12 September 2005

Party vote for Alliance sends signal for future

It is important that people who support Alliance policies vote Alliance with their Party vote as a signal that workers’ rights, living standards and public services matter.

Alliance co-leader Jill Ovens says Election 2005 is not about individuals’ taxes, morality or so-called “family values”.

“If we want to talk about morality, then is it not immoral to have children in our ‘land of plenty’ living in poverty – children who can’t concentrate on their school work because they don’t have enough food in their tummies?”

Ms Ovens says some Alliance supporters may be concerned that their vote will end up with National as the Alliance is unlikely to reach the 5% it needs to get into Parliament this time round.

“We are polling less than 1%, so it really doesn't make any difference to either Labour or the Greens if Alliance supporters give their Party vote to the Alliance. The Greens look sure to make the 5% they need to ensure a coalition partner for Labour, which was the main concern.”

Ms Ovens says the idea that all the so-called "wasted" votes go to National is wrong. “The Alliance vote will be divided up proportionally amongst the parties that cross the threshold so some will go to the Greens, some will go to Labour and some will go to one or other of the remaining parties. More Alliance votes will go to the Left than the Right.”
Ms Ovens says where there is no Alliance candidate standing in an electorate, it does not matter who supporters vote for, unless they live in Tauranga, in which case the Party is advising supporters not to give Winston Peters their vote because of his racist immigration policies.

Epsom was also a concern, but there now seems little chance of Act’s Rodney Hyde sneaking in there.

Ms Ovens says if National wins this election and has to depend on Winston Peters' support for confidence and supply, it is unlikely that such a Government would run full term.

Similarly, she says, if Labour has to rely on NZ First, it may not survive three years either.

“We could be facing another election in 18 months or so, in which case there will be a real opportunity for a Party to the Left of Labour to be in Parliament – and that Party will be the Alliance.”

ENDS

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