<\/p>\n
\nRuth Richardson says she is still willing to debate Finance Minister Nicola Willis “so long as it is a substantive discussion”.
\nPhoto: RNZ\/Reece Baker\/Supplied\n<\/p>\n
The Taxpayers Union (TPU) chair Ruth Richardson is still willing to debate Finance Minister Nicola Willis, and is suggesting Cameron Bagrie as a moderator.<\/p>\n
Willis this week challenged her 1990s predecessor<\/a> to a debate “anytime, anywhere” after the TPU launched a campaign criticising the coalition’s fiscal management.<\/p>\n But the pair could not agree<\/a> on a venue.<\/p>\n Richardson demanded agreement to have the showdown on NewstalkZB next Thursday – giving a deadline to respond – but Willis refused to have other media outlets excluded.<\/p>\n In a statement on Friday afternoon, the TPU said Willis had “reneged” on her challenge, but Richardson was willing to still have the debate “so long as it is a substantive discussion, rather than performative theatre”.<\/p>\n Richardson suggested a roundtable discussion on Thursday morning “in a studio in Wellington, moderated by an appropriate economically knowledgeable journalist or commentator”.<\/p>\n “To reflect the tone and substance of the discussion we nominate Cameron Bagrie as host – ANZ’s former chief economist and former adviser to the National Party on matters of public finance – as neutral, but expert, moderator.”<\/p>\n Richardson said the discussion would be live-streamed with a clean broadcast feed made available to all media.<\/p>\n Labour has criticised the debate as a “sideshow”<\/a> and a distraction, while the Public Service Association union called it a “stunt”<\/a> they said aimed to make Willis appear more moderate.<\/p>\n