New Zealand elects “coalition of the willing”
Last week people in the USA elected out of government a party that invaded Iraq.
On Saturday, people in New Zealand elected into power two parties that had voted in favour of the House calling on the New Zealand government to join the invasion of Iraq.
The vote in question occurred on Tuesday, 18 March 2003. It’s a vote from the 47th Parliament.
The parliamentary debates from the 47th Parliament are not yet on TheyWorkForYou.co.nz. To find the vote you need to look on the official parliament.nz website.
Motion text missing
The parliament.nz HTML formatted version of the vote, as found on 9 March 2008, is missing some text from the motion. Here is a copy of the motion text as found on 9 March 2008:
Hon RICHARD PREBBLE (Leader—ACT NZ) : I move, That this Parliament
recognises the threat Iraq’s non-compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction pose to international peace and,
noting the UN Security Council on 8 November 2002 in resolution 1441 unanimously voted that Iraq has not complied with previous UN resolutions and was in material breach of its obligation and gave Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations or “”,.
What was the missing motion?
The parliament.nz PDF version of the debate contains a longer version of the motion text from the 18 March 2003 vote. Here is a copy, including the vote:
Hon RICHARD PREBBLE (Leader—ACT NZ) : I move, That this Parliament
recognises the threat Iraq’s non-compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions and 4126 Debate on Iraq 18 Mar 2003 proliferation of weapons of mass destruction pose to international peace and,
noting the UN Security Council on 8 November 2002 in resolution 1441 unanimously voted that Iraq has not complied with previous UN resolutions and was in material breach of its obligation and gave Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations or “face serious consequences”,
further notes the report of the UN arms inspectors that Iraq has not provided an accurate, full and complete disclosure,
this House disassociates itself from the New Zealand Government’s position at the United Nations to oppose a second UN Security Council resolution and deplores the announcement of France to veto any such resolution and
this House records its support for the United States of America, Great Britain, and Australia’s preparedness to enforce UN Resolution 1441 and calls on the New Zealand Government to offer all practical support to the “coalition of the willing”.
A party vote was called for on the question, That the motion be agreed to.
Ayes 35 New Zealand National 27; ACT New Zealand 8. Noes 84 Labour 52; New Zealand First 13; Green Party 9; United Future 8; Progressive 2. Motion not agreed to.
Therein ends today’s history lesson.
