Wednesday 11th Oct 2000 Dr Muriel Newman Media Release -- Governance & Constitution

ACT New Zealand will support Green MP Keith Locke’s Private Members Bill on international treaties, ACT’s Deputy Leader Ken Shirley said today.

“I have been promoting a parallel Bill for four years which regrettably has failed to be drawn from the ballot,” Mr Shirley said.

“While both the Greens and ACT recognise the need for this legislation, in principle it is clear that we hold opposing views on the problems that the legislation needs to address.

“The Greens are opposed to globalisation of economies and feel threatened by freer trade agreements. This was evidenced by two Green MPs recently travelling to Melbourne to rile against the meeting of the World Economic Forum.

“Conversely ACT champions freer international trade but is fiercely opposed to non-elected and non-accountable international NGO groups using their powers within UN forums and agencies,” he said.

Mr Shirley said too many “ill-conceived and undemocratic conventions” were spawned within such UN forums and all too often found their way into New Zealand domestic law without adequate scrutiny by our MPs.

“If the Greens and ACT can agree in principle on this legislation, then it is hopeful that all the Parties within Parliament will vote for the introduction and allow the Bill to be referred to the Select Committee,” Mr Shirley said.

Ends

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media