National Must Make Stand On Nuke Ships

Monday 3 May 2004 Ken Shirley Press Releases -- Foreign Affairs & Defence

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Foreign Affairs Spokesman Ken Shirley today rejected Dr Don Brash's analysis that New Zealanders see a ban on nuclear propulsion as an integral part of banning nuclear weapons.

"I do not accept that Kiwis are so unsophisticated that they cannot distinguish between nuclear weapons and nuclear technology used for propulsion. The ban on nuclear propulsion was driven by anti-American zealots within Labour championed by the then President Margaret Wilson and a very left-leaning Helen Clark," Mr Shirley said.

"Clause 11 of New Zealand's 1987 nuclear free legislation was always an unnecessary and provocative clip-on which served no useful purpose other than to cock a snook at the United States. It was foolish then and it is foolish now.

"The former National Government commissioned the Somers Report in 1992 that showed conclusively that there is no environmental risk factor or public safety risk justifying the continuation of the ban on nuclear-propelled ships.

"The Bolger Cabinet lacked the political courage to implement that finding and took what they saw as a more comfortable path perpetuating the meaningless myths and mantras. I will be extremely disappointed if the Dr Brash-led National Party continues to sit on the fence in this way.

"ACT is the only party with a clear, unequivocal position. I have a Private Members Bill in the legislative ballot that deletes Clause 11 - thereby removing the ban on nuclear-propelled ship visits.

"It is clear that the normalisation of our relationship with the United States will be greatly enhanced by the removal of this clause from our legislation. National were right to conduct a review of their policy but now, having completed that work, they must take a stance and confirm what their policy is," Mr Shirley said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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