24 May 2007

Media Release

Country needs MMP-smart polling and briefing system when forming coalitions

The country needs an MMP-smart policy development capacity which allows official briefing documents to reach parties involved in coalition negotiations before a new government is formed.

The practice of not allowing party preference information in polling by officials on policy questions should also change, the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, Peter Neilson, says in remarks prepared for delivery to public relations professionals today.

Mr Neilson says the Business Council - whose 57 member companies' annual sales equate to 30% of gross domestic product - has adopted a MMP-smart approach which sees it produce research based and pragmatic policy solutions on major long-term issues.

It involves major players in the policy area, and makes sure there is buy-in and the solutions are acceptable to a range of parties represented in the Parliament.

It also backs the policy proposals with evidence of the public's views and support for policy solutions.

"We are able to tell parties which policies their supporters agree or disagree with, which makes coalition building easier," Mr Neilson says.

"We deliver an MMP-smart policy development capacity for risk-averse decision makers. There is no good reason why a public agency should not do this. The conventions that officials from polling on policy proposals, and linking respondents' views to the party they support, for example, are dopey in the new multi-party decision making environment where building coalitions for policies is both essential and routine.

"The practice of preventing the release of briefings for incoming Ministers until after a government has formed seems equally bizarre. The briefings will have their greatest value in the time between an election and the formation of a new government. They would inform the deals being struck among coalition partners and help ensure we don't end up with unaffordable policies.

"Instead we run the risk of poorly informed compromises being reached, with the negotiators unaware of any official advice on the pitfalls or other possibly better options," Mr Neilson says.

Mr Neilson also told delegates to Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) 2007 conference that there has been a sea change in public views towards the role New Zealanders expect businesses to play. This exposed companies to significant new opportunities - and risks if they ignored the strong values Kiwis have.

Mr Neilson cited findings of nationwide polling, in some cases of more than 3400 people, conducted through the Business Council's ShapeNZ online service, which aims to give the public input into shaping policy advice.

"It's abundantly clear now that Kiwis expect businesses to act not only in the interests of stakeholders, but also for the community. They believe businesses should be responsible for their environmental impacts. They will switch customer allegiance to companies taking better care of the environment and their staff and they think businesses here can do better when it comes to taking care of the environment.

"Large numbers are also prepared to switch their current party vote preference to a party which puts greater emphasis on preserving New Zealand's quality of life."

Mr Neilson says this research has helped encourage the major shift in the main political parties' policies to make sure the country encourages sustainable development to manage climate change and protect and enhance the country's trading position.

The PowerPoint on Mr Neilson's PRINZ speech is available at http://www.nzbcsd.org.nz/story.asp?id=780

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