Clark pushes coalition options

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

Prime Minister Helen Clark last night indicated that Labour was considering a range of scenarios for forming a new government if a coalition deal with the Green Party failed.

The Prime Minister faced off with National leader Bill English for the first time in a live television debate during a TV3 election special last night.

The two politicians - with Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, New Zealand First's Winston Peters and Richard Prebble from Act - scrapped over issues such as the teachers' pay dispute and Treaty of Waitangi claims as they touted for viewers' votes.

But it was the row over a potential coalition deal between Labour and the Greens that generated the most interest.

Ms Fitzsimons reiterated the Greens' determination to withdraw support for a Labour-led government if it lifted a moratorium on the commercial release of genetically modified organisms.

Helen Clark criticised that stand, saying it was not intelligent to continue with an outright moratorium on commercial release "rolling on year in year out".

However, Ms Fitzsimons said she was convinced that in the end Labour would not lift the moratorium because Helen Clark did not want the issue to interfere with her ability to form a government.

This prompted a taunt from TV3 host John Campbell that Labour was being done like a dog's dinner by the Greens and the tail was wagging the dog.

"The assumption you are making is that the Greens would be in a position to do that," responded Helen Clark.

"There are other possibilities. There is the possibility of a majority coalition government and there are other players."

She said there was a "range of other scenarios".

Mr Peters, who has positioned his party as an alternative coalition partner, deftly dodged a question about whether he would do a deal with Labour by surprisingly coming out in defence of the Greens.

"I respect the Greens' right to say what they say. It is part and parcel of democracy," he said.



Mr English warned voters not to be taken in by the row. He said Labour was bashing the Greens but would not campaign against them in Coromandel.

How the Herald election team rated the debate

JOHN ARMSTRONG, POLITICAL EDITOR

"A lively affair - thanks to John Campbell's cut-to-the-chase questioning - but no clear winner or loser. Notable for a sure-footed performance by a fired-up Bill English, though he got few opportunities to take on Helen Clark directly in their first television confrontation. Not enough to kick-start National's moribund campaign, but will give party faithful heart. Clark was Clark - solid and controlled. Winston Peters, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Richard Prebble were also mistake-free."

VERNON SMALL, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

"A difficult debate to score, because it was so even. The format veiled the real contest between Helen Clark and Bill English. We will have to wait for a head-to-head to get a better feel for his ability to close the gap. Winston Peters was the most assured, despite facing the most confrontational questioning from John Campbell. Richard Prebble was wooden but got across more of his 'hot button issues'. Jeanette Fitzsimons may have helped lessen the Greens' image of fringe flakiness."

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