National to back nuclear ban

A 2006 reworking of a 1984 anti-nuclear mural in K Rd, Auckland. Main Picture / Martin Sykes

National is moving to declare itself unambiguously supportive of anti-nuclear laws and has rejigged its Treaty settlement deadlines, as it embarks on a broad policy review.

The caucus was asked at its Taupo retreat yesterday to consider dumping the "referendum rider" to its nuclear-propelled warships policy by foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully.

He said the rider had been misrepresented by Labour and created confusion in the public's mind, leading people to forget National's policy actually supported the nuclear legislation.

The policy was adopted after an internal party review which called for the ship ban to be diluted. It states any legislative changes would occur only in the "wake of a clear public mandate by way of a referendum".

Leader Don Brash yesterday refused to say where he stood on the proposal, but the Herald understands that he is supportive of Mr McCully's plans.

Dr Brash accepted yesterday that Labour's successful election campaign attacks over the issue had damaged National, suggesting he wants it off the political agenda.

"The reference to the referendum was grossly misinterpreted by our political opponents to mean that we had some kind of secret agenda. We want to totally reject that proposition."

Dr Brash announced at the weekend that the party was revising its Treaty settlement deadlines as it reviews policies in light of Labour's election win.

The party has already said tax, health and immigration policies were under review.

Yesterday he revealed that the settlement deadline would be imposed five years after National took office - the same timeframe it would have imposed had it won the last election.

"We proposed a deadline of 2010. Clearly, with Labour winning the election, that's no longer a feasible date so what we're now saying is that we want all Treaty settlements dealt with fairly, finally and fully by five years from when National becomes Government.

"That means if we become Government this year, we're talking about 2011, if it's next year it will be 2012 and so on."

Mr McCully said the caucus had put no timeframe on reaching a decision about the potential nuclear policy change but, conceding that a long delay could create further confusion in the public's mind, he hoped that it would be "sooner rather than later".

The anti-nuclear policy was an issue for the United States but "I think that because of the type of debate we've had, the impression has been at large that it is the major point of difference".

"The discussions I've had with people in that arena suggest to me they are at least as perturbed about the fact that we've tried to, as they would see it, perhaps market our policy in other jurisdictions, particularly Japan, where they have genuine strategic interests that would be affected.

"They certainly take a dim view of the Prime Minister insulting the President of the United States," Mr McCully said.

"They certainly have the view that certain key ministers in this Administration are anti-American. All of those things have been rather forgotten because of the anti-nuclear legislation and I think it's time that we distinguish between some of these things."

National wanted to make it clear it was possible to uphold the legislation and "still have a positive view about the United States".


Another take on the cartoon controversy

National foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully has taken a different stance to his party leader over the Muhammad cartoon controversy, declining to condemn media which published the cartoons and warning the Government against pandering to Islamic governments.

Mr McCully's position was carefully espoused and he downplayed suggestions that his views differed significantly from those of Don Brash.

But he is believed to be one of several National MPs who believe the party should not have aligned itself so closely with the Government on the issue.

Dr Brash had echoed Prime Minister Helen Clark's position on the issue on almost every front.

Although he felt newspapers had the right to publish the cartoons, the National leader said this week the decision was "very insensitive and really quite in bad taste".

Publishing was irresponsible and could damage New Zealand's wider interests, Dr Brash said.

Although he deplored reaction which had included threats and violence "it's important that we all recognise the potential damage which has been done".

"I think the Government quite rightly is trying to minimise the damage by talking to the relevant ambassadors pointing out New Zealand does not censor newspapers or other media in that way, but making it clear the Government abhors that action. I think it is entirely appropriate."

Mr McCully was not prepared yesterday to go so far as to accuse the Government of pandering to countries such as Iran over the cartoons, which would clearly contradict Dr Brash.

But he hinted at it.

"There is a fine line between asking people to have respect for other cultures and asking them to pander to other cultures and I think that we need to be very careful about where we draw that line."

He also appeared to suggest there were inconsistencies in the Government's approach to whether the media should have published the cartoons.

"We need to uphold the right of New Zealand media to make their own editorial decisions and ask them to show restraint and be responsible, but we should be consistent about the yardstick we invite them to use."

Asked if New Zealand media should have published the cartoons, he repeatedly refused to repeat Dr Brash's condemnation of those that did. "Dr Brash has made his views known and I support his right to do that. I'm not wishing to engage with those editors. I simply think that in terms of reflecting on the way this plays out from here we need to keep things in perspective."

The Government was concerned about the trade implications of the affair, but the cartoons were not the only issue affecting the trade relationship with Iran, he said.

Its President's statements about Iran's nuclear programme had rightly drawn condemnation from other Western leaders. "Unfortunately our own Government has been pretty slow out of the blocks in that respect."

Mr McCully said there were "potential trade ramifications from all of those things".