United Future agrees to provide confidence and supply for the term of this Parliament, to a Labour-led government

The relationship between United Future and the government will be based on good faith and no surprises.

Consultation arrangements

The Government will consult with United Future on issues including

• The broad outline of the legislative programme
• Key legislative measures
• Major policy issues
• Broad budget parameters

Consultation will occur in a timely fashion to ensure United Future views can be incorporated into final decision-making.

Formal consultation will be managed between the Prime Minister's Office and the Office of the Leader of United Future.

Other co-operation will include:

• Access to relevant Ministers by designated United Future MPs
• Regular meetings between the Prime Minister and the United Future Leader
• Advance notification to the other party of significant announcements by either the Government or United Future
• Briefings by the Government on significant issues before any public announcement.

Ministerial Position

Policy Programme

The Labour-led government has agreed during this term of Parliament to adopt and implement the following broad principles, policies and priorities advanced by United Future.

• they will not support any legislative initiatives to decriminalise the recreational use of cannabis.
• they will not support any legislative initiatives to place limits on freedom of expression through so called "hate speech" laws.
• the Families Commission will not be downgraded, and will be the agency responsible for co-ordinating government support to "third sector" organisations providing parenting education and relationship counselling programmes.
• they will conduct a review of the current business taxation regimes with the view of ensuring the system works to give better incentives for productivity gains and improved competitiveness with Australia.
• a new tax rebate regime for charities will be developed.
• a new cost benefit analysis of the proposal to introduce a carbon tax as part of our Kyoto obligations will be conducted and no legislation introduced before the analysis is completed. The criteria and/or the terms of reference for this analysis will be agreed through sector wide consultation.
• measures to further improve access to student allowances including some reduction in the age at which parental income assessment applies will be introduced.
• appropriate private hospital capacity will be used to reduce waiting lists where this is feasible.
• the Prostitution Reform Act will be reviewed to address problems associated with street soliciting, under age involvement and local authority control over brothel zoning.
• non-statutory proposals to negotiate improved public access along rivers lakes and foreshore will be progressed.
• issues concerning water quality /agrarian runoff will be addressed.

The government has agreed that United Future will be involved in the development of:

• a long term medicines strategy relating to quality pharmaceutical usage in the health sector including the role PHARMAC should play in implementing that strategy.
• a nationwide pest reduction strategy.

The government has also agreed that central government funding which is available for the specific Wellington regional roading programme will be able to be used to fund a highway through Transmission Gully if that is deemed to be the preferred option at the end of the current evaluation programme.

The government notes that United Future have been committed to income splitting as a key part of their tax policy and agrees that a government discussion document addressing this issue will be developed.

The government has identified the pledges on its commitment card along with their election policy to extend the working for families package as priorities for them and United Future agrees to support the legislation required to give effect to these policies.

Support for other legislation which is not part of a confidence or supply motion will be negotiated on a case by case basis.

Briefings

It is agreed that relevant spokespeople within United Future will be briefed on significant issues which are likely to be politically sensitive before any public announcements are made.

Confidentiality

It is agreed that where briefings are provided to United Future, or where United Future is involved in a consultative arrangement with regard to legislation, policy or budgetary matters, all such discussions shall be confidential unless otherwise agreed.

In the event that government papers are provided to United Future in the course of consultation or briefings they shall be treated as confidential and shall not be released or the information used for any public purpose without the express agreement of the relevant Minister.

In the event that Cabinet or Cabinet committee papers are provided to United Future for the purposes of consultation they shall be provided to a designated person within the Office of the Leader who will take responsibility for ensuring they are accorded the appropriate degree of confidentiality.

Collective responsibility

United Future agrees to fully represent the government's position and be bound by Cabinet Manual provisions in respect of any areas within the portfolio responsibility of the Leader of United Future and to support all areas which are matters of confidence and supply.

In other areas "agree to disagree" provisions will be applied as necessary.

Where there has been full participation in the development of a policy initiative outside of any portfolio responsibility held by the Leader of United Future, and that participation has led to an agreed position, it is expected that all parties to this agreement will publicly support the process and the outcome.

Procedural Motions

United Future agrees that it will support the government on procedural motions in the House and in Select Committees unless United Future has previously advised that such support is not forthcoming.

The Government agrees that it will operate a no surprises policy in terms of procedural motions it intends to put before the House or a select committee.

Select Committees

United Future and the Government will consult on the makeup and operation of select committees with a view to reaching an agreed majority position.

Legislative Programme

Support for particular legislative measures which do not relate to confidence or supply will be negotiated on a case by case basis.

Relationship to other confidence and supply agreements

Both parties to this agreement recognise that the government will be working with a range of parties both in terms of coalitions and confidence and supply arrangements.

The government agrees that it will not enter into any other relationship agreement which is inconsistent with this agreement and United Future and the government agree that they will each act in good faith to allow all such agreements to be complied with.

Dated the 17th October 2005

See 2002 2005 Confidence and Supply Agreement here

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