Business debate sparks little fire

By DITA DE BONI

Politicians are wooing business this election, but a sceptical business community had little fire for their suitors in yesterday's Business Crossfire Debate in Auckland.

Around 300 corporates were as decorous as their surroundings as they listened politely to Jim Anderton, Rodney Hide, Michael Cullen, Bill English and Winston Peters slug it out over the state of the economy.

The debate - organised by the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association - featured high-profile business figures including Rosanne Meo and Dr Lester Levy grilling the politicians on their policies.

Opening remarks did not offer any surprises. Mr Anderton stressed his social policy stance and Mr Hide called for the Government to cut taxes and safeguard private property.

Dr Cullen and Mr Anderton were in full friendship mode after reports this week of an Alliance-Labour spending spat, concurring on almost all issues and again stressing that Mr Anderton's role would be determined by the number of votes garnered by the Alliance.

Mr Peters attempted to stir the audience with a full-scale attack on Telecom's monopoly and "rip-off" bank charges - making no exceptions for debate co-sponsor the Bank of New Zealand.

He later tempted fate again when he accused some in the business community of not paying their fair share of tax.

"We've got some crooks among [us] here," he said to a laughing audience.

As expected, questions from both panel participants and the audience focused on the three main business issues: corporate and personal tax, the Employment Contracts Act and Government assistance for small business.

All of the leaders agreed that exporting would be the focus of economic recovery for New Zealand; that local authorities needed to apply the Resource Management Act in a more consistent manner; and that tax collection needed to be reviewed and simplified for small businesses.

After the debate, several business leaders expressed disappointment with the predictability of the candidates' arguments, but Mr Anderton, who agreed he probably had the most difficult time of it, seemed pleased with his showing.

"I'm still alive, aren't I?" he said.

"I'm going to talk to the textile manufacturers next. If I was Rodney Hide saying the things to them that he said here, I'd be lucky to leave with my car windows intact."