Union songs welcome Clark back to Parliament

11.30am

Victorious Prime Minister Helen Clark was welcomed back to Parliament today to a round of applause from her cabinet ministers and staff, and a rousing trio of songs from a women's trade union choir.

Miss Clark flew from Auckland this morning for her party's first cabinet meeting since winning Saturday's election.

As she stepped from her car she was applauded by her ministers and staff who had gathered on the steps, and by Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton.

She paused on the steps and smiled as she listened to a waiata and a union song by the choir.

Miss Clark thanked her colleagues and staff for their support.

"It's been an interesting campaign, never seen anything like it in my lifetime.

"To get a major party in the opposition down to the lowest level since 1902... is a fantastic achievement."

That comment brought laughter and more applause and a quip from one minister that Labour could do even better.

"We are just all thrilled to be back, right?", Miss Clark said.

She said there was a lot of talking to do.

"MMP requires us to work collaboratively with other people. We are going to settle down today and start that process but we wouldn't be where we are without the fantastic support of all the people who get in behind us all over the country."

She also thanked the choir -- Wellington-based Choir Choir Pants on Fire -- before asking for an encore of an old union favourite Bread and Roses, which she and her ministers joined in singing.

Miss Clark told reporters afterwards she hoped progress on coalition talks would be made over the next fortnight.

She laughed when asked if she was prepared for any attacks New Zealand First leader Winston Peters might be planning.

"Well, he's programmed for opposition isn't he?"

Mr Anderton told reporters that the sooner the Government got back to business the better.

"I have got some important work to do in economic, industry and regional development and I want to get on with that as soon as I can."

- NZPA

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