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English off the planet
15 August 2005
Hon Jim Anderton MP, Progressive Leader
English off the planet
Bill English's implications that I am about to unleash a Stalinist re-education camp on our children are extraordinary and frankly, off the planet. The perfect reply would be, 'Yeah, right!', Jim Anderton, a former school teacher, said this afternoon.
"In politics you are lucky if you please some of the people some of the time - and you really can't please anyone sometimes.
"In the role of Minister for Economic, Industry and Regional Development some extreme left wingers suggest that I'm some sort of traitor for being business friendly. If I sent Bill English's statement that I am a "loopy left-wing idealist', to Maori/Green party advocate Matt McCarten, he'd probably have a heart attack!
"The policies the Progressive Party has implemented through my economic development portfolios have been well researched, well considered and genuinely effective. If given the chance, I would like to be as effective in the education portfolio.
"I have one approach and that is to be pragmatic and proactive in the interests of lifting the living standards of all New Zealanders. If a policy is working - the Progressive Party will support it, if it doesn't, we'll dump it. That's hardly a great threat to New Zealand's education system or anyone else in the country," Jim Anderton said.
ENDS
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