If I was a betting man (which in fairness I am at the races from time to time) I would put my money on John Key going to Copenhagen. As Audrey Young points out
Attendance of leaders has become a matter of symbolism, a symbol of commitment to a positive outcome. Key looks like that is not important to him.
But that will be the only reason he goes. Not because he believes that the world desperately needs to come together to address a major environmental issue, or that for the future of New Zealand and our region we desperately need to be part of a positive solution. Goodness, earlier in the week Murray McCully was complaining about climate change taking too much time at CHOGM. Earth to Murray, its kinda the biggest show in town right now.
My prediction is that Steven Joyce will tell Key the optics look bad, and he had better get over there. I am sorry to sound so cynical but this is a bit of a pattern.
Today John Key has dismissed the 2025 taskforce report, in part on the basis that National needs to keep its promises to the electorate on keeping Labour programmes such as Working for Families and Interest Free Student Loans. Great, but we all know what Key and National actually think of those programmes- “communism by stealth” anyone? Its not that Key actually believes this is socially responsible policy, he’s just stuck with it.
Returning to Copenhagen the risk for New Zealand is that all this naked pragmitism is going to be seen as just that. Again to quote Audrey Young
No one will give Key credit for parachuting in for a photo-op once others have done the hard work
Therein lies the problem for New Zealand. Beyond any straight environmental motives, from an economic point of view being dragged kicking and screaming to Copenhagen is a terrible look for an isolated trading nation that has prided (and marketed) itself on its clean green image. Its probably already too late on that score.
I accept that John Key’s pragmatism is playing well with New Zealanders at the moment. Its all very well having good political anntennae, but the long term future of New Zealand suffers if you don’t have a plan as to where you are going. All map, no compass is a very bad recipe for New Zealand.
A ticking time bomb
Or using a topical analogy.
All flowers and no vase!
Sadly keeping the unafordable policies of the labour Government will in the long run prove to be unaffordable. The tax base is shrinking and some reform is going to be necessary to improve the long term economic outlook – otherwise NZ will be stuck in a cycle of medicority and more debt for future generations.
The restructure can only be put off for so long and at some point a government is going to have to make hard decisions about retirement ages, savings (Kiwisaver is the one very positive thing Cullen did), taxes, Working for families (middle class welfare). I hope Key does use some of his extensive political capital to make some of the hard decisions which are necessary for the future of NZ.
However the Labour Party have a long history of underestimating John Key – and I suspect that this will prove to be another one of those instances. Every time John Key has out-smarted Labour – and I suspect that this will prove to be another one of those instances.
Caught a snippet on TV3 News tonight where he was saying something like “if a decision is made that I should go, then I’ll go”.
So who are the puppeteers that make that decision, I wonder?
I think that as soon as Obama was mentioned to be attending, then it was only a matter of time before Key “changed” his mind.
Cynical, I know, but I will be stunned if he does not go.
Whether Key goes or not, he will be rubbished for his decision.
‘Hypocritical’ after his government passed their amended ETS, or ‘Symbolic’ of his governments attitude towards climate change issues.
Am I the only one who cannot understand the ETS in either form (Labor or Nat). How exactly does it help the environment to slap on an excise tax that will just be passed on to consumers? And for those that get credits its mainly just a profit for being in a “lucky” industry. Where is the assistance for ‘dirty’ industry to become cleaner?
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[...] We all now know Key is off to Copenhagen. Grant Robertson predicted it. [...]
[Highly offensive. You are banned - Grant.]