The nuclear issue is back on the political agenda with Alliance leader Jim Anderton today challenging Act and National
to spell out their intentions.
In a speech in Havelock North today, Jim Anderton said Act leader Richard had announced on the 11th of July last year:
'NZ's anti nuclear policy is a cold war anachronism and should be dropped.'
'Wasn't it enough that the French beat us at rugby? Now Richard Prebble wants to let them test nuclear bombs again,' Jim
Anderton said.
'Someone ought to tell the Act party: The Cold War is over. We don't need nuclear warships in New Zealand. Act is the
only party in any Western democracy that is still advocating nuclear expansion.'
In the same speech Jim Anderton challenged prime minister Jenny Shipley to disclose whether National will turn public
roads over to companies.
'I have a challenge for Jenny Shipley and Richard Prebble: 'If you are in the next government will you turn the roads
over to commercial companies?'
If National and Act form a government the public roading system as we know it will be gone.'
An independent analysis of National's road policies commissioned by the Ministry of Transport found that 90% of rural
households would be worse off. Petrol prices would increase by $2 a litre.
Saying that if Act and National get re-elected they will form a government from 'the fruitcake fringe', Jim Anderton
said National and Act should answer some searching questions about their intentions.
'National hasn't come clean about how much of the Act party manifesto it's going to sign up to. Act announced on the 8th
of April last year that it wants to get rid of free doctors visits for the under-sixes.
Will National agree to that policy? Act wants to repeal the minimum wage and abolish Christmas. Will National agree to
that? You bet. Max Bradford is already trying to abolish holidays.
'Where is the $3.6 billion a year going to come from to finance Act's tax policies? What will they cut? Does anyone
seriously believe that a National-Act government wouldn't cut superannuation?
Does anyone seriously believe that a National-Act government wouldn't close more hospitals? 'A National-Act government
is dangerous,' Jim Anderton said
ends