Nuclear Policy

The so-called u-turn on National’s nuclear policy is of course no such thing, and people are 16 years out of date.

Since either late 1989 or early 1990 National’s policy has been to not repeal or amend the nuclear free legislation. Yes for 16 years. There was a u-turn but it was done by Jim Bolger in Opposition.

Now don’t think for a second that this is a passionately embraced policy by National. It is a pragmatic one which recognises that the majority of NZers are strongly against any change. Think of it as the opposite to National’s benefit cuts in 1991. Labour did not like them and wailed about them, but it never adopted policy to repeal them, and has not repealed them in Government. Both cases are about recognising the debate has moved on.

So what is National looking to change with its policy. Basically just a minor emphasis. It is changing from “We will not change the law during this next term of Parliament, and any future change would need the explicit support of NZers” to “We will not change the law during this next term of Parliament”.

As it happens I don’t believe the ban on nuclear-powered ships has any logic or merit to it, but I accept I am in a minority on this issue and fully support the political necessity for National to explicitly rule out change so future elections are fought on important issues, which frankly this is not.

John Armstrong, as usual, has a good column on the issue.