Editorial: Political stability assured

Common sense has won, again. The shape of the new Government announced yesterday is much that envisaged by voters at the ballot-box on July 27. The three-year deal with United Future unveiled by Helen Clark and Peter Dunne assures the Labour-led minority Government of support on crucial confidence and supply votes. And it neutralises the Greens, the main intention of swinging voters who chose United Future as a suitable middle-of-the-road partner for Labour. That outcome offers fairly much the best possible prospect for a full term of stable government.

In some eyes, stability would have been enhanced had United Future entered a formal coalition agreement with Labour. But the absence of such a pact need not suggest frailty. During its last term, Labour depended, likewise, on the Greens under a similar framework. The arrangement served both parties well.

It is also noteworthy that the presence of formal coalition agreements in the past two administrations - one with New Zealand First and one with the Alliance - was not the harbinger of stability. Indeed, it laid the basis for infighting among the ranks of the minor coalition partners.

Much of that squabbling related to the popular perception that the minor party was being treated as a lapdog by its dominant partner. Peter Dunne must not allow his party to stray into similar territory, both for the sake of the party's future and for that of an electorate that sought to pull the Government slightly to the right. His task will not be easy.

The Prime Minister knows that United Future's inexperienced team should, in theory, be easier to push around than the Greens. On the plus side, however, there should be none of the prickliness and unwarranted obduracy that doomed prospects of a partnership between the Greens and Labour.

United Future has extracted three specific pledges from the Government. Predictably its pet project, a Commission for the Family, is at the head of the queue. Proposals for the commission will be developed by the end of the year. As well, United Future has secured strong victim rights legislation and the passage of revised transport funding law.

Its emphasis must continue to reflect its supporters' call for the strengthening of family life. That will require more than the establishment of a commission. Such bodies have a habit of being largely ineffectual. United Future must bring a family values perspective to each Government proposal - and be prepared to withdraw support when its aims are not being met and when the legislation does not involve confidence or supply.

The most positive aspect of this deal is that there is no obvious reason New Zealand should not enjoy three years of stable government. Talk that the "moral conservatives" in Peter Dunne's ranks will not be able to fashion a comfortable relationship with Labour's more left-leaning MPs ignores the fact that United Future is essentially centrist. And that most of those issues likely to create division, such as the relaxation of cannabis laws, will be the subject of conscience votes.

Even on the potentially contentious revision of the Property (Relationships) Act, United Future appears willing to shape a compromise solution. Finally, of course, Mr Dunne will be aware of the fate of junior parties deemed to have destabilised governments.

Looming economic clouds suggest this term will be far more difficult than Labour's first. A good start has been made, however. The Government must recognise the reins applied by the electorate, and United Future must reinforce that. Therein lies the formula for stable government.

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