Open Mike Thursday 10th October

1. Like any new leader should, David Cunliffe goes around the trenches addressing the troops, As is fitting for a leader of a Party founded by the trade unions. David Cunliffe addresses the union movement first.

   Covering this speech for Fairfax NZ News, reporter Tracy Watkins, notes the sharp contrast to David Shearer, who’s first major speech on becoming Labour leader, was delivered before members of the exclusive Wellesly Club.

   …..he managed to deliver it with the conviction and sure-footedness that his predecessor David Shearer lacked.

   That was not the only difference. Shearer launched his leadership with a speech to Wellington’s select Wellesley Club.

   Tracey Watkins Stuff.co.nz October 10 2013 05:00 am

   David Shearer promised the unionists government action on the living wage, paid parental leave, and union friendly laws.

   Watkins reports that Cunliffe’s speech went down well with the union audience. She goes onto say, “Much of it will even resonate with middle New Zealand”.

   This leads to the question: as he makes his way around the traps rallying the troops, where will David Cunliffe’s next major speech be delivered?

   The concerns of “middle New Zealand” are slightly different to those of the unions. Civil liberties, the environment, the climate, mining in reserves, the sort of issues that the middle class New Zealanders consider touch stone issues must be the topic of David Cunliffe’s next major speech. Of these topics David Cunliffe’s views on government action needed to address climate change could be the most controversial.

   Polls show that this topic will be a big vote winner.

   But of course openly agreeing to tackle climate change will earn David Cunliffe the undying hatred of the powerful fossil fuel lobby and vested interest in a way that no other topic will. This is the most profitable and powerful industry in the history of humanity. And they don’t like to be questioned, or checked, in any way.

   • Oops obvious typo. “David Shearer promised the unionists government action on the living wage, paid parental leave, and union friendly laws.”

     Should read: “David Cunliffe promised the unionists government action on the living wage, paid parental leave, and union friendly laws”

     My apologies.

2. Like any new leader should, David Cunliffe goes around the trenches addressing the troops, As is fitting for a leader of a Party founded by the trade unions. David Cunliffe addresses the union movement first.

   Covering this speech for Fairfax NZ News, reporter Tracy Watkins, notes the sharp contrast to David Shearer, who’s first major speech on becoming Labour leader, was delivered before members of the exclusive Wellesley Club.

   …..he managed to deliver it with the conviction and sure-footedness that his predecessor David Shearer lacked.

   That was not the only difference. Shearer launched his leadership with a speech to Wellington’s select Wellesley Club.

   Tracey Watkins Stuff.co.nz October 10 2013 05:00 am

   David Shearer promised the unionists government action on the living wage, paid parental leave, and union friendly laws.

   Watkins reports that Cunliffe’s speech went down well with the union audience. She goes onto say, “Much of it will even resonate with middle New Zealand”.

   This leads to the question: as he makes his way around the traps rallying the troops, where will David Cunliffe’s next major speech be delivered?

   The concerns of “middle New Zealand” are slightly different to those of the unions. Civil liberties, the environment, the climate, mining in reserves, the sort of issues that the middle class New Zealanders consider touch stone issues must be the topic of David Cunliffe’s next major speech. Of these topics David Cunliffe’s views on government action needed to address climate change could be the most controversial.

   Polls show that this topic will be a big vote winner.

   But of course openly agreeing to tackle climate change will earn David Cunliffe the undying hatred of the powerful fossil fuel lobby and vested interest in a way that no other topic will. This is the most profitable and powerful industry in human history. And they don’t like to be questioned, or checked, in any way.

   For more on this author’s views on this topic go to, HERE
   And also see, HERE

   • My pick is that Cunliffe will start with practical policies on sustainability first and get more serious from there – one would be agricultural reform with a focus on getting our waterways and catchments in order and reversing the decline which is becoming so much harder to mask. Another will be in areas where transport policy will have a role to play. Energy industry issues are another area I’d expect him to stake out. Aside from a desire to not spook the horses and hand ammunition to the hysterical right, I would suggest that the other reason for him to tread lightly on the issue is that as Bradbury and others have pointed out, his shadow cabinet has several positions which have all the appearance of being held in anticipation of a Green MP being the minister once in government – which is a great signal of intentions (in my opinion, anyway).

   • “Polls show that this topic will be a big vote winnerf”
     Nonsense, the Aussie Labor party was kicked out mainly because of Gillard’s obsession with a carbon tax.
     Your polls may show that some people have a concern about climate change, but not necessarily that they think that mankind is causing the change. The major NZ parties don’t really believe there’s anything to worry about with the climate, but they just like taking the money that the Carbon Tax puts on fuel and power.

     • ….the Aussie Labor party was kicked out mainly because of Gillard’s obsession with a carbon tax.

       Caped Troika

       Strangely C.T. Kevin Rudd who replaced Julia Gillard, just like his opponent Tony Abbot, also promised to repeal the carbon tax if he was elected Prime Minister.

       And Gillard sought the Australiam Premiership on a promise that there would be “no carbon tax under a government I lead”. On gaining the lead of the country she immediately reversed her position.

       Tony Abbot is now is sitting in the hot seat vacated by Gillard and recently Rudd. Abbot like Gillard and Rudd also, campaigned on an anti carbon tax platform. Let us see if the realities of climate change as laid out to him by his scientific advisors gives him pause for thought. Abbot has promised to repeal the bill in 6 months time.

       If a week is a long time in politics, then 6 months is an eternity. Anything could happen, including another “Angry Summer”. Which could see Australians screaming for relief.

       • Prime Ministers’ scientific advisors are usually unqualified in the hard sciences that are needed to give good advice on climate.
         I liked Kevin Rudd and loathed Julia Gillard. I don’t like Tony Abbott much either.

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