'Complete failure': Collins slams border testing

National leader Judith Collins calls for the election to be delayed Photo: RNZ
National leader Judith Collins. Photo: RNZ
National leader Judith Collins has slammed the testing of border workers as a "complete failure" and has suggested that the Government has misled the public.

Collins said she had heard from border workers who weren't offered tests.

"The Prime Minister has categorised this as miscommunication. I would say this is a complete failure," she said.

Asked where the chain of accountability ended, Collins said it was up to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to answer that question.

"The Government can't even fulfill their own policy, can they?

"What is really clear is the Government weren't checking it was being done."

When asked if she thought Health Minister Chris Hipkins had misled the public, she said: "I think that's what will come out."

When asked if someone should be sacked, she said: "Let's find out the facts... It's up to the prime minister. About now she'll be wondering about what she's been told by Chris Hipkins. It's her choice, not mine."

She wouldn't be drawn on US President Donald Trump's comments that New Zealand had experienced "a big surge" in Covid-19.

"I'm not an expert on Donald Trump... I'm not even discussing that. I haven't heard it myself."

When asked if it was helpful for her deputy Gerry Brownlee to be "undermining the media", she said: "I'm not sure that he is."

"I haven't noticed anyone in the public worrying about what I think about what the president of the United States has said."

The comments follow the Prime Minister's moving the election date yesterday.

National's read on the new date was hard to gauge.

"We acknowledge the new date," Collins said in a statement yesterday.

In the days leading up to the decision, Collins had pushed for the election date to be changed.

It was, she said, unfair on the Opposition and smaller parties if the September 19 date stayed in place.

With lockdown restrictions in place, it would be difficult for parties to properly campaign.

But National had been pushing for the election date to be pushed back until November, or next year.

In fact, Collins said a 2021 election was her party's preference.

Ardern's announcement means that Parliament – which had adjourned for the election campaign – had to be recalled.

That means MPs were forced to cut their campaigns short and return to the capital.

That is, all MPs who are not in Auckland – which is in level 3 lockdown.

Although seemingly lukewarm on the new election date, Collins said recalling Parliament was the right move.

"The country is in a difficult situation and the political decisions we make to get us through this should be scrutinised by elected representatives. All voices must be heard if we are to move forward as a united team."

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For someone who whines about not being briefed on Covd19 issues, crusher certainly claims to knows a lot about the strategy and its failings. crusher doing what she does best hit and run, no substance, just sound bites and the hope that she gets one right. Her track record so far is abysmal. Perhaps she's relying on that totally discredited Cameron Slater for her information. But she is right about one thing, decisions are the Prime Ministers prerogative, crusher doesn't get a look in and that must really grind her gears.

True that, you can hear the cogs crushing if you stand close enough.

'Complete failure': Collins

Sounds like she's talking about the National party hierarchy ...

'Third Choice Collins' once again trying to politicize covid.
If this lot were in government the borders would never have shut, thousands of Kiwis would be dead, and the economy would be in ruins.
The joke with Collins is that it doesn't matter if her eyebrows are up or down, she is never being completely honest. It's all a desperate no holds barred quest for power.

I assume Ird, nightimejohn, Concerned and Grizz you all agree with Judith Collins that this a complete failure by the government given you decided to attack the messenger and had nothing to say about the message.

That's the point, she had no message. Just a wild assertion without any facts to back it up, as usual. She's a hit and run specialist.

I would love to hear "Third Choice Collins" give her views on tRump and the situation in the USA.
As to attacking the messenger, that's all there is of substance, surely you don't believe a word she says?

I agree with Puzzled, day by day we are seeing the complete failure of the border and yet anyone who questions it is attacked by the blind left devotees. and to Grizz we have seen how flawed the modeling was, thousands dead, please dont believe the propaganda .

taieri b: Making up stories is no substitution for facts. If you want facts read the ODT, they do a pretty good jobs of reporting in a balanced, unbiased fashion. The ODT have yet to report a complete failure at the border. Somehow they missed that. (that's sarcasm in case you don't understand it). No-one is attacking those who challenge the facts, only those who lie about them. However you are right about modelling, modelling is always flawed. However in this case because our Government is handling the pandemic so well we will never know how flawed the original modelling was. I don't blindly follow anyone, I assess facts and form opinions. I leave the propaganda to the those who haven't the wit to form their own opinion.

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