KEY POINTS:
The National Party isn't going to support a Green Party proposal to freeze MPs' pay for three years, as it doesn't believe the recession will last that long.
The Greens plan to put their proposal to Parliament, possibly tomorrow, and they hope MPs will vote on it.
Prime Minister John Key said today if it was re-drafted for a one-year freeze, National would support it.
"The Green's proposal presupposes there will be a recession for three years," Mr Key said.
"I don't accept that proposition. If the Greens want to alter it to one year then National will vote for it, and we might vote for it in the second and third years."
Mr Key has already written to the Remuneration Authority, which sets MPs pay, asking it not to award a pay rise this year.
"I asked for a zero increase. The purpose was to send a strong message to Parliament and senior public servants, and the private sector, that this is time for restraint because of the recession," he said today.
Green Party MP Keith Locke said he was pleased Mr Key had responded to the proposal in a positive way and the Greens would want to get it through Parliament on a cross-party basis.
"I imagine further discussions will proceed," he told NZPA.
- NZPA