Sunday 19th Sep 1999

ACT New Zealand President Sir Roger Douglas today announced the Party's list for the coming election.

At a press conference to announce the list Sir Roger said the party looked to put forward a team of candidates who could improve the standing of Parliament.

"ACT's Parliamentary Party are recognised as the quality team having the ability to lead the debate.

"ACT is proud of the quality of our women MPs and women hold many top places on the Party's list.

"After ACT's outstanding performance in nearly winning the Taranaki/King Country by-election ACT has become the voice of heartland New Zealand.

ACT's list contains many candidates from heartland New Zealand including eleven farmers. It will be the first time that a Party other than National has more candidates from rural New Zealand.

"ACT's eighth candidate on the list is Rodney dairy farmer, Penny Webster, a former President of the Auckland Branch of Federated Farmers.

"Gerry Eckhoff, who is the rural voice for the South Island, an area totally ignored by the present Parliament, is number nine on the list.

"As Labour has been seeking to dump its heartland supporters, by tearing up the West Coast Accord, ACT is openly seeking the vote of the heartland.

"Dick Quax, the Commonwealth silver medallist, is also high on ACT's list.

"In making the selection the ACT board has looked for a replacement for the Hon. Derek Quigley who is not standing for re-election.

"Derek, who is a lawyer, has been invaluable in leading the fight against red tape and bureaucracy and working towards the fair, full and final settlement of legitimate Treaty claims.

"Stephen Franks, one of New Zealand's leading lawyers, is a senior partner in the distinguished law firm Chapman Tripp. Stephen has led the fight against the growth of judicial activism.

"Stephen has been pointing out the cost to business and jobs of poorly drafted laws like the Resource Management Act.

"Stephen Franks is a leading critic of the direction that Sir Douglas Graham has taken the law, with the over 5200 new laws and regulations passed in the 1990s alone. Both National and Labour have followed the maxims of 'if there is a problem pass a law'.

"The ACT New Zealand Board's awarding of place number three on the list to Stephen Franks is a reflection not just of Stephen's undoubted ability but ACT's determination to make red tape and run away law making- a major issue in this year's election," said Sir Roger Douglas.

Ends

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