- 13 Jul 2003 09:37
#17986
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2568128a10,00.html
National is continuing to inch towards a policy that would allow nuclear ships back into New Zealand ports and has even raised the prospect of the wider use of nuclear technology.
Leader Bill English told the National party conference in Christchurch that restoring ties with traditional allies such as the United States would be one of his top priorities if he became prime minister.
Numerous delegates to the weekend's conference made it clear they saw the ban on nuclear ships as the major impediment to better relations and closer military ties with the United States and Australia.
Mr English has asked a party committee led by former deputy prime minister Wyatt Creech to look at the nuclear policy. A report is expected shortly.
The conference passed two remits supporting the scrapping of the ban which ended New Zealand's participation in Anzus, the New Zealand, Australia and US grouping.
National MP Paul Hutchinson also upped the ante, passing an amendment that would allow "safe nuclear technologies" to be used in New Zealand. In his speech Dr Hutchinson referred only to medical and research technology.
A number of delegates pointed out afterwards that if the remit became policy it would allow nuclear power plants, which is widely regarded as a safe source of energy.
Conference remits are not binding on the party or its MPs.
Mr English maintained a cautious approach to the issue, saying he would await the report.
"The party is having a considered debate about that issue and we will speak publicly on it when we know exactly where we are going," Mr English said.
There were other moves to restore links with the United States such as "not attacking them" Mr English said, referring to Prime Minister Helen Clark's recent and widely reported criticism of US President George W Bush and the invasion of Iraq.
Mr English wants to treat the nuclear issue as a wider part of foreign policy.
"We have to consider all of this in the light of New Zealand's national interests. We are not here to please the Americans. We are here to pursue our national interest and what serves it best."
Delegates were clear the nuclear ship ban should go and repeatedly claimed the Government and state-owned media were anti-American.
One delegate told Mr English to stop "fluffing" around and just make repealing the nuclear ship ban a policy.
Party strategists are treading through the nuclear issue carefully. A pledge to repeal the ban is not seen as a vote winner, but it would help to shore up support amongst the party's traditional supporters.
Because of the iconic nature of the nuclear legislation, senior National MPs want to spend time reinforcing that the party is anti-nuclear weapons and building a strong and simply explained case for repealing the nuclear ship ban.
Widening the repeal to allow nuclear power plants does not have widespread support among National's senior members as it would widen the political debate beyond foreign policy.
National campaigned against the ban when it was in opposition but did not change it when it came to power in 1990. A special committee was set up, chaired by Sir Edward Somers, and presented a report on nuclear-powered ships to then-prime minister Jim Bolger in 1992.
It declared nuclear ships to be safe and said they posed no realistic risk.
National is continuing to inch towards a policy that would allow nuclear ships back into New Zealand ports and has even raised the prospect of the wider use of nuclear technology.
Leader Bill English told the National party conference in Christchurch that restoring ties with traditional allies such as the United States would be one of his top priorities if he became prime minister.
Numerous delegates to the weekend's conference made it clear they saw the ban on nuclear ships as the major impediment to better relations and closer military ties with the United States and Australia.
Mr English has asked a party committee led by former deputy prime minister Wyatt Creech to look at the nuclear policy. A report is expected shortly.
The conference passed two remits supporting the scrapping of the ban which ended New Zealand's participation in Anzus, the New Zealand, Australia and US grouping.
National MP Paul Hutchinson also upped the ante, passing an amendment that would allow "safe nuclear technologies" to be used in New Zealand. In his speech Dr Hutchinson referred only to medical and research technology.
A number of delegates pointed out afterwards that if the remit became policy it would allow nuclear power plants, which is widely regarded as a safe source of energy.
Conference remits are not binding on the party or its MPs.
Mr English maintained a cautious approach to the issue, saying he would await the report.
"The party is having a considered debate about that issue and we will speak publicly on it when we know exactly where we are going," Mr English said.
There were other moves to restore links with the United States such as "not attacking them" Mr English said, referring to Prime Minister Helen Clark's recent and widely reported criticism of US President George W Bush and the invasion of Iraq.
Mr English wants to treat the nuclear issue as a wider part of foreign policy.
"We have to consider all of this in the light of New Zealand's national interests. We are not here to please the Americans. We are here to pursue our national interest and what serves it best."
Delegates were clear the nuclear ship ban should go and repeatedly claimed the Government and state-owned media were anti-American.
One delegate told Mr English to stop "fluffing" around and just make repealing the nuclear ship ban a policy.
Party strategists are treading through the nuclear issue carefully. A pledge to repeal the ban is not seen as a vote winner, but it would help to shore up support amongst the party's traditional supporters.
Because of the iconic nature of the nuclear legislation, senior National MPs want to spend time reinforcing that the party is anti-nuclear weapons and building a strong and simply explained case for repealing the nuclear ship ban.
Widening the repeal to allow nuclear power plants does not have widespread support among National's senior members as it would widen the political debate beyond foreign policy.
National campaigned against the ban when it was in opposition but did not change it when it came to power in 1990. A special committee was set up, chaired by Sir Edward Somers, and presented a report on nuclear-powered ships to then-prime minister Jim Bolger in 1992.
It declared nuclear ships to be safe and said they posed no realistic risk.
- By ingliz
- By wat0n
- By Negotiator