Summarised by Centrist
Opportunity has announced five minimum demands for supporting the next government, including climate commitments that directly conflict with policies promoted by ACT and NZ First.
Leader Qiulae Wong says the party could negotiate with either National or Labour through a coalition or confidence-and-supply agreement. However, National leader Christopher Luxon has ruled out a governing arrangement with Opportunity.
Its five bottom lines are:
- Competition: Give the Commerce Commission greater powers and independence to tackle excessive market power in supermarkets and other uncompetitive sectors.
- Political influence: Regulate lobbying and cap political donations.
- Health: Develop a 10-year plan with health professionals, including clear funding, workforce and infrastructure commitments.
- Fishing: Phase out bottom trawling, working with industry, iwi and coastal communities to manage the transition.
- Climate: Recommit to Paris Agreement emissions obligations and protect the Climate Change Commission’s independence.“We will not support a government that walks away from our international obligations or undermines the independent Climate Change Commission,” Wong said.Land tax is absent from the list. Wong said the party did not expect its tax reforms to happen overnight, leaving more specific tax proposals for later negotiations. She also declined to specify which ministerial portfolios Opportunity would seek.The latest 1News Verian poll puts Opportunity on 6%, down two points, with seven projected seats that could give either grouping a parliamentary majority. Without an electorate win, the party must reach 5% to enter Parliament.Editor’s note: “Either side” does not mean equally compatible with either side. Opportunity wants to preserve the Climate Change Commission, which ACT promises to abolish. It demands continued Paris commitments, while NZ First promises withdrawal. Its bottom-trawling phase-out also aligns with the Greens’policy.Read more at RNZRe-published from the Centrist with permissionOriginal article at The Centrist
- Fishing: Phase out bottom trawling, working with industry, iwi and coastal communities to manage the transition.
- Health: Develop a 10-year plan with health professionals, including clear funding, workforce and infrastructure commitments.
- Political influence: Regulate lobbying and cap political donations.
