Now 64 – 57

National and the Maori Party have just announced their confidence and supply agreement, which means the Government can now win such votes 64 – 57. It might not even be that close as Peters suggested he might initially back the largest party on confidence and supply or at least abstain. Personally I think that commitment holds about as much value as a peso, but the initial votes could be 64 – 49 or even 72 – 49.

The key aspects of the agreement are:

  • Maori Party will vote for confidence and supply
  • Maori Party do not have to vote for the legislation outlined in National's Post-Election Action Plan (unlike and United Future)
  • to be given a specific appropriation and a stand-alone commissioning agency to be established
  • A Ministerial Committee on Poverty to focus on alleviation of poverty. Chaired by Bill English with Turia as Deputy Chair.
  • Double funding for rheumatic fever prevention to $24m
  • Target 20,000 low income homes for home insulation
  • All state houses to be insulated, where possible
  • Aim to lift Maori educational and employment outcomes
  • Agree to offset pre-1990 forests
  • Continue with constitutional review to report by Sep 2013, and status of Maori seats remains unchanged for now (no abolition or entrenchment)
  • Refocus TPK on improving outcomes for Maori in education, housing and employment
  • Conclude decision making on spectrum by May 2012
  • National to support to select committee members bills to reduce gambling harm and a Maori cultural heritage bill
  • Partial asset sales legislation not to be part of a confidence or supply motion
  • Sharples Minister of , Associate Education and
  • Turia Minister for Whanua Ora and Disability Issues, Associate Health, Housing, Social Development

Doesn't appear to be anything there with a huge price tag, which is good as the top priority has to be reducing the , not increasing it. But there is plenty there to keep busy, and the constitutional review especially could be huge.

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