're keen to lend a hand to share our message - whether that be by hosting a sign on your fence, waving some signs, or delivering fliers - please flick an email to [email protected].
This week we announced our plan to fund more cancer treatments in New Zealand - read more about that below. We also reaffirmed our commitment to keep the Winter Energy Payment if we are elected into Government.
Meanwhile, Labour announced that it would increase the fuel tax - leading to an extra $8 to fill the average car. Labour seems to have developed a unique skill set in taxing more, spending more, and yet delivering worse public services to Kiwis. A recent poll showed that 64 per cent of New Zealanders think our criminal justice system has got worse, 57 per cent think our education system is worse and a whopping 70 per cent think the health care system is worse.
National has a plan to address all of these issues which you can check out here.
Policy Announcement - Cancer Treatments
On Monday, Chris Luxon and Dr Shane Reti announced that the next National Government will fund 13 cancer treatments to make more lifesaving and life-extending drugs available in New Zealand.
Almost everyone will have someone experience cancer in their lifetime – either personally or through a friend, colleague or loved one. Each year, around 25,000 are diagnosed with cancer and 10,000 tragically lose their lives.
Despite the hard work and dedication of New Zealand’s trusted healthcare professionals, cancer survival rates here lag behind Australia, partially due to Australia's broader funding of cancer medicines.
The New Zealand Cancer Control Agency recently identified 13 treatments for lung, bowel, kidney, and head and neck cancers that provide significant clinical benefits and are funded in Australia but not in New Zealand. We will allocate $280 million in ring-fenced funding to PHARMAC over four years to pay for these therapies.
This is in addition to the announcement Chris and I announced last year to increase the free breast cancer screening age from 69 to 74 years old, which will save around 65 lives each year.
Three Waters
Parliament has just finished its second-to-last week of the term, and Labour has (unsurprisingly) rammed through the final piece of legislation of its Three Water reforms.
What you might not have heard though is Labour introduced almost 300 pages of amendments to the Three Waters bill just hours before it was to be debated. The original bill alone is over 300 pages, and these additional last minute changes show just how unworkable Labour's Three Waters has become.
There are significant changes such as the Chatham Islands being included again after previously being excluded, and moving the date the bill comes into law from 2024 to immediately after it's passed.
Trying to rush through such a large bill and not allowing Parliament to do its democratic duty to give it proper scrutiny will only end up coming back on New Zealanders and their water.
Under a National government this undemocratic bill will be gone in the first 100 days.
Out and about
Before heading up to Parliament this week, I spent Monday meeting with constituents in my office and then meeting locals on the doorstep around Rolleston. More and more, I hear first-hand the pain the rising cost of living is causing our families.
Today I've been helping the Cancer Society by collecting money for Daffodil Day, and then I spent the afternoon meeting locals at one of my regular coffee catch ups in Kirwee.
Tomorrow I'll be out doorknocking in Lincoln, as I'm doing what I can to doorknock as much as possible in as many towns as possible to hear the issues that matter the most to each community, before heading to the Onam Cultural Festival celebrations at the Lincoln Event Centre - and I look forward to meeting many of our Indian community there.
Upcoming Events
Law & Order Public Meeting - with Mark Mitchell
Monday 11 September 5:30pm
Crime is out of control in New Zealand, and it is getting worse under this Government.
Throughout New Zealand, crime rose 16 per cent and violent crime increased 10 per cent when comparing the first four months of 2022 with the first four months of 2023.
Here in Canterbury the trend continues, with reported crime up 28 per cent and violent crime up 40 per cent.
I am hosting a public meeting with National's Police and Corrections spokesperson Mark Mitchell MP on Monday 11 September at 5:30pm at Rolleston College to hear your concerns and discuss our plan and policies to tackle crime.
Here to help
As always, my team and I are here and available to help.
You can get in touch with us by emailing [email protected], phone 03 344 2800, or pop into the office in Rolleston Square between Monday and Fridays, 10:00am - 4:00pm.
Kind regards,
Nicola Grigg
https://nicolagrigg.national.org.nz/
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