Gallagher Martin: New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Disarmament and Arms Control (Nuclear Propulsion Reform) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Gallagher Martin: New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Disarmament and Arms Control (Nuclear Propulsion Reform) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:627;Page:22106] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 At least on this issue there is no ambiguity about ACT’s approach unlike its erstwhile coalition partners in the National Party. At least members know where ACT stands on this issue. There is no ambiguity. 
We have just heard a speech from Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith which if it was not preparing the way if it was not preparing the ground if it was not softening us all up on the inevitable policy change that would happen under a National-led Government then I do not know what would be. It was a fine speech. It was a very soothing speech. It was a very soothing sales pitch speech. But I think most people in this House who were listening to it would have heard a very key clear message—“We will be preparing the ground for a change of policy.” He may not have echoed the words of his leader in January 2004 when Dr Brash told an American congressional delegation that if the National Party were in Government it would get rid of the nuclear propulsion section today by lunchtime even—no he was not saying that; he was saying that it would take a few months. But figuratively they cannot get rid of it by afternoon tea or morning tea. It may take a few months. But the outcome is going to be exactly the same. 
We on this side of the House are absolutely proud of New Zealand’s nuclear-free status and our clear and consistent policy is to maintain that status. The Labour Party is not ambiguous on this issue. There is no ambiguity. It will be very interesting to listen to the other National Party speakers during this debate as to where they stand on this bill. 
To its credit—if I can use the word “credit”—there is no ambiguity about ACT’s position just as there is no ambiguity about ACT’s position on wanting to send our troops to Iraq to support the coalition of the willing. The National Party in its heart of hearts had exactly the same policy and indeed Simon Power in one of those moments of absolute honesty said on 1 May 2004—and I will quote him because this was a moment of non-ambiguity a moment of absolute honesty by Simon Power: “Without reservation we will support our close allies Australia the United States and Britain when and wheresoever our commitment is called upon.” That was very unsubtle code for saying that the ships will be back by afternoon-tea time. That was very unsubtle code for saying we would have joined the coalition of the willing to go to Iraq. 
At least Simon Power was honest; at least he was upfront. There was no ambiguity about Simon Power. And for being upfront and honest he was dumped from that portfolio but he absolutely gave us the hint of where a future National-led Government would go. Any party that was even contemplating any coalition arrangement with that particular party might do well to reflect very seriously in terms of this nation’s interest in putting New Zealand first and this nation’s interest in terms of what the National Party really wants to achieve. 
No the nuclear-free status will not be gone by lunchtime with a Labour-led Government. We will not be sending troops in terms of the coalition of the willing by lunchtime. Indeed the words of Phil Goff say it all. This Government has “never moved from our point that the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders want this country to stay nuclear free and not because we are paranoid about nuclear power. It is part of the way we see ourselves part of the way we promote ourselves to the world and for many New Zealanders it is also symbolic of New Zealand’s right to make its own decisions. That is why indeed so many ports including those of London Sydney New York and Boston to name a few also do not allow visits by nuclear ships.” They are joined by the port of Lyttelton the Port of Tauranga the port of Wellington the Ports of Auckland and the port of Port Chalmers. I am proud to be part of a Government that supports nuclear-free legislation. There is no ambiguity on this side of the House. There is a helluva lot of ambiguity on the other side of the House.