Session of words, not deeds

Press, 16 August 1984, Page 8

Session of words, not deeds

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The tone of the Parliamentary session that begins today will be of words and not deeds, of opinions and not actions.

This is partly because the new Labour Government has taken office so soon after winning the election, and with only 4% months of the year left. Parliament will rise for most of September to deal with the much-publicised economic summit conference. When it resumes in October, Parliament will hold the Address-in-Reply debate to which all 95 members will speak. The Budget will come in mid-October, followed by

debate on that and the spinoff legislation from it. There will also be debate on all the Government Estimates for 1984-85, which cannot be completed before Christmas and which will require Parliament to return in February and March next. year. Not only will there be very little time for new legislation with all this other work for Parliament, but even if there were time, the legislation could not be physically drafted in time tor introduction this year. The Government has said it will introduce rape legislation. However, important legislation promised, such as on voluntary unionism, repealing the National De-

velopment Act, dismantling National’s industrial legislation, legislation on children and young people, and others, have already been deferred for 1985 at the earliest.

Because of constraints of time, and the physical constraints on public servants and law drafters, as well as commitments to the Budget, Estimates and Address-in-Reply debates, the Government will introduce very little new legislation this year. Instead, the Government will focus public attention in two related directions, both of which are designed to increase its own popularity at the expense of National. They are.—

® The state of the economy, for which National is to be blamed; and ® The shape of future actions, for which Labour is to be credited. This is the scenario the Government has set up, and it will be difficult for the National Opposition to do any more than react as strongly as it can. The state of the economy became the main focus of public attention within 48 hours of the election result.

Since its 20 per cent devaluation in its first week, the Government has concentrated on the economy, with a stream of policy statements and background Kto demonstrate to blic how culpable (in

Labour’s eyes) National and Sir Robert Muldoon had been.

The latest background document is an analysis Eared by the Treasury ling policies pursued by Sir Robert for an economic performance described as “the most lacklustre in the Western world.”

This is not a public document, and is not likely to be, but it contains trenchant criticism of Sir Robert, in particular, and is bound to be used as ammunition against Sir Robert and National once Parliament has begun. The big question for both Labour and National is — will the public buy this interpretation of events?