“We have a government”
Radio NZ’s various leaders’ debates are now online. The Brash-Clark debate is here. The third parties’ debate is here. The economics spokespeople’s debate is here.
In the finance debate, there was an exchange between Kim Hill, Michael Cullen and Rod which was quite revealing about the state of play between Labour and the Greens (in stark contrast to National and any of its prospective coalition partners):
Kim Hill: I want to go through you, one by one, and ask you for the one non-negotiable issue that you will never give up, no mater how many baubles of power are dangled in front of you.
[…]
Rod Donald: An economic non-negotiable for us is that we want to future-proof the economy. We want a strong, stable economy that’s self-reliant.
Kim Hill: No, no, no, no. I don’t want a party political broadcast. I want a policy.
Rod Donald: We’re looking forward to the day when we can sit down and negotiate detail with Michael Cullen. That will happen after the election.
Michael Cullen: And I’m looking forward to it too.
Kim Hill: Is that a threat or a promise Dr Cullen?
Rod Donald: Okay, if you want a simple one: a Buy NZ Made Campaign. A Buy NZ Made Campaign generates jobs, reduces the trade deficit, improves the current account deficit.
Michael Cullen: Done.
Rod Donald: Done.
Michael Cullen: It’s a done deal. We have a government.
Kim Hill: Excellent. You can shake hands in a moment.
August 30th, 2005 at 11:41 am
disgusting,
August 30th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
finish your sentences mate, don’t just nod off like someone on a mix of prescription drugs and alcohol
August 30th, 2005 at 12:46 pm
It’s good to see Labour finally taking a Green economic policy seriously. It may sound simplistic, but, like all good economic ideas, it’s based on practical reality for ordinary citizens.
We don’t need the discredited Chicago School of Economics theories of Dr Brash and his Business Roundtable friends. We had a taste of those once before and they almost destroyed New Zealand.
Labour economic policies are business and market friendly, and with some useful fine tuning from the Greens, will also become more ethical, sustainable and visionary.
Labour and Greens offer economic future-proofing. National promises a retreat to an animalistic ’survival of the fittest’ economy that makes Petulant Pete’s comments about caveman economics even more absurd.
August 30th, 2005 at 1:01 pm
So I take it that the Greens have changed their stance and are now fine with Labours endeavours towards a Free Trade agreement deal with China?
What do you think would be the effect a Free Trade agreement with China would have on some NZ Exporters and the Greens buy NZ made campaign?
August 30th, 2005 at 1:53 pm
Making trade not war is usually a good philosophical first principle.
So, having decided to make trade, NZ can develop pragmatic arrangements which include ethical, fair trade and sustainability factors as cornerstones for any FTA.
On this basis, achieving an FTA with China is going to be a very slow process. However, like money, FTA’s are not inherently bad. It’s how they’re used and what issues of morality are involved that must be also be considered.
Labour has largely tried to divorce trade and ethics from each other, though has done better than Shipley and her crew of failed economists.
The holistic approach from the Greens brings trade and ethics together and I’m sure the Chinese will enjoy the challenge this raises for their own people.
Trade doesn’t exist in a vacumn free of morality. An ethical FTA with China would have a major impact on the future of world trade by showing the way for other countries in their negotiations with China.
August 30th, 2005 at 5:39 pm
I thought voters decide the government on election day.
I not sure if Labour/Greens and Progressives will have enough seats to have a majority on election day. Even based on your estimate in three weeks it will be very tight, and people may change their votes depending on the likely coalition partners.
I think you will also have to rely on the Maori Party.
August 30th, 2005 at 7:25 pm
no mellis…lab/grns/prog are on track to form a government..
national/brash have totally cocked-up their campaign..and they have no coalitiion partners xcpt peter dunhill..
the greens will crack 10% on the night……
steady as she goes…
phil(whoar.co.nz)
August 30th, 2005 at 11:25 pm
Mellis, you dont understand MMP.
Most people, like you, think that voters decide the government on election day. They are all wrong. The elected members decide the Government - well the party that gets the most votes, usually. Voters merely pick the make up of parliament. THis is MMP remember.. and governments can form minority coalitions, like the one we have got at the moment.
The Maori Party will not be in Government.
August 31st, 2005 at 12:40 am
re-live the election campaign so far!
http://blog.greens.org.nz/index.php/2005/08/
cheers