Bradford still toeing an alternative line

By REBECCA WALSH

It's the story of the day but Green MP Sue Bradford isn't having a bar of it.

While talkback radio goes mad over claims the Government covered up an accidental release of genetically modified sweetcorn, the former political activist is on the campaign trail and trying not to talk about it.

It is a busy time, and genetic engineering, she is at pains to point out, is not all the Green Party is about.

"We do have an image problem," she tells the 23 people at the launch of the party's community economic development-income support policy at the Otara Music Arts Centre.

"People tend to see us as GE free or GM only ... We consistently try to get out the fact we have other issues. It is a mission given the current environment we are in."

Miss Bradford, one of seven Green MPs and third on the party list, will battle it out with longstanding National MP Lockwood Smith for the Rodney electorate.

Waiting outside the "Green Room" of the Otara centre yesterday afternoon, the veteran protester and mother of five hugs and kisses a good number of the party faithful.

There are faces from her days helping to set up the three Auckland Peoples Centres, a handful of locals and Green Party candidates Steve Abel (standing in Mangere) and Metiria Turei (contesting the new Maori seat of Tamaki Makaurau).

As the audience munch on ham and cheese pizza and chocolate pastries, the MP who was voted backbencher of the year in 2000 tells them the Greens are "on about social responsibility and economic justice just as much as we're on about saving the planet".

The MP, who has a string of arrests to her name, the first at 16 after a sit-in at the US consulate, talks about full employment and a more proactive role for the Government in job creation, financing community enterprise and the introduction of a universal child benefit as keystones of the party's policy.

But the longtime champion of the unemployed admits she is disheartened by the lack of progress the Greens have made in advancing the interests of the unemployed and beneficiaries.

Asked by a woman in the audience whether the Greens would be better aligned with National than Labour, Miss Bradford, dressed in a matching crimson and black skirt and jacket, laughs and dismisses the idea.

"We are not with Labour at the moment I can tell you ... What we are trying to say to people in this election is if you would like a total Labour majority be very careful."

Less than an hour after it started the meeting is over. Next stop is a public meeting in Te Atatu. The topic: looking after our children and communities.

Today it's back to the capital - again keeping well clear of genetic engineering - for a meeting with Wellington mayors on employment.

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