Notwithstanding everything pessimistic that I’ve said over the past few weeks, I rather like the look of this new government.
At first glance, there are some extremely encouraging policy commitments (enough for my wife and me to punch the air several times while watching the news last night) and some promising ministerial appointments.
It’s especially pleasing to see ACT’s Nicole McKee in cabinet and Karen Chhour with a significant responsibility (children and family violence), albeit outside cabinet. Andrew Hoggard, too, should bring some useful real-world experience and insight to agriculture, although his responsibilities are narrow.
The solution to the deputy prime minister conundrum was, as Peter Dunne put it, elegant. David Seymour will be able to spend the first 18 months getting to grips with his ministerial priorities and Winston Peters, the Great Tuatara of New Zealand politics, will be able to wind down in the latter half of the triennium, perhaps with a view to retirement. (Ha! We shall see.)
The three parties have found enough in common to agree on a way forward. It’s reasonable to conclude that between them, ACT and New Zealand First have stiffened National’s spine and given Christopher Luxon’s party the moral courage it previously lacked to confront pernicious ideological issues.
The crucial thing now is for the three coalition partners to set egos aside and focus relentlessly on the imperative that brought them together: namely, the urgent need to undo the damage of the past six years. If they can do that - and I realise I'm eating my own words saying this - there’s no reason why this government shouldn’t go the distance.
Yes, it looks very promising indeed. We have all been harping on Luxon for "sitting on the fence", for "thinking that running a country can't be much different from running a country", for lack of cabinet experience, etc., etc.
ReplyDeleteWas he right after all in always declining to express a firm political opinion on any controversial subject - before knowing fully what hand he would be dealt (at the election).
That, of course, is exactly the way a skilled business board room negotiator, a skilled deal-maker, approaches it.
Andy,
ReplyDeleteI think you meant to say "running a country can't be much different from running a company".
I like "running a country can't be much different from running a country" - Clarke, Key, Ardern, and now Luxon.. politics doesn't change the country, just who's butthurt about what.
DeleteLots of real world talent amongst the 3 parties. It is with great relief that I say we are on the way back. It will be bloody marvelous over this summer to have cricket at the forefront of our concerns for a change. Hopefully the (blind?) traditional Kiwi trust in public institutions can begin to be restored at last.
ReplyDeleteI had reservations. Now I think we are going to have a good and positive Government
ReplyDeleteWhat will never fail to amaze me is how there are people who can't see what a destructive bunch of non achieving people we have had for the last 6 years
An article was in what was Dominion Post today that I could only describe as bitter and twisted. I read the first 2 sentences and that was more than enough for me
Yes of course, Karl - thank you. I wish I could afford a proof-reader secretary.
ReplyDeleteI'm relieved we have a government that is generally focused on policy - notwithstanding Shane Jones and his $1.2B slush fund. I sincerely hope that he will be required to justify his decisions to cabinet, at least quarterly.
ReplyDeleteIf I could give them all some advice it would be "the media are not your friends". It is not important that they like you. You don't have to answer every inane question that they ask. Be prepared to tell them no.
The Coalition agreements provide a detailed and very encouraging way forward out of the appalling mess the Aotearoa Rouge regime have left us in. Never ever let Labour or the Greens near power again, they are haters and wreckers to quote Helen Clark, the last plausible Labour leader. I see the race-based party, TPM, is today threatening "revolution ", presumably armed, against the new Government. That is seditious talk from a bunch of tribalist blowhards. Tribalism is the moral equivalent of getting high on the scent of your own flatulence. It is a road to nowhere.
ReplyDeleteWinston Peters to set his ego aside, that's a big ask!
ReplyDelete"The media are not your friends" is a bit light in my opinion, they are you avowed enemies.