Labour Leader Chris Hipkins continued his theme of managing voter expectations in his state of the union speech, delivered today in Auckland.

Hipkins said a future Labour Government would need multiple terms to achieve its promises, a marked departure from the last Labour Government which promised to have most of the Auckland light rail line built in its first term, and to be building 12,000 KiwiBuild homes a year by the start of its second. Neither promise was kept.

“Frankly, Kiwis have had enough of promises that aren’t kept.

“We won’t try to do everything in our first term. We’ll focus on what matters most - and we will deliver,” Hipkins said.

The speech criticised the rising cost of living under the coalition and its interest in user-charges which Labour has criticised for loading costs onto consumers.

Hipkins criticised the coalition’s idea of a levy-funded LNG terminal and the proposal, floated by the Infrastructure Commission to toll the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge in order to manage demand when a new crossing is eventually built.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has said the Government has been looking at the idea, noting concerns that if the existing bridge remains free, not many people will use the expensive new crossing, which will be tolled.

“Labour supports a second harbour crossing. But we won’t penalise people for using the one that already exists, Hipkins said.

Hipkins repeated his pledge not to continue with the LNG terminal if a contract is not signed. If a contract is signed, as expected, it is not clear whether Labour would rip it up.

The coalition has been ramping up pressure on Labour to announce more policy and more policy costings.

Hipkins’ speech included no policy Labour had not already announced.

Deputy leader Nicola Willis on RNZ’s Morning Report last week attacked Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni for failing to articulate any policies that would boost productivity.

“I’m not going to throw policies out there,” Sepuloni said.

“You never do because you don’t have any,” Willis replied.

Hipkins attacked the coalition for the number of people leaving overseas.

“It breaks my heart. Because it means we are failing them. Not because they aren’t good enough for New Zealand. But because we haven’t made New Zealand good enough for them.

“But we can. And we will. This is why I got into politics. That’s why I’m standing here today,” he said.