Peters pleads for a fair go

Winston Peters

Foreign Minister Winston Peters made a plea from Malta yesterday to be given a fair go over the unusual new arrangements for Government.

And back in New Zealand, Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen said the way in which the Cabinet operated was likely to "undergo a sea-change" and new expectations were required about how it would function day to day.

He did not express what could be described as confidence that it would work but more cautiously said: "I would argue that there is no reason to believe that this will not work."

Dr Cullen spoke of "making constitutional history as we go".

Mr Peters described the arrangements as part of "evolving democracy".

At Commonwealth ministerial meetings in Malta, Mr Peters effectively asked for a fair go from the public despite the unrelenting attacks in the House over his acceptance of a ministerial post despite having said during the election that he wouldn't take one.

"I am confident New Zealanders will give me a fair go," he told reporters.

"The idea of belting a guy around before he even gets to start the job is not going to go down big with what I understand to be the fair-minded attitude and mores of New Zealand society, so I am confident about the outcome.

"I can't afford to [take] leave off this job for a debate on evolving democracy in New Zealand.

"The fact is the Prime Minister is happy with it, the Government is happy with it, and I'm happy with it."

Mr Peters is a minister outside the Cabinet but collective responsibility is limited only to his own portfolio. He is free to oppose the Government in other areas - though Prime Minister Helen Clark believes he has taken a moderate approach to other issues since becoming Foreign Minister.

He represents the Government but is said not to be a part of Government.

Helen Clark was due to arrive in Malta last night.

Dr Cullen said the change in the way the Cabinet operated would arise largely from the "selective" approach to collective responsibility. "This is yet to be tested," he told the Centre for Public Law conference at Parliament.

But he said the "right-to-disagree" written into the coalition between Labour and the Alliance in 1999 did not produce the kind of tension that had been predicted.

"The difficulties of the coalition arose entirely out of the internal problems within the Alliance.

"In the next three years we will be making constitutional history as we go," Dr Cullen said. "This will prompt us to be vigilant and to take time out to reflect on what is happening, but there is no caucus for panic."