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31st May 2004 ACT Party members know I have given a lot of thought to what qualities are needed for leadership of our party. This website has my latest speech notes on the topic. All four candidates for the ACT Parliamentary leadership have leadership strengths, and members will have seen many of those in the meetings around the country. But a platform process does not necessarily tease out all the leadership requirements or rank them in order of importance. I’ve had the opportunity to assess all the candidates in a range of circumstances and therefore feel able to make a judgement given the political circumstances we find ourselves in. In my experience leaders eventually get the media presence they deserve through public and private consistency. It is vital that neither the team, nor the public can be left to wonder what the leader really stands for, what drives the leader, what the leader thinks are the most important issues of the day. If ACT is going to be the key influence on National that New Zealand will need after the next election, people must feel they know what the leader thinks are the most important things the Party is there for. Of the front runners I believe I know what both Stephen Franks and Ken Shirley put first. In my view they would project that consistency of approach which will be vital over the next 15 months. It is also important to understand that leaders get the kind of loyalty they display towards their colleagues. On that criterion also either Franks or Shirley should be able to demand and expect loyalty. Roger Douglas |