Ross Wilson: Glad the politics of prejudice remain a minority

From the CTU perspective I view the General Election result with both dismay and optimism.

Dismay that the politics of prejudice can emerge as the main platform of the Centre Right in New Zealand politics.

Optimism that a Labour led Government can continue with a renewed electoral mandate for the active social democratic programme of economic and social development which the Labour Alliance Government started during the past two and a half years.

For a country with a proud reputation around the world for tolerance it is worrying that National, NZ First and ACT can gain as much electoral support as they have for sloganised policies of prejudice against immigrants, Maori, criminals and gays.

These are all complex policy issues which need to be addressed rationally and with balanced policy solutions. To seek to exploit people's fears with phoney statistics and extreme solutions, for which they will never be held accountable, is grossly irresponsible.

It is also worth noting that National, NZ First and ACT have all strongly opposed the strengthening of the criminal law, the Health & Safety in Employment Act, which is intended to protect people at work.

This is despite the appalling death toll of 73 workers killed at work during the last year, the highest for at least a decade.

Richard Prebble's cynical response has been that the workers' own stupidity or carelessness causes workplace accidents. National and NZ First think the current laws are tough enough.

It appears that National, NZ First and ACT are concerned about all victims of crime, except the victims of workplace crime.

I suppose we can at least take comfort from the fact that the politics of prejudice are still in a minority, and that National has consigned itself to minor party status partly because it failed to campaign on the real issues for us as a country.

National has also suffered because it continued with its tired old policy prescriptions from the 1990s. And promoting Don Brash, effectively, as its economic policy spokesperson only served to remind us all of the key role he has played in suppressing economic growth during his tenure as Reserve Bank Governor during the past decade.

On this basis Labour has won by default with its comprehensive economic and social policy agenda which have won it such wide public support during its first term. There is no doubt that most New Zealanders continue to think that the Clark Government is doing a good job.

It is just a pity that during the campaign there was so little focus on the achievements of the last Government, and the success of the policies which are still developing. There is no doubt that the new Government would have a stronger mandate if the broader policy issues and programmes had received the attention from the media which they deserved. Unfortunately the politics of prejudice is good media.

So we face the future; with a Labour Party enjoying the rare privilege of being re-elected with increased voter support, but with the difficult task of developing a coalition of interests to support the centre left political programme.

The CTU has worked well with the Greens on crucial measures such as the repeal of the Employment Contracts Act, the restoration of ACC, as well as many others. They have strong social justice policies and the CTU sees them continuing to play a key role, with the PCP, in a Labour led Government.

On the other hand, the CTU has real concerns about Peter Dunn's United Future Party. Peter Dunne opposed the Employment Relations Act, the restoration of ACC, and many other measures which were "family friendly".

It would also appear that there are some strong elements of religious and social intolerance in the views of some of the new MPs which will make up the party in Parliament.

The CTU is strongly supportive of the active political and social programme of the last Government which is only really starting to get traction. There is a lot more to be done, and it requires parties with a strong commitment to a social democratic agenda to ensure it succeeds.

* Ross Wilson is President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

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