Oh come on everyone – how is it a surprise that Labour/Greens/NZ First had no idea what to do?
Radio NZ have done an interesting story looking at the plethora of reviews, working groups, advisory groups and investigations that the new Government have announced since coming to power…
…there are 3 reasons for this need to go out and talk to the people.
1: This is what democracy looks like
When you want large scale change you need to bring people with you and the resources of Opposition don’t allow for that. In some of these cases you need to tale time, the Royal Commission review into historic abuse by the State demands patience.
2: No real clear ideology
The larger problem is the Left in NZ have no firm ideology with which to implement policy with. Labour is only slightly less neoliberal than National so they don’t have that much to change while the Greens are pro-market and siymnpky want the cost of pollution to be included into the price of the product and allow supply and demand to do the rest. NZ First are the only ones with a radically different economic policy platform.
3: Let’s remind everyone, no one thought Labour were going to win
We need to remember that no one thought Labour were going to win. Andrew Little stood down months before the election, Jacinda shone unexpectedly and even on election night they thought they had lost. The lack of political management and actual plan was because no one expected the outcome.
But the point RNZ makes remains, which is that the new Government is buying time rather than leading. That needs to change and political management has to be tightened up. The nightmare of the Summer Camp Sex Scandal is a text book case of how bad political mismanagement can derail an agenda.
I agree with this point here,
“the point RNZ makes remains, which is that the new Government is buying time rather than leading.”
As far as the other interesting point you have made;
“there are 3 reasons for this need to go out and talk to the people.
1: This is what democracy looks like
When you want large scale change you need to bring people with you and the resources of Opposition don’t allow for that.”
Martyn,
That shows that the most affected public are not being included in these “working, advisory groups” Labour/NZF have set up, and we in HB/Gisborne can confirm that we have been sadly left out totally from any discussions/inclusions with any party whatsoever to date since Shane jones and his band of “regional development officials went to Gisborne.
Because of Shane Jones lack of allowing our advocacy rail groups any inclusion into his “working/advisory groups there, now Shane jones has stated publicly since that he has yet to hear from anyone a strong case to reopen rail services to Gisborne.
So your comments that; quote; – “the resources of Opposition don’t allow for that.”; – In this you are 100% correct martyn and thank you very much for telling how this lack of public inclusion in regional planning is now rife within the current planned discussions on Shane jones “Regional development” project witch if allowed to continue without the public inclusion will fail us all.
You only have to look at the makeup of the tax working group to know it is all a sham. Filled with big corporates whose job for years has been to show companies and people the best way not to pay tax!