OPINION
James Shaw’s greatest legacy is not the Carbon Zero Act; it’s the failed 2018 Census which showed his true character
My abiding memory of James Shaw will be his eagerness to talk about what his legacy will be, whenever he got the chance. That in itself is a red light. Great individuals leave that to others.
Maybe my unease is unfounded but given Luxon’s astonishing decision to keep funding Ardern’s ‘global terror’ role, which actually involves banning contradictory conservative opinion, I fear he will give everyone’s favourite (departing) Greenie the job of climate change commissioner as some are opining will happen.
According to Chris Luxon, when speaking about Shaw’s resignation, his contribution to environmental matters has been immense. Todd Mueller was equally entranced by the guy whose personal actions towards reducing carbon emissions are woeful, his words, pure virtue signalling.
Not to forget Mike Hosking, who maybe hasn’t followed Shaw’s career as closely as I have, or has no problems with his close association with radical activists who openly advocate for terrorism, supported by the media.
Shaw has had the record for the biggest carbon footprint during his tenure in Parliament whilst representing a cause centred around reducing emissions.
His greatest legacy is the failed 2018 Census for which he was responsible as minister of statistics. He chose to join Jacinda in the Pacific Islands during census week where she began her tradition of throwing money around like a drunken sailor. (Thank goodness that era is now in the rearview mirror.)
Even more egregious was his refusal to face up to the census failure during parliamentary question time where he perfected the art of imperiously sneering at the questioner, avoiding the question and treating the whole thing like a joke. Arrogance personified.
Our character is evident when we are publicly faced with failure. He failed the test big time; his true nature was revealed. However, to his credit, he did not use mental health as his excuse. But to be fair that was before the trend gained traction.
So if Chris Luxon is thinking of even considering him for the role of climate change commissioner he should do his research first. He failed substantially in his first year in power at the critical task of overseeing our five-yearly census and dismissed it as something of no consequence.
His dedication to climate change is in name only. Like the Markles he does not practice what he preaches. He has racked up more air miles than most MPs while preaching to the rest of us to get rid of cars and cull the nation’s dairy herd. Like Megan and Harry, we could put him in the tiny category of elites who rack up 60% of the air miles whilst preaching restraint by the rest of us.
His most alarming action (and remember actions speak louder than words) was his insistence to attend COP26 in Scotland in November 2021 during COVID-19, when it was rife in that country.
Rather than attend by Zoom, the obvious choice, he went and took with him seven staff members putting not only himself but them in danger of catching COVID-19, with wanton disregard for carbon emissions, Shaw’s (professed) hill to die on. Our preoccupied media failed to question the arrogant, hypocritical nature of his decision.
By comparison, National sent Simon Watts to COP28 last year. He took one support person.
So in summary, we could do with less virtue signalling and more authenticity in a new climate commissioner, when the current one, Rod Carr, steps down.
Yes, Shaw seems like a paragon of virtue when measured against his activist Green Party mates who are radical social justice warriors. Everyone does.
Having a charming persuasive manner, like Ardern, makes him more of a snake oil salesman than the right person for the climate commissioner’s job.
