The recent comments by Deputy Prime Minister deriding everything about the free market and declaring the “free market” policies of the last century a failure highlight an unfortunate ideological purity which is so totally out of place in modern New Zealand, says United New Zealand leader, the Hon Peter Dunne.

“The response from ACT is equally ideological and totally disappointing, for nothing else than its predictability.

“It seems sad that as we move into the new millennium the economic debate is being conducted according to ideological extremes on the right and left, rather than on a more rational level.

With many important gains over the past two decades it is surely time to accept that change was indeed needed, but that there is now a need to cement in these gains and ensure more New Zealanders can play a role and share in the fruits of economic success,” says Mr Dunne.

He says a rigid ideological approach to running the economy is the last thing that is needed right now.

“What we need is a non-idealistic, common sense approach which recognises the good things about the market economy, but equally does not see partnership and government intervention as bad things.

“United will continue to espouse this approach and will not endorse the bizarre and out-of-touch views being advanced by the socialists in the Alliance and the intolerant extreme right wingers in the list only ACT party.

“I was pleased to cautiously welcome the economic development package announced by Jim Anderton recently. Some of the rhetoric that has gone with it is extreme. Hopefully we can shift the debate to a more rational level,” concludes Mr Dunne.

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