What did they get?
The deals are online. Peters has got quite a lot if we look at the NZ First deal.
* Ensure that the rate of New Zealand Superannuation is set at 66 per cent of the average ordinary time weekly earnings as from 1 April 2006.
* Budget for police numbers to be increased to provide another 1000 police staff over the three budgets of this term with a view to achieving ratios comparable with those in Australia by 2010.
* Continue the practice of annually increasing the minimum wage, with a view to it being set at $12.00 per hour by the end of 2008 if economic conditions permit.
* Support the re-introduction of the Electoral Integrity Act.
Support a New Zealand First bill relating to treaty principles going to a select committee for consideration.
* Support, to a select committee for consideration, a New Zealand First Members bill proposing to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, and agree that if it has not been successful in the ballot within two years a clause may be incorporated into a government bill in order that the issue can be addressed by a select committee.
There are dozens of others listed but they are all meaningless reviews.
So Peters can claim he got a superannuation increase (less than what they would have got with National’s tax cuts though) and 1,000 extra police. A semi-commitment to a minimum wage level of $12 and surprisingly bringing back that hideous piece of legislation known as the Electoral Integrity Act.
In return Labour have got NZ First to agree to vote for urgency motions and Speaker, and have done a deal on select committee chairs.
The Progressive Party gets nothing at all except a seat for Jim in Cabinet. That is their only requirement. Hilarious.
United Future seem to have not a single specific except stuff which wasn’t going to happen anyway like cannabis reform or hate speech legislation. Oh wait they have got an agreement to reduce the age of parental means testing for student allowances. That is good.
The Greens have very little. They agree with NZ First on minimum wage. Some meaningless mumble on GE,
In return the Greens agree to be poodles on procedural motions etc.
NZ First have clearly got the most out of this – they have got actual specifics they will be able to campaign on. The other parties have little because most of what they have is stuff people will assume the Government would have done anyway.