Parliament in for ‘vigorous session’

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 4

Parliament in for ‘vigorous session’

PA Wellington The Labour Party was gearing up for “one of the most vigorous sessions we have seen in a long time" when Parliament resumes next week, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) yesterday. The Opposition caucus spent most of yesterday discussing strategy for the resumption of Parliament which is believed to include more stringent use of “pairs" and a stream of private members' bills setting out Labour policy. Speaking to reporters after the caucus, Mr Rowling said the Government had "exposed its economic weaknesses over a considerable period of time and now it has indicated that its political morality is no stronger than its economic ability.” “There would not have been a session of Parliament

opening in the last 20 or 30 years at least ... where a Government has got itself in . such disarray and at the same time got the country in similar shape,” he said. Labour would aim to “move in on top of that in the most vigorous fashion" and would also “promote worth-while counter proposals.” The Opposition is expected to move a vote of no-confid-ence in the Government early on in the new session, possibly during the Budget debate, a step which Mr Rowling said was “not only desirable but inevitable.” Labour would try to persuade Mr M. J.-Minogue, the National member for Hamilton West, to remove the Government’s majority by abstaining but Mr Rowling said he did not know if the Social Credit Political League — which he dubbed

the "National Creditors" - would back the Government. Mr Minogue has previously said he would vote with the Government on issues of confidence and yesterday he said of Mr Rowling’s suggestion: "I think it warrants no comment.” Mr Rowling said there was obviously no future for Mr Minogue in a National Party led by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). But he said it was “not too late for Mr Minogue to have a positive impact on the New Zealand political scene." With the withdrawal of the Clyde high dam enabling legislation, the controversial Broadcasting Bill would be the main piece of legislation to be considered by Parliament — at least before the introduction of the Budget, Mr Rowling said. The House will resume on Tuesday after a recess of just over two months.