Clark says Greens' GE stance will make NZ laughing stock

10.00am

New Zealand will become a "laughing stock" among developed countries if it continues a moratorium on genetic engineering after next year, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.

The anti-genetic engineering stance taken by the Green Party was "pathetic" and would not help New Zealand's image overseas, she said.

"We are about to have the strictest regime on genetic modification anywhere in the world. To go any further, frankly, would make us a laughing stock," Miss Clark told National Radio.

The Greens, who have seemed Labour's most likely coalition partner after the next election, abstained from a vote in Parliament yesterday to pass a bill on GE progress in this country.

All seven of the party's members walked out of the debating chamber after co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons gave a speech in general debate on the issue, outlining the party's anti-GE stance.

She said the party wanted the moratorium on releasing GE organisms into the environment -- which is to expire automatically in October next year -- to be continued indefinitely.

Ms Fitzsimons warned that the Greens would not enter into a coalition agreement with any party unless it agreed to their GE stance.

Today, Miss Clark reiterated the Government's view that its approach was reasonable.

With the bill, New Zealand had taken a precautionary approach, but had not turned its back on science.

"To see that stand, ridiculed by the Greens, as somehow allowing for what Ms Fitzsimons says is widespread GE crops, animals and viruses, I think is not principle, it's just plain silly.

Miss Clark said the issue would likely do the Greens more harm than good.

"Let's be clear, this statement rules the Greens out of coalition. They cannot go into a coalition with this policy.

"A more relevant issue is whether we're so far into the silly season now that the Greens are threatening to bring down a government in say 17 months time, possibly causing another general election within a year of the last one.

"That will damage the Greens."

The policy was "unacceptable for Labour", but Miss Clark stopped short of saying Labour would not enter into any agreement with the Greens after the election.

She said the Greens were "playing Russian roulette" with the electoral system, by threatening to vote against the ruling party on confidence and supply issues.

Ms Fitzsimons told NZPA an agreement with Labour was still not out of the question, but said any coalition would depend on the amount of power the Greens could wield.

"Helen Clark was very careful never to say that Labour will not agree to this, she kept trying to change the question," she said.

"Obviously they (Labour) will be campaigning for a majority government, but some people will be concerned that this will take us back to absolute power of 'first past the post' politics.

"Whether we enter an agreement depends on the outcome of the election. If they need us and we feel that we are strong enough, my feeling is that we are prepared to negotiate."

Ms Fitzsimons disputed the claim it would make New Zealand a laughing stock, saying most GE research that would benefit the country was done in laboratories.

She said extending the GE moratorium was "very little to ask".

Miss Clark said the Greens' threat was "one of many factors which has a bearing on the election date", but she would not be drawn on when that would be.

National leader Bill English said Miss Clark was stalling on calling an election date and the GE issue was not the main reason.

"Labour did a deal with the Greens over the moratorium just last year ... Labour have known the Greens' position for a long, long time and now seems to be making it into a coalition-breaker," Mr English told National Radio.

"We'll be ready for an election whenever it is called, but if there is an early one called it will be because Helen Clark has essentially lost control of stable government.

"I think Helen Clark doesn't know what to do about an election, ... she can't make up her mind ... she should just say what the date is so we can get on, and the date should be late because there's no reason to go early."

- NZPA

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