Supreme Court important milestone for New Zealand nation-building

Progressive Party deputy leader, Matt Robson, said today that he believes the safe passage through Parliament of the Supreme Court Bill thanks to cooperation between the three centre-left parties represents an important milestone for New Zealand nation-building.

"In my view, this legislation represents a point of celebration in our confidence as a people. It is an important step forward towards the independence of this country, and it is a very proud day for me that there are three parties of the future — Labour, the Progressives, and the Greens — supporting this position," Matt Robson said.

"I count today as being as important as New Zealand taking its steps away from dependence on British colonialism by giving ourselves a citizenship Act. I count it as being as important as ending the cringing that occurred during the First World War, when we allowed British courts to execute our soldiers," he added.

Matt Robson said he is not surprised that the four centre-right parties of National, New Zealand First, ACT and United Future have lined up in unity against this important constitutional development.

"The right wing of New Zealand politics has been quite consistent over the years. They have always opposed measured steps to steadily develop this country – they have no confidence in New Zealanders," Matt Robson said.

The United Future Party and New Zealand First, both former coalition partners in National-led governments, are proud to say they are open to installing a National-ACT government after the 2005 election. United Future spokespeople over the past seven weeks consistently outlined policy positions which are in total opposition to a great deal of what the majority of people in this country support.

"That shouldn't surprise anyone and that is fair enough for a centre right party that hasn't got the courtesy to tell voters before the next election whether they'd support Helen Clark or Don Brash as prime minister – they don't trust voters to divulge that sort of democratic decision-making to mere citizens of New Zealand," Matt Robson said.

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