3 July 2002

Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition stands ready to help Labour form a government following the admission by the Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today that she is reconsidering supporting any Labour-led Government unless they got their way on GE from day one.

She said that post-election negotiations would focus on whether 'it would be more sensible not to let a government form in the first place.'

"The Greens are holding the country to ransom", Jim Anderton said.

"The instability this sort of behaviour would cost in Government would sacrifice thousands of jobs, create instability and much higher interest rates," Jim Anderton said.

"Nothing is worth this mindless confusion. Who would invest in their business, take on more staff or plan for the future when the government was likely to be toppled any moment.

"We have already had one example of this sort of politics from Winston Peters and it was a mess.

"What makes this even worse is that the Greens first said she was taken out of context and then that Jeanette was thinking aloud. They now are saying that's not what she meant at all.

"The only way to stop the Greens is to ensure that Labour has a reliable coalition partner. The Progressive Coalition will make sure the Government makes progress without making threats and holding the country to ransom," Jim Anderton said.

Ends

© Scoop Media