'THE NATION'
JOHN BANKS
Interviewed by DUNCAN GARNER


Duncan ACT's Epsom Candidate, John Banks, joins me now, welcome to the programme Mr Banks. The off script talk about decriminalising cannabis what sort of impact has that had in your seat and the campaign?

John Banks – ACT Epsom Candidate
Well on the streets of Epsom the people only want to talk about three things, the economy, the economy, the economy, investment, growth and jobs. They don’t want to talk about decriminalising cannabis, and on the doorsteps they’ve had a big push back. It is not ACT Party policy to talk about decriminalising marijuana.

Duncan Brash got it wrong didn’t he?

John Well the policy for the party is no policy on decriminalising marijuana. The people of Epsom talk to me about investment, growth and jobs. A vote for me in Epsom is a vote for two three four five more members of parliament for a John Key coalition government.

Duncan So you have had people at door say look this is not part of our plan, Don didn’t mean to say this?

John Well it's not the party policy. On the doorstep I say Paul Goldsmith is going to be a member of parliament for National anyway. If you vote for me I'll deliver to a John Key government after the 26th of November, three or four or five additional members of parliament for a centre right government, and for 2014 they need ACT in parliament this election.

Duncan You talked about that message that to win Epsom the economy the economy the economy. Did you recently veto a welfare speech that Don Brash was looking at making?

John Don Brash, I've told Don on numerous occasions, no one understands the New Zealand economy better than Don Brash, no one. Right now when the economy is going from bad to worse he'll make a great contribution.

Duncan I understand that. I want to repeat my question to you, did you veto or say to him recently, don’t make that speech on welfare that he was going to make?

John I have had a look at a lot of Don's speeches, and I've said to him every time, you understand the economy very well Don. The people of Epsom want you to speak about the economy, investment growth and jobs and prosperity is what …

Duncan What did you tell him about him about his welfare speech?

John I've told him he needs to stay on the economy because he's best qualified to talk on the economy. I say to people on the doorstep Paul Goldsmith will be a member of parliament for National anyway, a vote for me is a vote for four or five other members of parliament.

Duncan So you told him not to run this welfare speech, why was it so bad? What was wrong with it?

John Well there's nothing wrong with giving speeches on the welfare but Don doesn’t have an experience on talking on welfare, the people of Epsom want to talk about the high rate 30% of young people on the scrap heap. They want to talk about borrowing 300 million dollars a week, mainly from the Chinese. They want to talk about innovation and science and technology development.

Duncan Who's leading the party Mr Banks because if Dr Brash comes to you and says I'll show you what I plan this time, I'll show you this, and you say don’t run it, that’s not our plan. Who's running the party? Who's running the party? Mr Banks, who's running the party.

John Don Brash is the leader of the party.

Duncan Who's running it? You're running it?

John I've got plenty to say, because I've been around for 36 years around politics, I care passionately about ….

Duncan You told the leader to not make a speech on welfare and he did – he stopped it.

John Look I've told Don to spend all of his time getting up and down the country talking to the farmers about the ETS and how bad that is, talking about investment growth and jobs, talking about cutting government expenditure, talking about innovation and technology, and talking about making this country a great success, and talking about making a contribution to John Key and the next National government.

Duncan Has Brash been disappointing since he took over? The party's gone backwards. In all our polling here at 3News he's gone backwards since he took over.

John Well we've got seven weeks, and unfortunately the people of Epsom are engaged, 40% of them are engaged in totally the people undecided in all the polls, about 40% are engaged totally on the Rugby World Cup and that’s success for New Zealand.

Duncan What about this talk of possibly rolling Don Brash, I mean the party list has not yet been submitted to the Electoral Commission, and he could be removed off it by the board on October 15th, is that a possible scenario?

John It's not a possible scenario.

Duncan Why not?

John It would be crazy.

Duncan But it's possible.

John Everything's possible in politics but it would be crazy. Don Brash is the leader, he's going to be talking about investment growth and jobs, he's gonna be talking about growing the economy, he's going to be talking about our rampant debt of 300 million dollars a week. He's going to be talking about youth unemployment, jobs, work skills, apprenticeships and all the matters that really count in Epsom.

Duncan And what – welfare doesn’t count in Epsom? Welfare reform doesn’t count in Epsom, is that why you told him to pull the speech?

John Well I support the government's plans for welfare reform, but I don’t support anyone on the doorsteps of Epsom talking about anything too much more, and how do you make this a success, how do we compete with Australia and stop people leaving for Australia.

Duncan We asked Dr Brash to come on this programme next weekend on a debate about the Treaty of Waitangi. Yes was the answer until this week when it was no. Did you also have a hand in saying no we're not talking about the Treaty of Waitangi.

John Oh I think we should talk about the Treaty of Waitangi, but…

Duncan Did you know he was gonna get pulled off this programme?

John When I talk about Maori issues to the leader, Don Brash, I talk about the fact that 50% of all young people Maori people, in Northland, are on the scrap heap when there's so much work to be done in the forests, on the sea, and out in the workplace. Why don’t we have them in apprenticeships, and post school training? That’s what I talk about when I talk about Maori issues for the leader of the ACT Party, very important.

Duncan Okay it's pretty clear which issues can't be spoken about. This October 15th board meeting, and the board meeting, and the board is powerful in ACT as you know, if you look at the rules. Is there a possibility in any way, given the performance of Don Brash until now, since he took over, that he could be taken off the list and Rodney Hide reinstated, as you saw from the suggestions in Natasha Smith.

John It's always a possibility, but it isn't gonna happen, it isn't gonna happen. The ACT Party Board is committed to Don Brash's leadership. Don Brash is committed to getting up and down the country every morning, afternoon and every night, talking to the farmers about ETS, talking about the tradable sector, talking about international things, and taking the party to success.

Duncan So he will take the party into the election?

John Absolutely.

Duncan And you will definitely remain as the Epsom candidate?

John Oh I want to represent the people of Epsom in the parliament, I can do a great job, I believe I'm experienced and effective and I'll do a great job and I'm quietly confident on election day the people of Epsom will vote strategically. Let me tell you something important. For 364 days of the year the people of Epsom are deeply blue and National Party. One day every three years they vote strategically for the ACT candidate, and I believe they’ll do the same again to get five more, six more, seven more MPs.

Duncan My understanding is there's a National Party internal poll that shows yes you are popular if National doesn’t look like it's gonna get across the line, but if National looks like it'll govern alone as all the polls suggest at the moment, then you're not to popular Mr Banks.

John Three years ago we had the same poll, National on 55%, on election night you know, they got 45%. I believe National needs ACT to give them strength to move to the values that they represent and give them policy courage to do the things that need to be done for this country.

Duncan Can you win this seat without John Key's endorsement? Will you be seeking further endorsements from him? Will you be seeking a photo opportunity with him during the campaign?

John I admire John Key and I want him to be the Prime Minister. I'm sure if he looks at Epsom and sees another five centre right MPs including myself and Don Brash who understands the New Zealand economy, he'll say tick to that.

Duncan Can you win it without his endorsement?

John Well I'm not asking for his endorsement.

Duncan Do you want it?

John Do I want to what?

Duncan Do you want his endorsement?

John Oh I mean, I like the man very much and I support him, I want him to be the Prime Minister after 26th of November. I want ACT to be in the ascendancy and I want us to be in parliament, and I want to win Epsom for the people of Epsom and for this country.

Duncan One final question. Did you try and get a National Party candidacy in 2010?

John No.

Duncan Are you sure about that?

John Well of course I'm sure. I don’t want to go back to the parliament in the National Party. I've been in the National Party, I've been on the front bench of the National Party in two governments. I like free thinking people.

Duncan Would you want to be a minister in the National government, in a future National government again? Yes or no.

John No. When I walk out of this studio I'm straight on to the doorsteps to win the hearts and minds of the people of Epsom.

Duncan And would you want to be a minister under John Key.

John I want to make a difference. Yes, I want to make a difference. Yes, I'd like to work with National and I want to make a difference.

Duncan Like to be a minister?

John Well I mean I've gotta win the seat of Epsom first.

Duncan Alright John Banks thanks for joining us.

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