NZ ‘open to exploring AUKUS’ under National government
National party leader Christopher Luxon has indicated for the first time he is open to joining the AUKUS pact if he gets into government at the October 14 election.
New Zealand’s Opposition leader Christopher Luxon has indicated he is open to joining the AUKUS pact if he gets into government at the October 14 election.
In the second leaders’ debate with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, both leaders were asked if they would join Pillar Two of the trilateral deal.
Mr Hipkins, who has previously said the door was open to joining Pillar Two – which comprises advanced defence technologies – prevaricated, saying he “prefers other arrangements.”
But Mr Luxon, leader of the centre-right National Party, for the first time clarified his approach to foreign policy, saying he would “explore” joining the pact “and see how we can participate in it.”
Under current polling, National will enter parliament at the October 14 election, in a coalition with the libertarian ACT party; but needing the nationalist NZ First party to get over the line.
Both David Seymour, the leader of ACT and Winston Peters, the NZ First leader have told The Australian they believe NZ should take a tougher line on defence and consider joining AUKUS.
Questioned by moderator Paddy Gower over his party’s defence policy, Mr Luxon indicated the country would not soften its policy over China under a government he led, saying both Labour and National had “consistent” views over geopolitical threats in the region.
He said he would double New Zealand’s defence budget from one to two per cent of GDP – bringing it in line with Australia’s defence funding – but admitted this could not happen immediately, because of economic pressures.
In a combative debate, Mr Luxon was pinioned on his potential coalition partners, with Mr Hipkins accusing him of being willing to work with “racists.”
Mr Luxon said this week he would be open to working with NZ First; a poll released just hours before the debate showed that National would need NZ First if it was to govern in a coalition government with the libertarian ACT party.
The 1News/Verian poll also showed that even in a coalition with the Greens and Te Pati Maori, Labour would fall far short of a majority.
Mr Hipkins has already ruled out working with Mr Peters who campaigns against the spread of the Maori language, shared governance between government and Iwi (Maori tribes) and policies based on a “partnership” between Maori and non Maori.
Asked by Gower if NZ was a racist country, Mr Hipkins accused NZ First of “playing the race card” before making his “working with racists” claim against his rival. As Mr Luxon condemned the remark as “unacceptable,” Mr Hipkins went on to read a statement by a NZ First candidate who referred to Maori as a disease.
Mr Luxon was forced to admit that he didn’t want to work with Mr Peters but: “I have to, to keep you, the Greens and Te Pati Maori out of government.”
Mr Peters intervened at this point, tweeting: “all they seem to be talking about and attacking is Winston Peters. Maybe they should both have the courage to have me there to debate them properly. Three of us would be there and only one of us would be ready.”
In a quick fire question and answer session at the end of the debate, both leaders agreed they didn’t want Mr Peters in the debate with them.
More Coverage
Security report shows NZ returning to traditional allies
NZ’s annual threat assessment sends a clear message: Wellington recognises the realities of the complex security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and is now willing to confront them openly.
‘Career suicide’: the price of dissent in NZ universities
Free speech and academic freedom are under assault in NZ universities, encompassing issues ranging from cultural identity to scientific inquiry. The results? Academics have to bite their tongues.