Ross Meurant: ACT’s Pathway to Power

Many amongst the masses will have missed the subliminal message of ACT offering National a “confidence & supply” only, coalition partnership.

In my view, David Seymour is right on the mark with this proposal.

Any Party entering into a collation agreement with another Party which holds the majority of seats, essentially relegates itself to a “poodle partner”.

Once a Party locks into “collective responsibility”, it is bound to support all policies emanating for the Executive i.e., Cabinet of the government to which it has signed up to support.

A “confidence & supply” agreement means that the minor Party can vote against the major Party on any policies. 

If this throws the governing Party into losing support in the House for its policies and the Opposition decides to table a vote of “No Confidence”, that is when the minor partner with a Confidence & Supply agreement, steps up to support the Government.

Similar rules applies when budget time arrives and “supply” i.e., money for governance, is on the table.

In 1994/5 I formed the first political party under MMP - Right of Centre (predicated on my economics of protecting private property as the cornerstone of private sector commerce) and entered the first ever MMP coalition agreement with National, to hold the balance of power for 9 months until United Party was consummated.

The Confidence & Supply agreement between National and RoC, overrode the animosity between Rt Hon Jim Bolger and me.   National was safe.

With ACT, unlike National, presenting gutsy unequivocal policies such as below, the best way for ACT to get traction on these policies, is from a position of “confidence & supply” coalition.

Consider ACT’s latest policy pledges:

“There is nothing in any of the three Treaty articles that suggests Māori should have special rights above other New Zealanders. The Treaty itself guarantees that “all the ordinary people of New Zealand...have the same rights and duties of citizenship.” All New Zealanders have a basic human right to be treated equally under the law and with equal political worth. One person, one vote.

ACT would legislate that the principles of the Treaty are based on what the Treaty actually says, in contrast with recent revisionist interpretations of the Treaty’s principles, through a Treaty Principles Act and inviting citizens to ratify it.

National is nowhere near this courageous stand against the usurpation of New Zealander’s rights, promulgated by radically racist elements.

As we all know, the Labour-NZ First Government commissioned ‘He Puapua’, which has led to co-government being implemented across numerous areas of government. For example, healthcare is now being prioritised according to racial identity and not the actual needs of individual patients.

ACT says it would repeal recent laws that give different rights based on ethnicity, such as the Three Waters legislation, local government legislation, and elements of health legislation.

Try finding an unequivocal statement from National, on this?

Finally, in an earlier blog I articulated a view that, Mandarins were ruling while MPs were fooling about. (1)   I’m delighted to read that ACT too, has reached a similar conclusion.

“The public service is meant to serve all New Zealanders, but even administration and service delivery has become focussed on race. This isn’t a true focus on equity, serving citizens based on their measured need rather than their ancestry is.

ACT would reorientate the public service towards a focus on equal opportunity and need according to robust statistical evidence instead of racial targeting, along with devolution and choice for all.

I see no signs that National has any cognisance of this massive problem: i.e., a public service which over time (in my assessment) has been has become a virtually political party stacked with latent disciples of Fabianism.

It is immensely encouraging that ACT reached its assessment of the Public Service and proposes a remedy.   

In my view, ACT will have more power to achieve its goals via a “confidence & supply” coalition, than it would have as a “poodle partner” of a government.

Ross Meurant. BA MPP   Former police inspector.  Former Member of Parliament.  Former Diplomatic Representative of a foreign country.

Footnote: 

(1)  https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2022/10/ross-meurant-mandarins-rule-politicians.html