This op-ed was originally published at RadioLive.co.nz.
It’s hard to tell exactly when the political tide changes; that precise moment when the people stand together and tell their government ‘we are the voters and you must change course’.
But when that tide does turn you feel it in your bones.
I felt it last week. I was picking my kids up from school and a teacher said “Mr Cunliffe, did you know John Key is about to sell our power companies? Those assets have been built up by generations of Kiwis! He has no right. You must stop him.”
A huge majority of New Zealanders oppose flogging off of our power companies, and Air New Zealand and Solid Energy too. But the National government is pushing ahead to line the pockets of ticket-clippers and their major donors.
I felt the tide turn in the huge pushback by parents over National’s shameless bid to increase class sizes, which was outrageously spun as a “teacher improvement” idea.
And I felt it in the sense of despair shared by so many over the Budget brought down last month.
The “Zero Budget” of 2012 will be remembered for sending a record number of New Zealanders to the departure lounges. We’ve already been losing 1,000 Kiwis a week, and with this hopeless government it’s going to get worse. If that weren’t bad enough, 52,000 more people are unemployed than when National was elected.
There was nothing in the Budget for hardworking, responsible Kiwis. On those things which matter most today – sustainable growth in the economy, jobs, exports and incomes – it utterly failed. Astonishingly, Economic Development programmes were cut by millions of dollars.
Do you know what the centrepiece of National’s Budget was? Increasing the tax burden of teenagers that have part-time jobs. Picking the pockets of paper boys and papergirls. That’s it.
And what a dreary June it has been.
The ACC saga has gone from bad to worse. The CEO and half of the Board have been bullied out in what looks like a last-ditched effort to save the Minister. What hope will that give to New Zealanders who’ve had their private information leaked? What about the thousands who’ve had valid ACC claims turned down, seemingly so National has a crisis as a pretext to privatise ACC?
The larger classroom sizes policy has earned John Key’s government an F grade. Schools were rightly shocked to learn they would lose as many as six or seven teachers, meaning up to 36 pupils in each class, along with big cuts to technology education such as woodwork.
National’s belated back-down was a welcome relief for parents, students and teachers. But the fact the policy was on the table shows how arrogant and out-of-touch the government has become. Every sensible person understands bigger class sizes means less one-on-one teacher contact time.
Next the Auditor-General announced a probe into the government’s shady SkyCity convention centre deal. What sort of Prime Minister stops a competitive tender until his preferred partner – a casino – has put a bid in? What sort of government would sell the country’s laws to a casino? And how can economic development minister Steven Joyce think it’s acceptable to push on with negotiations while the inquiry is underway?
We don’t do business or government like that in New Zealand. Our international reputation for open and transparent dealing must be protected. So it’s increasingly clear that, at a minimum, the SkyCity deal needs to be halted and Mr Joyce must be stood down.
Any way you look at it, it has been a time when New Zealanders took a good hard look at what they voted for. If recent polls are to be believed, they’re deciding it wasn’t this National Government.
So the tide has definitely turned and it’s not a moment too soon.
I am sure that you are right, David.
The National coalition is displaying a contempt for open and reasoned discussion on several fronts. BUT for sure they have some intelligent, if somewhat devious stategists. They realise, of course that they can afford to be unpopular at this stage – ’tis the time to do such stuff’.
They are succouring their affluent ‘true right’ support and so will ensure that useful donations flow later! At this time they can perhaps afford to treat badly the very significant middle support, much of which is not idealogically driven, and was seduced by the easy confidence of the currency trader. The question is whether the Pied piper can entice them in again, come 2014.
The behavior around the asset sales is Machiavellian. The attempt to suck in many ordinary middle NZers to benefit a little from a theft from EVERY NZer is reminiscent of Muldoons disgusting bribe to scupper perhaps the best super scheme on the planet. As in that case, we will most certainly live to tragically regret the lack of ethical, honest, and decent governance!
As for the Sky City shenanigans, it is akin to obtaining a gift (Convention Centre) by selling others to poverty and family strife. It is unconscionable behavior for a government, let alone that it seems to have been primed by the PM.
The class size backdown has incensed the government … beware of petulant, populist, scheming. The PM`s ‘on the run’ musings on League tables is just the start? Teachers are an often sensible left leaning counter to the extreme right,recently renamed, Roundtable(changed the name as they were becoming a laughing ‘stock?). The Nat`s need teachers fighting in the state staffrooms… never mind the suffering students
You are right that the tide is turning but the very smart stategists in the government will be hoping to manage a reversal come the election. Just watch the ‘priming and promises’ that will flow prior to that event. .. Perhaps 5 to 7 billion worth.. do you think?
Perhaps sale of half of our ‘best and fairest’ energy assets to fund election sweeteners is par for the course for a Merril Lynch Ex?
Well said David. But how are you going to persuade Trevor?
Hi David,
Very interesting points. But have you forgotten that your government sold Southern Hydro for $1.42 billion, without telling the electorate in 2005? Is it only okay to sell assets when you do it?
Have you also forgotten that your government changed the law for Sky City to have more pokie machines in exchange for a convention centre in the early 2000s, and your PM welcomed it?
I like the things you have to say about politics David, but it seems every time you open your mouth you have the unfortunate habit of forgetting everything that you’ve done in the past! It really makes it hard for anybody to believe your sincerity.
Accountability and scrutiny of those in public office, yes please.
Since 2008, I can only think of former nact mps and a few just holding on to their jobs at the moment, who would struggle to privately agree.
“every time you open your mouth you have the unfortunate habit of forgetting everything that you’ve done in the past! It really makes it hard for anybody to believe your sincerity.”
:irony:
David, don’t get too cocky. Yes they are an arrogant bunch of born to rule oligarchs, but in year one of term two, and sitting in the mid to high forties, they can afford to lose a few. The real challenge for you guys is yet to come. Remember, these souless poll driven power junkies are capable of anything.
@Jennifer. Agreed
Hi David, when you were a senior minister in the last government, did you oppose selling Southern Hydro for $1.42 billion? Why didn’t you take it to the electorate before you sold it? Why did you sell it to foreigners? Why didn’t you let parliament scrutinise the sale? Why wasn’t there a select committee process? Why didn’t you let NZers buy shares in it?
That was not a mistake that Prebble or Douglas made David, that was what you did when you were a cabinet minister in the last government. Why are you criticising National for rationalising assets when you did it too?
@Whodunnit get real..
Southern Hydro was a subsidiary of Meridian operating exclusively in Australia. Meridian made an excellent profit on behalf of the NZ taxpayer. They weren’t assets built by generation of kiwis for kiwis, it was an investment by an SOE in another country. Should the Cullen fund consult and wait for an election every time it wants to make an investment or divest in another?
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/southern-hydro-sale-goes-final
RedFred get real…
The sale of Southern Hydro was twice the value of the government’s investment in Air NZ. It was not a small deal. It wasn’t an investment decision by the Cullen Fund, but by the shareholding Ministers. Air NZ operates a lot of its business overseas too. Are you saying you would be happy with Air NZ selling off all its overseas operations without telling the electorate?
If you are happy with the Cullen Fund selling off assets to buy new ones, why aren’t you happy with the Government doing it?
@ whodunnit
Get a life.. Southen Hydro doesn’t sell power to freezing New Zealand residents. When Aussies can’t aford power prices they turn off the beer fridge.