Dear auntie Fran O’Sullivan is obviously struggling in the news void that always happens at this time of year. I am not even sure if Jacinda is back from holiday yet, and so political journalists find themselves having to make stuff up. In this latest offering, Fran implies that we should all vote Labour because Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson are very good really. Okay, they never met a promise they couldn’t break, but that’s not important. Apparently, if they put their minds to it, they could become a ‘dream team’. Yes. That’s right.
I think she means nightmare… and they have achieved that already.
Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson should dare to present themselves as the “Lange and Douglas” of their political generation and run the risk of Winston Peters’ wrath by enhancing their power base before the general election?
That was not actually a question, Fran… but anyway, the Lange and Douglas partnership was radical and necessary, as their government had been handed an almost bankrupt treasury by Robert Muldoon. It was a partnership that also ended in a screaming heap. Is that what Fran means?
Ardern has already proven herself as a gifted political communicator: In touch with the aspirations of her “youth adjacent” cohort – even if her Government is yet to deliver on them. Hope springs eternal – particularly with housing.
So Fran’s idea of a ‘dream team’ is one that cannot deliver on its promises? That is an interesting perspective and one with which few would concur.
But to ensure Labour has a compelling case to put to voters in this year’s election requires Robertson to assert himself as Ardern’s field marshal, not only spelling out the detail of a coherent economic agenda (and with it the micro policies that are part of it), but also ensuring sufficient runs are delivered by election time to ensure Labour gets another opportunity to “finish the journey”.
Finish what journey? Create more working groups? Employ more consultants? Because that really is all that they have done so far. Okay, just before Christmas, they made a whole raft of promises about new infrastructure but none of it will be even started by the time the election rolls around. It looks as if their election campaign will be based around promises to build houses and infrastructure just like it was in 2017. Do they just take us all for fools?
Right now it is all looking decidedly flakey when it comes to the all important delivery of signature Government policies where polished execution has been missing in action – notably with housing.
Wait. The ‘dream team’ is decidedly flaky? Who is writing this stuff?
Oh yes… one of the country’s top political journalists wrote it.
That’s OK then.
Robertson has been gradually increasing his profile over the last six months. But noticeably he has also increased his reach as he realises the real power finance ministers have to control the play.
Has he? Can’t say I have noticed. Then again, I consider Robertson to be one of the better ministers in this government. If you are surprised to hear me say that, look at it this way. He has not been a terrible minister of finance, and you have to admit, compared to most of the other Labour and Green ministers, he is pretty competent. True, that isn’t saying much.
On December 11, Robertson announced the Government would allocate an additional $12 billion towards infrastructure over the next five years.
The election campaign started early. So what?
Robertson came back early to work through the detail.
The Finance Minister will likely have to share the limelight with other ministers (including the Greens and NZ First leaders) when it is unveiled.
Yes. That is why it is called a coalition.
With Ardern and Robertson wanting to step up the tempo this is likely to be very soon.
But ensuring delivery must stop with Robertson.
A Newspaper.
I’m still trying to figure out the ‘dream team’ bit. Delivery of a package that includes a large amount of government funding, including additional borrowing, should be left to the finance minister? Really? How is that for a radical concept?
I think what Fran is trying to say is – vote Labour in the next election. There is no good reason to do this but do it anyway.
There. Fixed it for you, Fran.
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