The Letter
The Haps
Ian Fraser goes before he is pushed. Today Cabinet signs off the government program for the opening of Parliament next
week.
Falling ratings
The TVNZ board has always been "politically appointed". All public companies have remuneration committees. It just
sounds as if the board is starting to do its job.
PC Eradicator
Wayne Mapp was in Canada when he learnt, on the same day as the public did, what his new job was. Don Brash explained
Mapp is the right man for the job because he is "married to a Maori person". A jet lagged Mapp returned home to sound as
confused as his leader as to exactly what the job entails. Seven other National MPs who have been appointed to the
suspiciously PC sounding "liaison" roles, Judith Collins is "liaison with Pacific NZ'ers", Pansy Wong is "liaison with
Asian NZ'ers" etc are just as confused as to what their jobs entail. The MPs have gloomily concluded that after Don
gives Orewa three their job is to placate the offended.
Men are in, women are out
In her new cabinet Helen Clark wanted men, South Island men and Catholics, preferably practicing. Damien O'Connor the
West Coast MP who meets all the criteria, was just as ready for cabinet six years ago. Labour women MPs like Judith
Tizard and Steve Chadwick have just learnt that what had been their greatest assets, their gender and impeccable PC
credentials, are now not required.
She is tough
Former Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton did not decide to resign voluntarily, he was pushed. His crime? Firstly for
having the biggest swing against him and secondly for announcing that he had bought a house in Waikanae and was going to
stand for the Wellington Labour list next election. Sutton was valuable while he was a rural voice but the party had no
need for yet another MP who wants to live just the distance needed to qualify for the Wellington housing allowance.
Fairbrother to foulbrother
Another who was on Clark's list for cabinet whose political career is over is Russell Fairbrother who lost the Napier
seat, which had been held by Geoff Braybrook with massive majorities. Clark had him earmarked for Attorney General. The
final straw was Fairbrother's statement to media that in future he would refer constituents to Chris Tremain, National's
new MP.
Machine Politics
Mayor Daley who ruled over Chicago for many years used to meet with each Democratic Councillor after an election armed
with a detailed breakdown of that Councillor's election return. When Clark met her Labour MPs before the cabinet was
announced she had in her hand each MP's election result. While new Transport and Energy Minister David Parker lost
Otago, his result was actually much better than Wayne Harpur who lost Invercargill for Labour or Jim Sutton's appalling
result.
PC halt
Clark's killing of Georgina Beyer's Private Member's Bill to give legal protection to transsexual persons is another
sign that social engineering has ended. Despite the public denial, the PM did make it clear that the party would like
her to move on. Beyer who has nothing between her ears and her tongue promptly told all. Clark believes that an MP who
works hard should never lose a provincial seat and Beyer's shifting to the list contributed to Labour losing the
Wairarapa constituency.
Independent Governor?
As commentators have observed, if increasing interest rates now is correct then holding them steady for months before
the election was wrong. With inflation already at 3.4% it is likely to reach 4% - a serious miscalculation. An
independent Governor would have made his criticism that government spending policies are inflationary before the
election. The State Service Commissioner's announced intention to grant salary increases far in excess of inflation
shows the civil service is ignoring Bollard.
Speech from the Throne
Much of the speech is a reiteration of policies that have already been announced. Included are all of the policy
concessions made for support on confidence but few details. Labour will reiterate its campaign promises to make student
loans interest free and extend the range of family support. Ministers are realising that the lack of a formal coalition
agreement covering policy limits what government can do.
Richard Long's replacement
Stephen Joyce soon to be leaving his job as the National Party's general manager where he did a good job, is picked to
be Brash's new Chief of Staff at a salary believed to be around $250,000.
Overheard in Bellamy's
New Maori Party MP Hone Harawira was overheard enquiring as to how he could put his dinner guests' restaurant bill on to
his parliamentary expenses i.e., we the taxpayers foot the bill - absolutely against the rules. It is so important,
don't you think, to start as you intend to continue.
Baubles of Office
Once all Ministers were accommodated in the Beehive. Clark's huge ministry long ago expanded to Bowen House. Winston
Peters and Peter Dunne to show independence have remained there, with extensive alterations to come. The Greens have
moved to the ACT offices on the 8th floor, Rodney Hide, Heather Roy and the ACT staff are now temporarily on the 1st
floor. Rod Donald thinks that the office of the former ACT deputy leader is not nearly big enough and has ordered a wall
knocked down to create him an office larger than Jeanette's.
Our Poll
93% of Letter readers voted for John Key to be promoted to No 3. This week "Do you have confidence in the job the
Reserve Bank governor is doing in preserving the Bank's independence and fighting inflation?" Go to www.act.org.nz/poll
we will send the result to Michael Cullen.
ENDS