MPs Don't Need To Sulk - They Vote

Tuesday 1 Jul 2003 Stephen Franks Press Releases -- Other

United Future MPs' repeated questioning of Transport Minister Paul Swain today, about more hurdles to the Wellington by-pass, was an extraordinary display of sustained sulking by United Future, Wellington-based ACT New Zealand MP Stephen Franks said today.

"People sulk when they can't change something. But MPs propping up a government have a choice, and a vote. That's why people send them to Parliament as representatives. United Future was elected on promises to get rid of the roadblocks to projects holding Wellington back. So why were they driven to sulking?" Mr Franks said.

"Because the Greens, who have no support agreement with Labour, now have the clout United Future thought they had - to block the transport policy that Mr Dunne promised he could deliver, along with commonsense and family values.

"Truly stunning today was United Future's apparent blindspot to the spectacle they provided for everyone in Parliament, as their questions underscored the contempt in which they are held by Labour. Mr Swain drove home the extent of Green dominance in the new transport policy. Probably, if United Future hadn't been so determined to get Mr Swain's admission of Green influence, this feature of the debacle for United Future would have passed unnoticed.

"The remedy is in United Future's hands. The Government would quickly do a U-turn back to respecting commonsense and family values - and, perhaps, even Mr Dunne's transport promises - the moment United Future votes were being cast in accordance with their beliefs, instead of in accordance with their empty political deal.

"In the meantime, Mr Dunne, please stop whatever it is you're doing for roading efficiency in Wellington, in case you we have more of the kind of `success' we see so far," Mr Franks 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