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Govt majority on asset sales 'solid' - Key

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Tue, 07 Feb 2012 1:18p.m.

Mr Key says he's 'extremely relaxed' about his majority (file pic)

Mr Key says he's 'extremely relaxed' about his majority (file pic)

The Government's majority to pass asset sales legislation is "rock solid" despite the Maori Party's opposition, Prime Minister John Key says.

Labour is claiming the wheels are coming off and the government is unstable because it will have a majority of just one vote to get the legislation through Parliament.

"If the Maori Party walks away the government will be kept intact by Peter Dunne and John Banks," Labour leader David Shearer said.

United Future leader Mr Dunne and ACT MP Mr Banks have signed support agreements with the government.

"It's a lot less stable than the last government was and they're already looking like losing one of their coalition partners," Mr Shearer said.

"It's of Mr Key's own making because he's pushing asset sales."

The Maori Party's three MPs are threatening to break their support agreement unless Treaty of Waitangi clauses are put in the legislation covering the partial sale of four state-owned energy companies.

Mr Key says he's "extremely relaxed" about his majority.

"It's made up of 59 National MPs, Mr Dunne who worked well with us for the last three years and Mr Banks who is well known to us," he said.

"Those 61 votes are rock solid."

Mr Key says he's sure an "elegantly simple" solution will be found to the Maori Party's problem with treaty clauses.

"When you ask me these questions in three years' time I will have a government that's supported by the Maori Party on confidence and supply - I don't think it's breaking down," he told reporters.

NZN

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Comments

08 Feb 2012 03:01p.m.

Judynz wrote:

I dont want the lives of our children & grandchildren etc threatened by politicians making deals, without us having FULL UNDERSTANDING & KNOWLEDGE or Politicians walking over the opinions of the public.

Asset Sales whether anyone likes it or not are deals for the `boys'. Not as a result of an economy that was manipulated to fail.
A lot of manipulation has gone into creating the image the public is being asked to believe, today.

If some are a `thankyou' for past loyalties or favours owed we want to find out, to KNOW.
Many generations went without to build our Assets.
To GIVE them to a bunch of greedies, is not we should allow.

If we do sell & accept FIAT paper monies for them & the world economy crashes (As it will very soon) this is exactly what we will have done.

The greedies have the wealth & we will Have NOTHING TO REBUILD WITH.

WAKE UP KIWIS

08 Feb 2012 01:20a.m.

Fellowes wrote:

Have a referendum and let the people decide.

07 Feb 2012 07:06p.m.

Clarke wrote:

34 percent of elligible voters voted for John Key and his coalition partners Chris... 66 percent either voted to the left or stayed home. 34 percent support for his entire coalition government is clearly no mandate at all. Infact if the 66 percent who didnt vote for Key decide that they want him out and call for his resignation then he will have to go. He isnt listening to the majority..... he is governing by minority. But mandate you say? lol thats a huge stretch of the truth. The truth is that even though labour were flailing... Key couldnt even motivate their voters to support his platform and only a small elitest minority do.

07 Feb 2012 04:53p.m.

Chris wrote:

Gosh lefties love to moan and complain while they sit on their socialist pitty potty blubering don't they ! Remember you morons - you lost the last election big time - and yes NATIONAL WON WITH A CLEAR MANDATE TO SELL 49% OF ASETTS- SO SUCK IT UP AND MOVE ON.

07 Feb 2012 01:50p.m.

shelly wrote:

they are not your assets to sell key you thief .these things should take 75% of the house to do , minority national or labor governments should never be able to do this on a majority of 1 or 2 seats . and kiwis are idiots letting them get away with it, next is our hospitals and schools is not that right Mr lair .this prime ministers arrogance knows no bounds .

07 Feb 2012 01:33p.m.

Kim wrote:

Key had better hope that dunne doesnt want another term. All it would take to secure another term for him is a no vote to asset sales. Considering Dunnes bob each way style of govt Key should be very very nervous. Act could also revive itself with a No vote. Hell it would only take one electorate MP wanting to break away and form another party. ONE vote Key ONE vote and your screwed. Sleep well.