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Dr Don Brash - Source: Q+A -
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GUYON ESPINER
Welcome to the programme, Dr Brash.
DR DON BRASH - ACT Party Leader
Good morning, Guyon.
GUYON This was an unmitigated disaster, wasn't it?
DON Uh, no, it was not. We won the seat of Epsom despite all the pollsters and all the pundits saying we could not retain that seat. The fact that they were saying we would not hold that seat is a major explanation for the fact our party vote collapsed. People who wanted ACT in there-
GUYON So you're blaming the media?
DON No, no. I'm simply saying there was a perception that we could not hold Epsom, and the consequence of that perception is that people decided not to give their party vote to the ACT Party.
GUYON But the truth is you could only hold it with a massive bailout from John Key.
DON Well, you say that, but in 2005, the ACT Party won the seat of Epsom without any hint from the National Party leader at all, because I know - I was the leader at that time.
GUYON That's looking backwards. Looking forwards, I mean, isn't this a spent force now, the ACT Party? One MP; an MP who's not really holding the ideology of the ACT Party.
DON Well, I don't accept that. I mean, basically John Banks campaigned hard for the ACT Party policies and principles, and I think he'll be a great standard bearer for the ACT Party in Parliament. Clearly we have to rebuild from this point. Neither John Banks nor I are under the age of 50. We clearly do need to get some younger people in. We've got some very good people on our list - David Seymour, Stephen Whittington, Chris Simmons - all much younger. That's the new generation of ACT Party leaders.
GUYON Would you expect, um, that John Banks will get a ministerial position in this National-led Government?
DON Oh, look, I can't comment on that. I did get a call last night from John Key who confirmed the fact that the ACT Party would be supporting a National Party Government. Of course, we'd said that in advance of the election. I was happy to confirm that. And whether John Banks gets a ministerial role depends very much on the Prime Minister.
GUYON Would you expect him to, though?
DON I think there's a good prospect of that. I mean, he's been a minister previously for six years, in fact. He's had good ministerial experience. 18 years in Parliament. I think he'd make an excellent minister, but, as I say, finally that's for John Key and John Banks to decide.
GUYON And, look, it's only one vote, one seat, but it is a relatively crucial one. What is it that ACT wants to get in return for its support? What are your priorities?
DON We have to negotiate that confidence and supply agreement in detail, clearly, but we are desperately concerned about the state of the economy. The government's borrowing $300 million a week. One in four teenagers is unemployed. I mean, there are some serious issues in a global context which are very worrying indeed. Nobody's talked about that, but that's the ominous cloud hanging over everything.
GUYON Can I just ask you whether you're done with politics and ACT, or do you see potential for another force emerging on the centre right that you perhaps want to be involved with?
DON Look, I think ACT is the right party on the centre right. I think it's got the right principles. It's the only party on the political spectrum which says that our problems are too much government, too much bureaucracy, too more government taxation.
GUYON Ok, and is that it for you? Over and out?
DON Well, I have no plans to come back. I was heartened the other day to see that the new prime minister of Egypt is 78, but I don't plan to come back.
GUYON All right. Thank you very much, Dr Brash.
