Reform Heads Agenda Again For Govt (Press, 3 February 1986)

In an article dated 3 February 1986, Patricia Herbert reported from Wellington on the New Zealand Government's agenda for the year, highlighting a focus on reform particularly in defence, industrial relations, and the social welfare system. The anticipated reviews in these areas may not capture public interest, as the economy is expected to remain the central issue following a wave of business failures, rising unemployment, and persistently high interest rates. This situation has left the electorate increasingly anxious about the more-market approach adopted by the government. While significant structural changes in the economic landscape have been introduced, notable policies like the goods and services tax and the deregulation of banking are still pending implementation. Additionally, there are key legislative initiatives such as the Fair Trading Bill, aimed at enhancing consumer protection, and the Commerce Bill, which seeks to oversee company take-overs and mergers, that have yet to complete their legislative processes. For Finance Ministers, 1986 is expected to be a year focused on consolidation, primarily aimed at reducing the deficit and controlling inflation, shifting their role to one of being reactive rather than proactive. Parliament faces a heavy legislative workload, which includes many technical bills of limited public interest. However, several intense issues are set to arise, particularly Ms Fran Wilde's Homosexual Law Reform Bill, the Bill of Rights, and the Government's anti-nuclear bill. The latter is not likely to be finalised until the second half of the year, making it uncertain how these developments will influence New Zealand's relationship with the United States and the A.N.Z.U.S. alliance. In the realm of international relations, it is anticipated that these matters will receive less attention compared to previous 18 months, despite New Zealand's foreign policies gaining visibility both domestically and internationally. Important highlights on the foreign affairs calendar include Prime Minister David Lange's visit to China and reciprocal visits to New Zealand by prominent figures such as the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth II, and Pope John Paul II. On the domestic front, legislation of immediate concern to New Zealanders is set to include graduated drivers' licences, defining the legal status of children conceived through artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilisation, reforming defamation laws, regulating video censorship, and the potential approval of a State-organised lottery. These issues are expected to resonate more substantially with the public compared to the broader economic and international challenges facing the government this year.

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