Act to reduce government services

ONE NEWS: The leader of the Act Party says lower taxes will mean a reduction in government services.

Rodney Hide says closing departments down will ultimately mean more money for taxpayers.

Speaking on TV One's Agenda programme, Hide would not say where he wants to see returning party founder Sir Roger Douglas placed on the party list.

Hide said he thought members would vote to have Douglas in the top three but he would not say his own preference.

The party leader conceded that with Act's current poll ratings -- around 1% in most polls - he had a big job to retain the party's current two seats in parliament.

Hide said he is disappointed in what he says is National's lack of ambition.

"There's no goal, there's no plan, there's not policy, what they're saying is vote for us and we'll do exactly what Helen Clark's doing," says Hide.

He says Act has got 60 candidates and election night will determine the outcome.