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Page : One Two Three Four Five CENTRE RIGHT - WHERE TO? ACT Wellington Conference 10 November 2002 This conference, along with ACT's other regional conferences, will be looking at the issue of ACT's strategic direction for the next 3 years. I want to start my contribution to this subject by talking about what the centre right needs to do to win the treasury benches. The public image of the centre right is primarily shaped by National so most of my remarks refer to them. You will know when I refer to ACT in the main when I talk policy.
Background Objective - Move 10-15% vote from left to centre right. Left has had approximately 60% of vote in most elections since 1978 MMP means:
Demographic changes favour left: Maori, Pacific Island and low-income families tend to have: More children. Have them at a younger age than children from families that tend to vote centre right. Immigration now more biased than it was towards voters who might vote left of centre. Economic and Social factors favour left 450,000 voters of working age rely on government benefits for their income. Maori, Pacific Island people overwhelmingly vote Labour. Higher percentage of retired now vote left than did so in 70s and 80s. Health, Education, Welfare workers tend to vote left. Majority of tertiary students now tend to vote left. Add these voters to traditional union and intellectual left vote and you have your 60%+.
First and foremost it needs to realise that the New Zealand public will never again choose to be governed by a party which is little more than a club of wannabe elite who have: Elevated means over ends Tactics over principles Posture over policy Symbols over substance Cynicism over belief The fact is the public sees right through a bunch of politicians who say anything to get power. Sincerity, integrity, confidence, trust these are the qualities you get from having a well-sorted out philosophy. In politics, ideas matter. Principles count. A political party needs values and principles to explain why its policies are good and why its opponents are bad. Without principles, a political party comes across as phoney and insincere. Because that's what it is - a vehicle for opportunists. The only way National and therefore the centre right can start winning elections again is to restore the political viability of conservative ideas and arguments - Not to ditch them Not to deny them But to revive them ACT is not a conservative party, but one based on a liberal vision of freedom, personal responsibility and choice. It also must hold up its end, explaining its policies and winning much needed votes from the centre left. National at the moment is a party frightened by its own shadow - it would rather fight itself than it would Labour. It lacks confidence as a result the public Do not believe National has strong leadership. Does not know what they stand for. The two issues are linked. National leadership appears weak because people don't currently know what they stand for. e.g. Do they support governments' massive spending binge over the last 10 years or are they against it? You know what has happened during those 10 years. You know what will happen over the next 10. The increase in government expenditure on health, education and welfare over the last 10 years was largely wasted and it is going to be largely wasted over the next 10 years unless change takes place. Growth will inevitably slow. The economy can't stand a massive transfer from productive private sector to low/negative public sector. Education and health care will get worse. Only welfare will grow. Deep down the public know Labour wastes money but when National promise to waste money also, who would you choose? The job of National and ACT's politicians is to tell it as it is. The bottom line then: What is wrong with National? Answer: Their basic policy now is to make tax and spend work. That is not the so-called 'caring conservatism' they used to stand for. To win: The National party has to return without apology to an agenda of: Low taxes Limited government Economic growth Strong defence Law and order Value for money in all areas of government. ACT needs to go further and clearly stand for its liberal vision of: |