Grant Robertson, MP for public servants, is keeping a tally of sackings — 1200 at his latest count. If he sticks to this task, he is assured of a long-term job.
National last year promised a “cap” on core public service staff numbers but also a shuffle: fewer “bureaucrats” and more on the “front line”, especially in hospitals, police and prisons.
The jury has spoken. But does it speak for anywhere other than Mt Albert? And does it speak on anything but Mt Albert’s particularities?
At least the Supreme Court doesn’t get a look in, to tell the jurors there is evidence they must not hear because they are not wise enough to judge its relevance or accuracy. In elections, as distinct from in the law, voters are treated, by the presiding authorities at least, as adults.
Jeanette Fitzsimons put her finger on the Greens’ central political poser in her valedictory speech as co-leader last weekend. She spoke of “putting forward the positive and practical alternatives”.
Too often Greens are finger-waggers. Fitzsimons said: “We’ve always had bundles of ideas on what could be done but we do spend rather a lot of time criticising governments rather than looking like a government in waiting.
There is a hole in the budget and it is an issue for your kids. Will Bill English fix it next year?
English stated on Thursday that the budget had two principal aims: to tide the economy, and the people, through the recession; and to build a more competitive economy for the future.
The first aim can be seen in the choice to maintain social spending and defer the promised 2010 and 2011 tax cuts. Spending for 2009-10 overall is up by $2.9 billion on 2008-09, in part to cope with higher unemployment — and including enough crumbs for the Maori party to say the budget is mana-enhancing.
One clause in Treasury Secretary John Whitehead’s speech last Friday spoke volumes: there have been “structural spending increases rather than temporary fiscal stimulus”.
Thursday’s budget will aim to make a start on fixing that.
A “temporary fiscal stimulus” can be unwound when it has done its work or the money runs out. The government goes back to the way things were. For those in the state’s employ and locked into its activities, life goes on.
John Key’s government is six months old this weekend, time enough for some mistakes. What’s the prognosis?
This week’s mistake was the blindsiding of Peter Dunne over Christine Rankin’s appointment to the Families Commission. Not very mana-enhancing, twice-blindsided Pita Sharples might say.
Who said this and when: “Unless there is planning now for a good environment, economic progress will be hindered”.
Answer: the physical environment committee of the National Development Conference, (NDC) in April 1969.
Some things haven’t changed much in the 40 years this coming week since I first reported on politics — for the Dominion as it then was.
Michael Cullen is a very funny man, capable of a belly-laugh one-liner a minute for 20 minutes without notes. He is also a very deep man. As often as not, when the laughter had died and the wound had healed his one-liners were worth pondering.
Cullen is also a very smart man, the smartest politician I have dealt with. He is a man of strong values — what used to be called principles or ideals before managerial politics took over.
Here are three ways to mark Anzac Day: remember the dead; celebrate who we are; and know the potential for peril.
The first is less poignant now than half a century ago. Then war and its ruthless scything of young lives was a living memory for most at Anzac Day commemorations, the second world war being not long past. Most of the town turned out in sombre and thankful spirit.
John Key and Russel Norman have done a deal. It’s no big deal but it gives Key a green tinge. But is a tinge his limit?
The policy preoccupation, through this big downturn and beyond, is with saving, then growing, jobs and material welfare. Rich country leaders are drafting the next generation’s earnings (that is, borrowing) to buy jobs now.