NEWS ON POLICY
AND POLITICS |
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POLITICS Brian Connell Suspended Government Blues IN PARLIAMENT Waiting in the Wings Bills Introduced more... IN
OTHER NEWS IN CONSULTATION Discussion documents and requests for submissions more... |
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IN POLITICS |
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I Will Survive?Helped by the previous week's favourable poll results, National's Don Brash this week survived what Party watchers had speculated might be 'crunch time' for his leadership. Despite a series of political missteps and the unwelcome revelations about his private life, Brash has managed to retain the support of his caucus. He is, however, far from out of the woods. Dissatisfaction with his performance is high, particularly among those annoyed at the gift his association with the Exclusion Brethren and his personal life made for a beleaguered government. However, the combination of good luck and public sentiment that has seen National emerge the winner from the recent imbroglio also played a part in reducing caucus temperatures. Some effective management by Deputy Leader, Gerry Brownlee should be acknowledged. So should Brash himself in managing to 'stick to message' in the face of severe provocation. Whilst caucus is for now content to wait and see, the lingering question around a leadership challenge is not 'if', but 'when'. The maintenance of the leadership status quo is not for want of talent in National's ranks. John Key is the obvious front-runner, while a strong performance in the education portfolio and a couple of statesman-like speeches have brought Bill English back into contention. Parallels with John Howard are premature, but English should not be discounted over the longer term - even if he might over the coming months. Katherine Rich also stands out as a worthy candidate for advancement in any new line-up that may eventuate. Perhaps one of the surprises - and an unexpected winner - of recent weeks has been Gerry Brownlee. Not regarded as a serious challenger for the top slot, Brownlee has succeeded in impressing the previously unimpressed and seems likely to have won for himself the role of Deputy, no matter who eventually steps into Dr Brash's shoes. For all that this speculation makes for entertaining reading over the lattes, it should not be allowed to divert from National's real problem, which is how to form a government. Despite the growing unpopularity of the Labour-led administration and its 11 point lead in the polls, National would still find it hard to govern. The cards of the MMP deck are stacked against it and it is yet to demonstrate the coalition building skills that have seen Labour returned to power for a second and third term. National's choices are limited. There are always dangers in discounting the redoubtable Winston Peters, but it's likely that in the aftermath of the next election the major parties will have a shallower pool from which to draw. United Future and ACT might well hang in at the margins, but it is the Maori Party and the Greens who, on current numbers, will call the shots. Both are likely beneficiaries of the disaffection with Labour and both will be forces with which to reckon. In this light Brownlee's recently hinted support for a reassessment of the Foreshore and Seabed legislation is timely and may indicate that National might be equipping itself to make a better fist of forming a working coalition than it did in 2005. Brian Connell SuspendedWhilst Dr Brash has survived the immediate fall-out of the revelations about his private life, Rakaia MP, Brian Connell, did not. Rightly or wrongly fingered for his public comments about discussions within the sanctity of the caucus room, Connell was suspended on an indefinite basis. The decisiveness with which this was done was a welcome signal and makes it clear that patience for destabilising gamesmanship of the sort that has plagued the Party over the past few years has worn thin and it will not be tolerated in the future. Government BluesThe other loser of the political wrangling of the past few weeks has, of course, been the government itself. Public opinion has decisively turned against it and the potential for it to command the numbers that will allow it to pass retrospective legislation to deal with the pledge card problem is looking increasingly remote. Whether this will produce a much-needed change of style remains to be seen, but Labour strategists will undoubtedly be exercised by the general disaffection with its tactics to date.
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IN PARLIAMENT |
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In The WingsParliament might be in recess, but the world continues to turn and, as expected, members bills are figuring as an increasingly important part of the political process. Some 27 members bills are waiting in the wings. They range across areas as diverse as the drinking age, 'death with dignity', teen health checks and contract prisons. Not included in the count, but likely to be in the near future, are additional bills repealing the foreshore and seabed legislation and banning the public sale of fireworks. How many see the light of day is moot, but the possibilities are:
Bills IntroducedWills Bill Succession (Homicide) Bill Arbitration Amendment Bill Members Bills Introduced Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill Exceptions are specified, but only in respect of broadcast material originating outside New Zealand where liquor promotion is not the primary purpose and trademark identification is other than incidental. The Bill intends that film or broadcast intended for sale or distribution in New Zealand, or targeting a New Zealand audience, will be subject to the ban. Offence provisions specify a fine of up to $50,000 for broadcasters and $100,000 for manufacturers, importers or distributors. The Bill is expected to receive its first reading on the next member's day, which is 11 October. First ReadingsArbitration Amendment Bill (awaiting 1st reading) Before Select Committee
Second ReadingClimate Change Response Amendment Bill Committee StageIndependent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill Third ReadingChild Support Amendment Bill (No. 4) Bills Reported BackTe Arawa Lakes Settlement
Bill Testing Laboratory Registration Amendment
Bill Act AssentedMeat Board Amendment Act 2006
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IN OTHER NEWS |
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Tax Compromise On Offshore Investment Issue Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Revenue Minister
Peter Dunne find themselves taking what has been described as "a
messy U-turn" on the foreign investment rules detailed in the
Taxation (Annual Rates, Savings, Investments and Miscellaneous Provisions)
Bill. Biofuels ProposalGovernment has released a discussion document outlining a proposed
sales obligation for biofuels, as part of the government's response
to climate change. The proposal would require oil companies to sell
a minimum percentage of biofuels in transport fuels, beginning with
0.25% of sales in 2008, and rising to 2.25% by 2012. Takeovers Panel Re-appointments AnnouncedCommerce Minister Lianne Dalziel has announced three re-appointments
to the Takeovers Panel. They are: Alastair Lawrence (for a two year
term); and Colin Giffney and David Quigg, for five year terms.
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LinksThis
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© Russell McVeagh 2005. All rights reserved.