It has become increasingly obvious over the term of this coalition government that politics has played a bigger role than the need to progress economic growth and prosperity. Not that it matters it is sad to say because this Government, even if it were united, bar one or two MPs, is clueless on economic matters. This is nowhere better illustrated than the appointment of Phil Twyford as Minister of Economic Development and his elevation to number four in the party rankings. You would be hard-pressed to find the house that Phil built when Minister of Housing.
According to Richard Harman on Politik, Twyford has now been removed from the infrastructure approval process. Harman says the election campaign and coalition politics along with bureaucracy have got in the way of the Government’s plan to release a whole series of “shovel ready” projects to create post-COVID lockdown jobs. Evidently the Government now wants to stagger the announcements to get maximum political impact. Harman says this is leading to reports that companies are already having to lay off workers. He says no projects have been approved for Hamilton or Tauranga.
That New Zealand First and the Greens don’t get along is hardly breaking news. New Zealand First doesn’t always get along with Labour either and sometimes neither do the Greens. What we have had over and above the incompetence is a very fractious coalition. That this happens when Winston Peters is involved is also hardly breaking news. The problem is exacerbated by the leader of the major party in the coalition having no leadership skills. The new Leader of the Opposition is currently showing her a few tricks in this regard.
New Zealand First forced David Parker to back off some of his tough water cleanup proposals that the Greens supported. Why? Because, after meeting with farming organisations, Shane Jones could see his party losing votes in rural and provincial areas. Blatant political grandstanding. Putting his party ahead of considering legislation. When it came to Parker’s RMA reforms New Zealand First gave support but the Greens opposed. Labour had to rely on National to get them through. There is also a suggestion that Labour’s tardiness over supporting a proposal to build a dry dock and extend the wharf at Whangarei was, at least in part, political utu for New Zealand First’s refusal to support the light rail project.
This is of course how coalitions work. You can’t always get agreement. That shouldn’t be an excuse to behave like pre-schoolers in a sandpit. The problem with this coalition is New Zealand First and the Greens are diametrically opposed on most issues. Labour, despite being the majority partner, ironically finds itself more often than not the meat in the sandwich. Leadership is crucial in these situations and it just isn’t there. You need a strong leader who can bang heads together and attempt to broker solutions. If we could be a fly on the wall at the Cabinet meetings we would probably observe Winston running the show.
The country can certainly do without this combination, or another three years of petty squabbling awaits. New Zealand First is the fly in the ointment, or the handbrake as Winston likes to call it, in what would otherwise be a highly dangerous Labour/Greens Government. The way Winston is currently talking (electioneering) you would be forgiven for thinking he’d learnt his lesson. The man is not to be trusted. We can only hope the rabbit doesn’t jump out of the hat on September 19.
National and Act have far more in common and a coalition of these two parties would see plans in place to reduce taxes, restore economic growth and create jobs. This is the outcome we must all vote for this election. There is no other option.
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