Labour welcomes ‘power-sharing’ move

Press, 19 December 1981, Page 13

Labour welcomes ‘power-sharing’ move

PA - Wellington The Labour • Party has given a qualified welcome to the decision of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to appoint under-secretaries to Cabinet committees.

In a move designed to ease Ministers’ workloads- .and give experience to undersecretaries) Mr Muldoon has put Mr K. R. Allen, Mr W. R. Austin, Mr A. P. D. Friedlander, and Mr G. W. F. Thompson on Cabinet committees. Labour's Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Mr G. W. R. Palmer, said the move was a small change, but it could be welcomed. Any constitutional change which had the effect of sharing power should be encouraged. Mr Palmer said that a risk with the new practice was that it might make it even easier for the executive branch of Government to dominate Parliament.

“Already the New Zealand Parliament is far too much a rubber stamp for decisions reached elsewhere,” he said. The aim of changes , to constitutional practice must be to reduce the Cabinet’s power, not increase it, said Mr Palmer.

“To curb executive power other changes are necessary. I hope the Government will

see fit to make them. In particular, it is necessary to beef up the power of select committees where members of Parliament from all parties are represented,” he said.

Mr Palmer said that committees should be given power to initiate their own inquiries; the system needed to be reorganised so the committees could monitor the performance of Government departments more effectively; select committees should hold no more hearings around New Zealand than, they do at present; and the hearings of evidence of all select committees should be open to the news media.

He said consideration should also be given by the Government to appointing Opposition members to chair select committees. Mr Palmer also said that open Government had a unique opportunity to develop and flourish .in a Parliament where the Government had a tiny majority. "I hope the Government will allow that to occur. It will require boldness and tolerance. But if the chance is not taken, adversary politics of the worst type will result,” said Mr Palmer.