Upbeat mood at ACT conference
ACT may be well down in the polls but delegates were in an upbeat mood at the start of the party's two-day annual conference in Auckland today.
ACT may be well down in the polls but delegates were in an upbeat mood at the start of the party's two-day annual conference in Auckland today.
The party is polling between 1.5 percent and 2 percent, a rating which would see its representation in Parliament fall from five to two -- provided leader Rodney Hide can retain his Epsom seat.
However, the about 80 people at the conference were positive about its futures.
"The mood is very good, better than I expected," party member David Olsen told NZPA.
Among those to speak to the conference were former leader Richard Prebble, former National leader Don Brash and current Police Minister Judith Collins, of National.
Mr Prebble paid particular attention to the impact of the September 22 Christchurch earthquake, saying there would be consequences from it for years to come.
Party president Chris Simmons said the earthquake would sharpen the focus on the issues during the election campaign.
Ms Collins thanked ACT for its contribution as part of a confidence and supply partner in Government for National.
ACT has been polling poorly after a tough 18 months, during which MP Heather Roy was controversially toppled as deputy leader in favour of John Boscawen and David Garrett was forced to resign after it was revealed he fraudulently obtained a passport in a dead child's name 26 years ago.
As well, Mr Hide, who made his reputation as a perk-buster, was criticised after taking his then girlfriend Louise Crome -- who he has since married -- on a taxpayer-funded holiday to Hawaii. He subsequently repaid the funds.
Mr Hide speaks to the conference tomorrow.
NZPA
Sat, 12 Mar 2011
Sat, 12 Mar 2011
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Upbeat mood at ACT conference
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