Labour's partners pitch for a share

By VERNON SMALL deputy political editor

Labour's potential allies have gone on the offensive, saying voters should avoid giving it an absolute majority at the election in just over six weeks.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday ended months of speculation when she named July 27 as election day, 2 1/2 months sooner than she had once envisaged.

She had discussed her general thinking with Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright last Friday and telephoned her yesterday, triggering the election.

Labour would make a strong play for "two ticks" and the right to govern alone.

"On present evidence it has a reasonable chance of success," she said. "I believe people do want a government which can govern. I will deal with issues like [coalitions] after the election when I see what cards have been dealt."

National leader Bill English said Labour would fail to get a clear majority and would be punished for calling an election early.

And Labour's potential partners, the Greens, New Zealand First and the Alliance, all made a pitch for the balance of power.

Green co-leader Rod Donald said only his party could "add value" to a Labour government.

"We urge voters of all persuasion to be cautious about giving Labour absolute power," he said.

"She's already effectively ruled out a coalition with us ... But I think she should certainly express a preference on who she would want to help her govern if she does not have a majority."

NZ First leader Winston Peters said Labour must not be allowed to govern alone. "Remember what happened last time when they did? We are still paying the price."

Alliance leader Laila Harre said a Labour majority "in the Alliance's view and in my view ... would be a disaster for New Zealand".

Helen Clark again attacked the Greens for threatening to vote against the Government next year if it lifted the moratorium on commercial release of genetically modified organisms.

But Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the Greens were being moderate. It would be Labour's fault if there was another election.

"We are not even against GE actually," she said. "Genetic science is one of the great leading edges of scientific inquiry. A lot of good can come from it. What we are against is releasing unstable, unpredictable genetically engineered organisms out into the environment."

If the Greens won 10 per cent of the vote and reached a good policy agreement it could go into coalition with Labour.

Helen Clark stopped short of ruling out a coalition and exempted Ms Fitzsimons' Coromandel seat from Labour's "two-ticks" campaign.

"I have said in the past I would not discourage voters from voting for the Green candidate. I will add to that, neither will I encourage."

An early election was needed because the Government's programme was being delayed by scrapping over the Alliance split.

"It is of concern to all of us when Parliament becomes a farce on a daily basis, and that has happened."

Important laws had been delayed, such as those giving the same status to electronic transactions as paper transactions, changing TVNZ's company structure, and setting up a recreation and sports agency.

She said the will of the majority of New Zealanders was being thwarted. "I have therefore decided it is time to clear the air by ... seeking a new mandate."

But other party leaders scoffed at her reasons.

Ms Fitzsimons said procedural wrangling in the House was taking only about 20 minutes a day.

Mr English said her reason was unmitigated rubbish. "The New Zealand public know they have been played with, they know they have been lied to, they know they have been manipulated ... and she is going to pay for it. We have a snap election with no reason."

National's polling showed its support was growing.

Labour has averaged 52 per cent support, National 29 per cent, the Greens 7 per cent, Act 5 per cent, New Zealand First 3 per cent, and the Alliance and Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition 1 per cent in the polls.

Helen Clark said campaign policies and a new "commitment card" would be released in the next two weeks. Priorities would be continued economic and job growth, more investment in health and education, securing superannuation, and maintaining law and order.

She would launch her campaign in Auckland on June 30.

Mr English said National would be campaigning on tougher sentencing, "getting Treaty of Waitangi claims settled, getting teachers back in classrooms ... and getting behind business".

* Jim Anderton's latest political vehicle, the Progressive Coalition, wants to change its name - to "Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition".

General secretary Marty Braithwaite said it would avoid "voter confusion".

"Jim Anderton will be invited to join the party next week. But he has agreed with us that to avoid voter confusion on polling day, voters need to know without doubt what party he is intending to stand for," he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister remains in Parliament as Alliance leader but has signalled plans to lead the Progressive Coalition after the House rises for the election, circumventing the "waka-jumping" legislation that would force him to resign his seat.

Feature: Election 2002

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