National Party Leader John Key says Helen Clark's "do nothing" answer to the turbulent economic situation should be of great concern to all New Zealanders.

"It is now more important than anything else to shore up confidence and get growth going again, and that's what National's economic management plan is about.

"Labour's lack of concern about the looming decade of deficits is reckless.  The only way out is to grow.  National has presented a clear five-point plan to do that, but Helen Clark has offered no response at all.  She is behaving like a possum in the headlights.

"I have made it very clear that National did want to do more with personal taxation, because after nine long years hard working Kiwis deserved it.  But Labour, with the help of the credit crunch, has stripped New Zealand of its growth potential and delivered a set of accounts that need urgent attention.

"National's policy starts us on the path out of deficit sooner, and leaves us with the opportunity to improve frontline services.
 
"A slash and burn exercise is the wrong approach – our overriding concern is for confidence and responsible economic management.

"I make no apologies for delivering an up-front tax cut in April next year. We need to ease the burden on households and we need to get the economy growing again.  It is Kiwi families and businesses that will lead the recovery and we understand that.

"But Labour continues to pretend nothing has happened."

Mr Key says National has been laying out a practical plan that deals with red tape, invests in infrastructure, tackles the long tail of underachievement in our schools, provides security in our communities, and starts to confront issues like the health workforce crisis.

"In these uncertain times, New Zealanders need to know their government has the right priorities and is focused on the things that matter. 

"Labour is still missing in action."