Wheels start falling off fragile coalition

Prime Minister Helen Clark needs to clearly spell out how she intends to resolve the warring factions that have been laid bare in her fragile coalition, says National Party Leader John Key.

Mr Key is commenting on the extraordinary outburst of one Government Minster, Winston Peters, attacking another Government Minister, Jim Anderton, for his comments on the Iraq war while acting as duty minister.

“The Prime Minister needs to clarify if she intends to leave this sore to fester or if she will be getting the ministers together to discuss this urgent at the earliest opportunity.

“It’s clear that increasing instability, tension and lack of accountability will be hallmarks of this dying Labour Government as the year progresses.

“There is an obvious friction just below the surface between Finance Minister, Michael Cullen and Revenue Minister, Peter Dunne on the issue of tax cuts.

“The Prime Minister also to needs to clarify if she supports Mr Peters stated aim of wanting to improve New Zealand’s relationship with America, now that she has decided not to discipline Mr Anderton for his anti-American comments.

“The reality is the Prime Minister is being forced to choose between holding together an increasingly unstable coalition and imposing discipline on her ministers.

“The Labour led Government has started 2007 in a shambles, with the foreign affairs debacle, a correction and parole system in disarray, an admission that the tsunami warning system is inadequate, NZ women still being forced to pay the full cost of cancer drug Herceptin, and Taito Phillip Field on permanent leave from Parliament.

“And most of all, 2007 starts with a Prime Minister who shows no intention of wanting to hold any minister accountable for any of these issues.

“Where is the ministerial accountability she once championed?”

Ends

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