Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader
15 SEPTEMBER 2014

Alternatives in Election 2014

In the Wairarapa today New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters said some of the alternatives being offered New Zealand voters in this election were a serious cause for concern.

In this campaign the Green Party has twice, for reasons best known to them, in essence led an assault on the Labour Party.

First, they called for an audit of Labour’s alternative budgetary proposals, prepared by the Hon David Parker (August 20). Second, they then said on September 12 they could negotiate with the National Party.

New Zealand First has considered those two events and says as follows:

“When David Parker was attacked by a former business partner, alleging a breach of the law by the Hon David Parker, I was the first MP to back David Parker because, over an extensive period of time, I believed that he was a man of honour and integrity

“I gave that support from the Opposition benches and although he had to step down from his ministerial post and was a victim of unfair vilification by the media I did not resile from that support.

“As it happened the Companies Office had not destroyed a document critical to Mr Parker’s defence, even though nine years had elapsed from the date of that document.

“The document totally exonerated Mr Parker but he had suffered in the meantime, through gross unfairness of treatment and personal humiliation.

“Similarly, I have observed the Hon Bill English’s conduct regarding the allegations in “Dirty Politics” and his reserve in the defence of the Hon Judith Collins’s conduct.

“In addition on the question of tax cuts by National, Mr English’s aversion to claiming that they were possible is further evidence for me, that like Mr Parker, he has a certain integrity and honour. Consequently, I see both of them as capable of being Ministers of Finance.

“Of late the Greens have been talking about being co-deputy prime ministers and wanting the finance portfolio.

“Does that mean when the Prime Minister is abroad we are going to have two acting prime ministers instead.

“This situation would be farcical.

“We all want to clean up the environment in a way that is both economically and environmentally sustainable and responsible.

“If the Greens think they are going to take over the levers of economic management they are assuming other parties are not watching their record.

“This statement in no way challenges the Labour Party’s belief that in the right circumstances they could form an alternative government.

“Voters need to be disabused of the view promoted by the Greens that we in New Zealand First would stand by whilst they promote extremist policies in government.

“This is not indicating a choice but the media seem to have overlooked one option entirely, a Labour-New Zealand First combination in Coalition or Confidence and supply.

“This emerged in 2005, has precedent, and it was a stable, successful government that delivered the greatest surpluses in recent years.”

ENDS

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