United Future leads the way to stable government

Today, Friday, April 23, 2004, is a hugely significant day in the history of MMP politics and stable government in New Zealand, according to United Future leader, Peter Dunne.

“As of today, the confidence and supply agreement between United Future and the Labour-led Government, which has given New Zealand political confidence and stability, has equalled the National-New Zealand First coalition,” he said.

Signed on 10 December 1996, the National-New Zealand First coalition survived for 624 days, when it formally dissolved on 26 August 1998.

“The erratic course of that coalition and its fiery collapse give little confidence that New Zealand First, under its present leader, is capable of providing the stability that’s so necessary to the economic and social well-being of New Zealand families.

“Similarly, the ideological fanaticism of the Alliance proved unable to withstand the pressures of being in government and the Labour-Alliance coalition shot itself to pieces in equally spectacular and damaging fashion.

“Having concluded a confidence and supply agreement on 8 August 2002, United Future’s support role will have lasted just as long as the National-NZ First arrangement by today, 23 April 2004.

“Recent events have shown that it is possible to disagree with Labour, yet continue to ensure stable government for the good of the country.

“Those who, through ignorance or political malice, seek to goad us into withdrawing support when we take issue with Labour’s agenda forget that no government under MMP has survived an entire parliamentary term intact.

“The country needs United Future to restore confidence in the political system.”

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>