What's National's policy?

With the National Party rightly criticising the government for allowing an SOE to do business in Burma, it's a fair question to ask what National's policy on business links with dictatorships is. Sean Plunkett tried asking exactly that question of Murray McCully on Morning Report [audio] this morning; unfortunately, he didn't get a response:

Sean Plunket: What would be a National government's policy on business with Myanmar?

Murray McCully: We've tried to inject a strong note of bipartisanship into foreign policy. We've supported the sanctions...

SP: Really want to know what your position is, Mr McCully.

MM: My view is that if you're going to tell the state airline that they're not allowed to carry Australian troops to Kuwait...

SP: What would a National government's policy be on doing business with Myanmar?

MM: If you're going to tell Air New Zealand they can't carry Australian troops to Kuwait...

SP: I want to know what your policy is on Myanmar. Do you have one?

MM: ...then you have to tell a state-owned engineering company that they can't do business with ...

SP: So that is the National Party's position?

MM: That is my position, and I'll certainly take it to my colleagues.

SP: But it's not National Party policy yet?

MM: Well I haven't had the chance yet Sean to take this to my colleagues...

SP: Any other countries or regimes which the National Party would implement a very very clear ban on doing business with around the world?

MM: No, I think that this is a particular case...

So, no straight answer, no policy, and no consistency. It's hard to escape the conclusion that this is just policy on the hoof and an attack of opportunity without any commitment to do anything differently (in fact, it seems more aimed at allowing Air New Zealand to support Bush's war in Iraq than anything else). While the government deserves the criticism it is receiving over this, I don't think we can expect National to behave any differently, or commit to a more ethical foreign policy framework.