Clark Cannot Take Parliament's Support For Anti-Terrorism Campaign For Granted

United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is warning the Prime Minister against taking Parliament's support for the anti-terrorism campaign for granted.

"Whilst I think she is correct in her current assessment that all parties continue to support the government's actions in terms of the October 4th vote in Parliament, that may not continue unabated, especially if the campaign becomes prolonged and the fighting intensifies."

"Clearly, this is the government's expectation, if media reports that a War Cabinet of senior Ministers has been appointed, are to be believed."

"Because Parliament endorsed the decision to commit SAS forces to the anti-terrorism campaign, Parliament has a right to be kept fully informed of the consequent course of their deployment, yet this is not occurring."

"On the one hand, the government was keen to secure cross-party support for its actions, which was forthcoming, but, on the other hand, it is not nearly as keen to share information about what is happening to the New Zealand forces."

"It cannot continue to have it both ways and expect Parliament to give ongoing meek and unquestioning support," Mr Dunne says.

Mr Dunne suggests there should be regular full briefings provided to party leaders on the course of the anti-terrorism campaign to ensure Parliament's support can be retained.

"Otherwise, there is an increasing risk that a Parliament and public kept in the dark will turn against the cause we professed ourselves so determined to pursue in the aftermath of September 11th."

"This is too big an issue to become victim to partisan politics, and the government should be determined to pursue as strong a multi-party approach as possible," he says.

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