ACT Confirms List Positions

In a joint press statement, ACT Party Leader Don Brash and President Chris Simmons today confirmed that all ACT candidates would move one place up the list to fill the position vacated by the Party’s retiring Parliamentary Leader John Boscawen, and that the number two spot would be filled by former Party President Catherine Isaac.

Dr Brash said he was extremely pleased with the calibre of the list and that Ms Isaac would be a great addition to it.

“Catherine is highly respected in the Party, and in business and political circles, and I very much look forward to working with her in the next Parliament,” Dr Brash said.

Mr Simmons said Ms Isaac had the unanimous support of the Party Board, as did Leader Don Brash and all the candidates.

“We’re all very pleased Catherine will be standing at number two. She brings a lot of Party experience and has had a long and successful business career. She will make an excellent MP,” Mr Simmons said.

Catherine Isaac, who was Party President between 2001 and 2006, and is currently Managing Director of a communications consultancy, said she felt very strongly that ACT had a critical role to play in the next Parliament. She said she wanted to help ensure the Party remains true to its core principles,which are all about a stronger, more flexible economy and higher standards of living for all.

“John Key is a capable and respected leader, who has seen New Zealand through some very difficult times and is generally taking the country in the right direction. But the big issue in this election is the economy. New Zealand is facing the worst economic outlook since 1984. The Government needs to go further and faster and take some tough decisions to safeguard the country and put it onto a path to genuine prosperity. There are a lot of people out there who would like to see the government do that.

“That’s why it’s so important that ACT’s voice is heard loud and clear in Parliament and why Don Brash as a former Reserve Bank Governor with outstanding economic credentials is the ideal leader for ACT at this critical time.

“I also see improving choice in education to better equip our young people for life as a vitally important area of focus, and as a former Welfare Working Group member I have a strong interest in welfare reform.

“But our key concern is the economy and that will be our strong focus going forward. The recent credit downgrades are a major concern and I think the Government will be counting itself lucky with many of the public quite understandably absorbed by the Rugby World Cup.”

Ms Isaac said she was very proud of what the ACT Party had achieved over its history and that it was important the Party stayed true to its roots and the vision of its founders.

“Many people have put a great deal of time, effort and resources into ACT over the years and we need to build on that legacy and secure its future as a strong political force advancing freedom, choice and personal responsibility. I would like to help bring into Parliament a strong contingent of ACT MPs, including in particular the outstanding young people on the list who I see as ACT’s leaders for the future,” Ms Isaac said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media