Alliance Party media release for immediate release Sunday 18 February 2007

No deals with National – let's put the people in charge instead

The Alliance Party says talk of deals between the Green Party and Maori Party with the National Party means working people, beneficiaries and students have to get behind a party that looks after their interests – the Alliance.

Alliance Party President Victor Billot says the time is right for a party that goes out to bat for working class New Zealanders and which won't go near the National Party with a barge pole.

He says the debate going on in the Greens about supporting a National Government shows the Greens cannot be relied on to represent working people.

"This idea of theirs needs to go straight into the recycling bin."

He says the Maori Party leadership is also cuddling up to the Nats, who dumped over working New Zealanders whether brown or white in the 1990s.

"Labour has lost its roots and become a party of the establishment, doing their big whip round at election time for cash from big business donors, and the time is right for a real independent party of the people – the Alliance."

"The Alliance says that every child born in New Zealand should have the same right to a safe, secure life that allows them to fill their full potential. At the moment we have privilege and prosperity for some children, and a third-rate, harsh battle for others – it's got to change."

"The problems of poverty, inequality and powerlessness are all about the breaks you get in life. People are struggling and it is crazy that in a technological, advanced society such as ours we can't get the basics right."

Climate change and pollution cannot be sorted unless we rein in irresponsible private corporations whose only goal is to make money for themselves, says Mr Billot.

"The Alliance supports positive change in our society to put people in charge of their own destiny."

The Alliance programme includes a progressive tax system where low income people pay less tax and high income people pay more tax, free and high quality public education and health, and investment in public housing and a capital gains tax on property investment (excluding the family home) to make housing affordable.

These policies would lead to a massive surge in the material wellbeing of most people and our collective quality of life, and would allow people the time and energy to get involved in running their communities and society as a whole.

"The Alliance Party is the only party that will fight for a better future for all and wants a truly democratic New Zealand, and we will never – ever – support a National Government."

ENDS

http://www.alliance.org.nz

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