New government won't last, says Brash

National leader Don Brash has labelled the new Government a "dog's breakfast" that will not see out the full three-year term.

Labour has signed up New Zealand First and United Future to provide support on crucial confidence and supply votes, giving its leaders Winston Peters and Peter Dunne policy concessions and ministerial portfolios outside Cabinet in return.

Dr Brash said it was a "Mickey Mouse" arrangement for Mr Peters -- who had made "disparaging remarks about most of our neighbours" -- to be holding the senior portfolio of foreign affairs outside Cabinet.

He added: "It's very hard to see how someone who has made negative remarks about citizens from most of our neighbouring countries can represent New Zealand effectively.

"I've seen him in New Zealand where he's been entertaining foreign visitors coming here.... He's not comfortable dealing with senior political leaders from other countries."

Dr Brash said the weak link in the new Government was that Mr Peters was free to attack the Government across most portfolios.

"Winston Peters is tied in only on foreign affairs, racing and potentially senior citizens as an associate minister. Everything else he's free to criticise. Well, that's an extraordinary arrangement and you have to be very doubtful whether that will last anything like three years."

Dr Brash said yesterday that National would be a vigorous opposition and would keep the Government honest.

The make-up has pushed Labour to the centre but, asked today whether he would have liked to put together the sort of government Prime Minister Helen Clark had, Dr Brash said: "I would not."

"I think it's a dog's breakfast. I don't think it will last very long. It may well not last anything like three years."

Dr Brash said he met briefly with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters last Tuesday. He said he had written to Mr Peters last Friday suggesting parties making up 57 seats in Parliament were "willing and able" to support a National-led government.

But Mr Peters had not returned his call and had not met with him again, Dr Brash said.

Dr Brash also held talks with United Future leader Peter Dunne on the possibility of forming a National-led government should Labour fail.

Mr Dunne only told Dr Brash yesterday that it was unlikely he would go with National. According to Dr Brash Mr Dunne was in the room when Dr Brash signed his letter to Mr Peters.

- NZPA