7 November 1999

PETERS’ PROMISE TO STAY ON CROSS BENCHES MAKES ANOTHER ELECTION MORE LIKELY

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says Winston Peters’ promise that New Zealand First will stay on the cross benches after the election does absolutely nothing for political stability and simply heightens the prospect of another election within three years.

“If anything, it makes things look even more uncertain.”

“The idea that Mr Peters will exercise responsibility from the cross benches is a contradiction in terms and simply too hard to stomach.”

“Whatever Party he decides to support on confidence and supply, there is one thing we can be sure of, if New Zealand First is in that position: at a time convenient to Mr Peters alone, he will pull the plug and force another election.”

“New Zealand does not deserve that threat of instability, nor to be held ransom to the erratic populism of Mr Peters yet again.”

“The only way to prevent that and to ensure the next Government will get a fair go is to remove New Zealand First from the frame altogether by giving the balance of power to United New Zealand.”

“It is time we stopped paying lip service to the need for more sanity in politics, and actually started to practise it,” he says.

Mr Dunne says three or four United MPs are the insurance policy New Zealanders need to make MMP work properly, and to prevent the next three years being a rerun of the last three.

ENDS

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
Ph: (04) 471 9410 or (025) 469 808. Fax (04) 499 7266.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

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