For immediate release

Monday, 27 January 2003

United Future six months on

Proving that the MMP electoral system can provide stable government has been highlighted by United Future New Zealand leader, Peter Dunne, as a major achievement by the party in the six months since the voters put eight United MP's into Parliament at the last election.

"It's remarkable to think that just six short months ago, all the pundits and commentators were writing United Future off as a political force," he said. "Yet today, we can point to a record of achievement that includes the establishment of a Families Commission that will greatly benefit New Zealand in the future; the enactment of legislation that will eventually see our transport infrastructure brought into the 21st century; and the strengthening of the rights of crime victims."

"This is a record that many other parties with many more years in Parliament would be proud to claim.

"Perhaps even more importantly, I am very pleased with the role that United Future has played in allowing the Government to progress its legislative programme and to ensure New Zealanders get the Government they voted for," said Mr Dunne.

"At the same time, United Future has retained the right to assert its own policies, even where they conflict with the Government's, and the right to lobby the Government strongly and effectively to moderate its more radical proposals."

"We have opposed anti-business moves like the new Occupational Safety and Health laws, for example."

Mr Dunne commented that public support for United Future was growing steadily as middle New Zealanders, disillusioned by the inadequate extremist options available to them in the current political vacuum, realised that United Future was providing credible policies of commonsense and intelligent thought, rather than empty slogans rooted in theory, not reality.

"New Zealanders are yearning for moderate, commonsense leadership that gets on with the job, without resorting to the tired old politics of name-calling, sensationalism, and cheap stunts.

"I have no doubt that the party can continue to grow in public esteem and prominence to become a major long-term player in New Zealand politics," he said.

"Given that we are the party that makes MMP work, I believe we will go from strength to strength as the New Zealand public realises that stability in Government is a vital ingredient in the social and economic development of New Zealand," said Mr Dunne.

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