Nicola Willis has invited former National Party Finance Minister Ruth Richardson to debate the country’s financial situation in Parliament.
The Taxpayers’ Union is preparing to start a “pressure campaign” aimed at Willis, urging her to cut spending and lower debt. Willis stated that it was evident the campaign was led by Richardson, the chair of the Taxpayers’ Union.
“My message for Ruth Richardson is a very clear one,” Willis said. “Come and debate me face to face. Come out of the shadows. I will argue toe for toe on the prescription that our government is following.”
“I reject your approach, and instead of lurking in the shadows with secretly funded ads in the paper, come and debate me right here in Parliament.”
Willis also called on media outlets in the country to host the debate. “I’m ready anytime, anywhere. I will debate her. She needs to come front up face to face. Put her face to her words,” she said.
Willis stated she supports her decisions while in government and urged Richardson to “defend her legacy,” referring to the introduction of the notorious ‘Mother of all Budgets’ in 1991.
“What I want is a straight-up honest debate to really analyse some of the claims that she and her associates are making.”
“To argue about actually what the impact of some of the things that she is calling for would be on everyday New Zealanders and their families, to test what her tolerance for human misery is and to understand why it is that she is prepared to reject our government’s economic approach in ads but won’t front up.”