✨ Government Policy Announcements
12 DECEMBER 2008 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 193 5117
My Government’s confidence and supply agreement with the Maori Party further sets out its intention to establish a group to consider constitutional issues including Maori representation.
In addition to a consideration of these issues, it will give New Zealanders the chance to have their say on the Mixed Member Proportional representation system that has formed the basis of this country’s parliamentary elections since 1996.
This will take the form of a binding referendum, and if a majority of voters decide they want to consider other electoral systems, the new Government will offer them the choice of a range of systems to replace it.
My Government will repeal the Electoral Finance Act. This reflects a concern on the part of my Government that this piece of legislation can be viewed as placing a yoke on free speech and thereby eroding the democratic principles that underpin our country.
As an interim measure it will return to the Electoral Act 1993, with the parts of the Electoral Finance Act dealing with donations added in. It will then work across the Parliament to create durable and effective electoral law that enjoys the support of the New Zealand public.
Honourable members. My Government will ensure that New Zealand exercises a free, independent foreign policy that reflects the best interests of New Zealand.
It will have a bipartisan approach to foreign policy and it will be driven by a considered evaluation of New Zealand’s evolving international interests.
This will include an ongoing commitment to trade liberalisation and the pursuit of bilateral, regional and world-wide free trade agreements.
In the course of this Parliamentary term other matters, and other measures, will be laid before you. That is as it should be.
While I do not seek to lay out all aspects of the new Government’s proposals today, it has made it very clear that at all times strengthening the economy will be front and centre of its priorities. For it is this growth agenda upon which my Government’s vision for New Zealand rests.
It aspires to see New Zealanders becoming more prosperous, to see them taxed less and paid more. It wishes to see our people living in safer communities, and to ensure that they have access to world-class educational opportunities and improved health services.
Without economic growth my Government’s objectives will be compromised, with stronger economic growth, its objectives will be realised more fully.
My Government will aim to raise New Zealander’s sights, and encourage them to set their aspirations higher – for themselves and for their country.
Honourable members. In going for growth my Government will be acutely conscious of the fact that it is in the interests of no New Zealanders, and to the detriment of us all, to allow an underclass to develop in New Zealand.
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NZ Gazette 2008, No 193
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament
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🏛️ Governance & Central AdministrationGovernor-General, Parliament, State Opening, Constitutional Issues, Maori Representation, Electoral Reform, Mixed Member Proportional, Referendum, Electoral Finance Act, Foreign Policy, Trade Liberalisation, Economic Growth, Taxation, Education, Health Services