Todd Talks with Todd Muller National MP

With daily Omicron cases now in the thousands, it's disappointing that we are still dealing with inefficiencies with the Ministry of Health's response to the pandemic.

By now we should all have been provided with Rapid Antigen Tests but the rollout has been shambolic, sadly. Queues at testing stations are lengthy, as is the wait for test results.

As well as Covid, people are on edge about business viability, the rapidly increasing cost of living and the threat of a Northern Hemisphere war that will certainly make its effects felt here in New Zealand. Many of us have loved ones in Europe and in Ukraine and it's tough to see innocent civilians and defence personnel caught up in the fighting.

National's Autonomous Sanctions Bill, which Labour voted down last year, explicitly provides for the asset freezes, financial market restriction and trade embargoes that would allow New Zealand to join our traditional partners in punitive action. We stand ready to work with the Government to facilitate whatever legislation is required to enable us to act alongside the rest of the international community, rather than having all UN sanctions blocked by Russia's veto.

Politically we are seeing a Labour Government that is looking increasingly incompetent. The National Caucus feels like a very positive environment. We are a strong and unified team with the experience and expertise to lead New Zealand out of the economic doldrums. It's essential that our government spending is reduced so we can rein in inflation and increase productivity. This will enable economic growth and reduce welfare dependency.