MPs 'most influential for business' at Election Conference

The 2008 Business NZ Election Conference will again bring together all the politicians that will have most influence on business issues after the election.

The Conference features Party Leaders (Prime Minister Helen Clark, Opposition Leader John Key, Winston Peters, Russel Norman, Peter Dunne and Rodney Hide) each outlining to delegates what their party will do to improve the environment for business.

The Conference also includes MP Panel Sessions on the big issues for business:

* The Economy (including tax & govt spending)
* The Workplace (employment & industrial relations)
* Infrastructure & Energy (including emissions trading)

The panel session on The Economy will herald the return of Sir Roger Douglas to mainstream political debate, along with Michael Cullen, Bill English and finance spokesmen from other political parties.

Business NZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says the line-up brings all parties’ financial heavyweights onto the same stage to debate the economic issues that most concern NZ business.

The panel session on The Workplace will feature the main parties’ employment spokespeople and the panel session on Infrastructure & Energy, featuring David Parker, Gerry Brownlee, Jeanette Fitzsimons and others will debate the hotly contested issue of emissions trading.

“From attending the 2008 Business NZ Election Conference our members and other attendees will be the first to know the likely shape of business policy after the election,” Mr O’Reilly said.