Auckland (The NZ Today)
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says working with Opportunity after the election remains “on the table”, even as he continues to warn voters that backing the smaller party could help return the current government.
Speaking to media while campaigning in Auckland on Saturday, Hipkins said Labour had not ruled out post-election talks with Opportunity.
He said there was still a risk, in Labour’s view, that a vote for Opportunity could ultimately contribute to a National-led government, and argued voters wanting a change should give their party vote directly to Labour.
But when pressed on whether he would work with Opportunity if the numbers required it after November 7, Hipkins said he had deliberately left that option open.
The comments come as Opportunity continues to feature prominently in coalition calculations. A recent 1News Verian poll had the party on 8 percent, with neither the traditional left nor right bloc able to govern without additional support.
Hipkins also responded cautiously to the Greens’ new proposal to abolish the lower training wage and require apprentices to receive at least the full adult minimum wage.
He said Labour had not recently considered that change and would want to study its effect on youth employment before taking a position.
Hipkins said youth unemployment remained a major concern and that Labour wanted to avoid policy changes that could unintentionally make it harder for younger people to get into work.
The Greens announced on Saturday that they would scrap the training wage, arguing apprentices should not be paid less while learning on the job.
Labour, meanwhile, is campaigning on its own apprenticeship package, including a toolbox grant intended to support up to 20,000 young people entering trades.
Hipkins said the Greens’ proposal was something Labour could discuss, but he would want to see the evidence before committing to it.
The Labour leader was also due to travel to Hamilton later in the day to watch the Black Ferns play France.
Source: Chris Hipkins media stand-up in Auckland; 1News election coverage.
