Cunliffe’s final edit of his shadow cabinet has done everything he needed to do to reward, peace make and punish. It shows a shrewdness and excellence in delivery that has been utterly lacking from Labour over the last 5 years.
This is master chess playing when we have been become used to snakes and ladders strategy.
1 – David Cunliffe: Leader, Security and Intelligence, Regional Development, ICT
Taking on the ICT and Regional Development portfolios is genius. If Cunliffe wants to be a political legacy he has to start amassing ideas for a NZ ‘saltwater’ economic philosophy. The term ‘saltwater’ is an allusion to the main American neo-Keynesianism advocates being from universities on the eastern and western seaboards of the continent whereas the ‘freshwater’ neo-liberals came from inland universities, Brian Easton in his must read review of 30 years of neoliberalism in NZ concludes that NZ’s left must create a uniquely NZ economic model for development. Michael Savage built vast infrastructure, Cunliffe can appeal to the same vision but with technology and the regions.
2 – David Parker: Deputy Leader, Finance, Attorney-General
As one of the few commentators that picked Parker as Deputy, it just seemed like the only logical choice and when you consider how deluded some of the ABCs were right up until the actual result, it was the best call. In terms of Finance, it’s also a master stroke. Helen Clark faced a corporate revolt in 2000 as the wealthy effectively threatened to destroy the economy if she didn’t tailor back her aspirations for a socially just society. The winter of discontent brutally showed Clark who was boss and her overtly cautious response diminished the 3 terms that followed. Parker is the man with the intellect to quietly calm those spooked horses of the corporate stable. The smart money here post 2014 election, if successful for the Opposition would be to place Russell Norman as the Associate Finance spokesperson so that Parker can use the threat ‘well if you don’t like me as Finance Minister, you can always have Russell’. Nothing drives compromise like the fear of your worst option.
3 – Grant Robertson: Shadow leader of the House, Employment, Skills and Training, Tertiary Education, Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage
Too talented to let waste, and incredibly sharp in the House. Needs to use the associate Arts, Culture and Heritage role to get up to Auckland far more often. Grant needs new Auckland mates if he has any hope of broadening his appeal. The Beehive is a vast self-saucing pudding that drowns in it’s own self-importance and no-mates Wellington ain’t gonna give him the platform he needs. Any hint of disloyalty and he’ll be crucified on The Standard.
4 – Annette King: Health
Once Queen of the ABCs, Annette is simply too powerful to start an open war with. She’s smart enough to realize she was well out of step with the affiliates and the members and she will not want her legacy to be sullied in the eyes of the Party faithful. Ryall has been a master expert at keeping health off the political agenda, but the over stretched DHBs are now at snapping point budget wise and Annette will find far more ground to seed as those DHBs start imploding.
5 – Shane Jones: Economic Development, Maori Affairs, Forestry, Building and Construction, Associate Fisheries and Associate Finance.
The Jonesy has all the incentives in the world now to prove he is worthy of Ministerial aspirations despite the cringe worthy bloke sexism. He’s done bugger all to date because it didn’t look like Labour were going anywhere. Despite all the folksy smoko room panel-beater banter, he’s a high priced mercenary and will fight if he has skin in the game. Cunliffe has given him the skin, if he doesn’t perform, those portfolios can be redistributed to the Greens. That alone will keep The Jonesy on mark.
6 – Jacinda Ardern: Children, Police, Corrections, Arts, Culture and Heritage
This is clever and can give Labour a social justice angle on Corrections and Police that they haven’t had. Ardern has every ability to attack the private prisons and demand more Police accountability in terms of a strengthened IPCA that gives her vast new fronts on those portfolios that National will find difficult to counter.
7 – Clayton Cosgrove: State-Owned Enterprises, Commerce, Earthquake Commission, Associate Finance
The rook of the ABCs, too good a fighter to retire or demote too severely. Must be separated away from Mallard or will start getting thoughts above his pay scale again.
8 – Chris Hipkins: Education, Early Childhood Education
If Cosgrove is the rook, Hipkins is the ABC Bishop. Despite his defamation of Cunliffe over the manufactured leadership challenge at the last conference, he is extremely good at Education. had to lose his whip role, but keeping him on is very dignified of Cunliffe.
9 – Nanaia Mahuta: Treaty Negotiations, Maori Development (Post-settlement Issues), Associate Regional Development, Associate Innovation, Research and Development
Has rarely been given the chance to shine because of her association with Cunliffe, she now has that opportunity. Must be listened to when it comes to how economic policy can interact and deliver for Maori.
10 – Sue Moroney: Senior Whip, Social Development
Pow! Sue is a legend and a powerhouse and most deserving of promotion, she will bring a gravitas to Bennett that Jacinda hasn’t been able to deliver. The Nanny State bogeyman created by National that Labour are social engineers can be side stepped cleverly by Moroney who can embrace a socialist engineering towards the role. Women are terribly damaged by Bennett’s cruelty as social policy and Moroney can champion that cause from a feminist critique that over shadow Bennett’s ‘yea-nah’ philosophical stylings.
11 – Phil Twyford: Housing, Auckland Issues, Associate Environment (Cities)
There’s a special place on the naughty step reserved for Aucklanders who back Wellingtonians over fellow Aucklanders. He needs new mates. Very silly for a guy who is smart and bright.
12 – Maryan Street: State Services, Associate Foreign Affairs (ODA/ Human Rights), Disarmament and Arms Control, Caucus Secretary (nominee)
Fair enough, very talented and hard working. There was the suggestion Street should be Deputy, but seeing as she was the first one to knife Shearer, the second rule of Game of Thrones is never give the coup leader a bigger knife. The first rule of Game of Thrones of course is that there is no Game of Thrones.
13 – David Shearer: Foreign Affairs, Energy and Resources
This is a very genuine decision that gives Shearer some mana back and allows him to speak on a topic he excels in. This was merciful and just.
14 – Su’a William Sio: Pacific Island Affairs, Local Government, Interfaith Dialogue, Associate Social Development
He ruffled many feathers over his inability to vote for marriage equality, but the reality is many within the religious Pacific whanau struggle terribly with the concept of homosexuality. Sio represents that segment of the Labour Party who must be motivated to provide Labour with the Party vote they will need to win 2014. Pacific Islanders are suffering worse from this recession than almost any other group and harnessing PI ambition, talent and passion is essential. He could gain real traction if Labour allowed him to push hard against the very racist immigration laws against Pacific Islanders.
15 – Phil Goff: Defence, Trade, Ethnic Affairs, Veterans’ Affairs, Associate Foreign Affairs
This is probably the most concerning decision. The TPPA is just too bloody important to let Goff hold onto it. I foresee much friction here. Excellent call on Veterans’ affairs and Defence.
16 – Louisa Wall: Youth Affairs, Community and Voluntary Sector, Associate Social Development, Associate Auckland Issues (South Auckland), Associate Sport and Recreation
She is a Labour Party superstar and the face of the future. In the perfect world she would be Deputy. Needs new allies and she really needs to build her media profile more.
17 – Andrew Little: Justice, Labour
Now this is interesting. Many of the old Union leaders are institutional Left, not ideologically left. They have been burnt so often that they are frightened of having to show muscle for fear of revealing how weak they are. Numbers men like Paul Tolich have been causing mischief for years and his ilk have done all they can to stymie real fangs for the Union movement so that they don’t have to bare them. Little must look at the manner in which the rank and file of the affiliates voted en masse for Cunliffe and dare to push Labour reform well beyond minimum wage and living wage discussions. Unions are one of the few mechanisms available to counter the growing inequality NZ now faces. Giving Unions the power to negotiate awards across entire industries is a must and Little has the quiet intellectual grunt to pull this off. Little can choose to listen to the empty words of the Union old guard numbers men, or he can rise to the challenge the members are demanding.
18 – Moana Mackey: Environment, Climate Change, Associate Health, Science
Moana is the best kept secret in the Labour Party, she is fiercely intelligent, very funny and personable. Finally has a chance to prove herself and advance.
19 – Damien O’Connor: Primary Industries, Fisheries, Biosecurity, Food Safety
Solid and needs to be listened to if Labour want to extend into Provinces.
20 – David Clark: Revenue, Small Business, Associate Finance, Associate Health
Unfortunate demotion due more to so much talent needing to rise. Labour’s resident geek.
21 – Iain Lees-Galloway: Junior Whip, ACC, Associate Health
He is one to watch and was smart enough to make a strategic call to back Cunliffe.
22 – Kris Faafoi: Broadcasting, Associate ICT, Associate Pacific Island Affairs
I share some of Chris Trotter’s feeling re handing Faafoi Broadcasting because it’s just such bloody important portfolio to get right if a Government want a media that will report on the issues and not the bullshit. While I hosted the Save TVNZ7 meetings around the country, I had the chance to hear Kris speak. He is aware enough of the issues and smart enough to see where the possibilities are. I think he has real potential to make a very strong case for Public Broadcasting.
23 – Carol Beaumont: Women’s Affairs, Consumers Rights and Standards, Associate Labour
Beaumont is a legend who will be a strong sounding board for Labour policy, has huge respect amongst the Unions.
24 – Megan Woods: Innovation, Research and Development, Associate Transport, Associate Education (Christchurch), Associate Tertiary Education
For someone who hangs around Clare Curran so much, should consider herself lucky.
25 – Darien Fenton – Transport, Tourism, Associate Labour, Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage, Associate Immigration
Should also consider herself lucky.
Clare Curran – accusing a fellow Labour Party member of homophobia is akin to a National Party MP accusing one of their own of socialism. I would not be at all surprised if Clare faced a very strong challenge in the next selection process for her seat. i-Predict should open a stock on it.
Trevor Mallard – it’s duck hunting season and Trev should be thinking of dusting off the CV.
A few points. I’m warming to reality of David Parker as deputy and being in charge of finance. He keeps his head down most of the time and has the credibility within the party as well as with the business sector. That’s good enough for me.
You’re right about Grant Robertson. He’ll need to build some relationships outside of the Wellington nest. I like Shane Jones, despite the flaws in his character. That’s the mark of charisma. He isn’t prime minister material, not by a long margin and the reality is eloquent peacocks like him shine on the media and social scene. The grind and tediousness of real work isn’t for them. If his own people up North are grumbling about him and the inability to follow through then there must be some truth to the matter.
Don’t be too harsh with Su’a William Sio. He would have incurred a bunch of ‘blood’ favours with his community to get where he is today. A community that , for good or bad, holds certain politically incorrect and quaint values. The pressure of social duties and expectations he is under–would be crushing. Sio is an educated, well informed and sophisticated man. If I were a betting man I would say the marriage equality thing was more about loyalty to those ‘creditors’ rather than his own personal convictions. Debts need to be paid otherwise there will be repercussions.
I’m glad to see Kris Fa’afoi has earned Cunliffe’s confidence. As a young man with promise he needs to be given a chance but I do share the same concerns that you and Chris Trotter have. Broadcasting is a complex portfolio. I don’t doubt Fa’afoi’s technical and industrial acumen, my query is whether he’s equally conversant with the more complex issues around morality and politics in broadcasting. Let’see what he can do.
Glad to see Louisa Wall moving up. But seriously Martyn, ease off the gushing. I don’t doubt her promise and potential but “Labour Party superstar”? That’s over the top.
Last but not least, Maryan “Brutus” Street. Never give the coup leader a bigger knife, you say? What knife, says Maryan. I did it for the party.
In these days of digital convergence I think it made sense to give ICT and Broadcasting to the same spokesperson. Very interesting to see Cunliffe take on the ICT part of the equation, but hand broadcasting down to a relatively junior colleague.
BTW I agree Clare Curran’s homophobia smear against Cunliffe’s crew crossed the line, and obviously I have different preferences about the likely next PM than she does, but I feel duty bound to speak up for her here. I have had a number of conversations with Clare about tech issues at events like the NetHui South, and the Save TVNZ7 public meetings Bomber refers to, at which she actually takes the time to talk to people, rather than just swanning in and out like Nat’s ICT spokesmodel Amy Adams. Clare understands the importance of ICT and Broadcasting issues, and worked hard to advocate for the right side of the force on issues like TVNZ7, adoption of CreativeCommons licenses for publicly-funded works, and the Patent Bill (keeping software patents as marginalised as possible). I really hope she’s capable of taking her demotion in her stride, taking a jump to the left with the rest of the party, and coming back from the wilderness by the next election.
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