Act backs English as official Leader of the Opposition

By VERNON SMALL deputy political editor

Act is backing National Party leader Bill English's right to be named Leader of the Opposition in the face of a challenge from New Zealand First and the Greens.

"I think it is fanciful for either Winston Peters or Rod Donald to claim otherwise," Act's acting leader, Ken Shirley, said yesterday.

Speaking after an Act caucus meeting, Mr Shirley said Mr English was clearly the designated Leader of the Opposition under the rules of Parliament, which give the job to the leader of the largest non-Government party.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Green co-leader Rod Donald have called for a change to the long-standing practice, saying it does not fit with an MMP Parliament.

They point out that National's 27 seats give it less than half the seats in the combined Opposition.

No changes to the rules of Parliament are due to be considered until the end of the year.

Mr Shirley said he would expect Mr English "to consult with Act and to give due consideration to our recommendations in matters such as appointments and procedures.

Act also wants select committee chairs to be allocated proportionately, giving it one of the 14 available.

However National's closest ally is prepared to consider a proportional allocation of front bench seats in Parliament which would see National lose two of the nine prominent spots opposite key Cabinet ministers.

"I think there is a justification for New Zealand First having three on the proportionality argument," Mr Shirley said. "If it was on merit we would have nine front bench seats."

Speaker Jonathan Hunt will have the final say on where parties sit if, as expected, he is re-elected on Monday.

But he plans to meet representatives of all the parties today to try to hammer out an agreement.

Meanwhile, Act leader Richard Prebble is to return to New Zealand tomorrow after recuperating in the Solomon Islands from pneumonia, which he caught during the election campaign.

Mr Shirley said he had made a full recovery.

In his absence Mr Shirley yesterday announced the new spokesmanships for the party.

Mr Prebble's main responsibilities will be labour, immigration, industrial relations and transport. Mr Shirley will look after foreign affairs, defence, trade, and conservation.

Rodney Hide will retain the finance role.

Other key responsibilities are: Muriel Newman, whip and welfare; Stephen Franks, justice and Treaty of Waitangi; Donna Awatere Huata, compulsory education, Maori affairs and employment; Deborah Coddington, commerce and broadcasting; Gerry Eckhoff, agriculture and tourism; Heather Roy, health, ACC and the arts.

Mr Shirley said Act would focus on the three main planks of its election campaign.

They were:

* Law and justice, highlighting the inadequacies of the Government's sentencing and parole laws.

* The lack of growth in the economy and the need for lower taxes to stimulate growth.

* "One law for all" on treaty issues.

Mr Shirley said there had not been a challenge to the party's leadership although Act's share of the vote had stayed almost static.

"It hasn't been an issue."

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