Dunne pledges support to National, cites tax reforms

Peter Dunne says he has assurances from National that tax reform would be on the table for discussion after the election.

United Future leader Peter Dunne has acknowledged his party has achieved many of the things it wanted to do with Labour, but it is time go to the next level after pledging its support to National.

"We want to do more in the area of tax reform, more in the area of utilising public-private partnerships in health to get people surgery quicker. These are things we would just not be able to achieve working under a Labour government, let alone one supported by the Greens."

Mr Dunne says he does not consider using private hospitals for elective surgery as "privatisation".

He says when most people need elective surgery they want it done quickly. He says United Future wants to give over 65-year-olds a guarantee that they will get their elective surgery within six months.

"It's crazy to have waiting lists in public hospitals and empty beds in private hospitals that could do the work. We would actually use those empty beds to give people the surgery."

Mr Dunne says he has assurances from National that tax reform would be on the table for discussion after the election.

He says United Future believes it will have a much better chance advancing its policy under a National-led administration.

- NEWSTALK ZB