Why the public service is being pushed to change

This Thursday John Whitehead will do another of his big public speeches. It will be reported as another attack on the public sector, a follow-up to that of Bill English last Thursday. That misreads what both are on about.

Whitehead’s speech a year ago on this theme attracted criticism on two grounds: that it demanded changes in the public service that amounted to cuts; and that it was stepping outside the proper role of a public sector chief executive as the executor of policy into the role of progenitor. read more

Where Gillard and Abbott can agree

What do Australian apple growers and United States dairy farmers have in common? They are welfare dependants, cosseted by governments against taking responsibility for making their way in the world. Paula Bennett could offer some self-improving advice.

They also have in common pliant politicians. The United States Congress fears New Zealand’s cows. Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott fear our apple growers. Australia will appeal the World Trade Organisation’s ruling that there are no legal grounds for special biosecurity measures against New Zealand apples. read more

How to house good economics

State houses are a legacy from the heroic age of social security, which became the welfare state. Workers and their families were to be housed better than the market did it. That was thought right and just, as were good education and health care and decent wages.

Then came the 1980s and targeting to need and the 1990s assumptions that the market, partially subsidised, was best. There were co-payments for health care, higher student fees and only the minimum wage floor under incomes. read more

Claiming the justice system for the people

Simon Power wants to reclaim the justice system for the people. He has made a start. He reckons it will take him another two to three years.

He will outline his next steps in a speech to the law profession and academics at Otago University this month (postponed from Wednesday because the funeral of Lieutenant Tim O’Donnell, a constituent, is that day). The law industry is unlikely to rush to congratulate him. read more

Australia, China and being in or out of step

Putting China and Australia in the same sentence gets some people’s juices running. This Friday the annual Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum was to have provided such an occasion — but then Julia Gillard intervened.

Gillard’s calling an election on August 21 was the second time in three years an Australian Prime Minister squashed the forum. Kevin Rudd landed his 2020 summit on the scheduled April date in 2008, since when it has been set for August. read more

A smart Auckland for a smarter — and richer — NZ?

So we’re not catching up with Australia or we are catching up. Take your pick and find some numbers and a timeframe to fit, as Phil Goff and John Key did last week.

But which numbers?

Is it GDP per capita — gross domestic product (GDP, or total output) divided by population? If so, which GDP? Australia averages three different GDPs (production, income and expenditure) for its commonly used figure. New Zealand uses production only for its commonly used figure. read more

Who leads to the next business as usual?

It’s not business as usual. After every big technology-induced economic boom and crash, things are done differently. After the “great financial crash”, politics, like business, requires a different sort of leader and a different sort of leadership.

This is only partly because governments think they need to re-regulate those who caused the crash. It is also only partly because most governments in the rich world have mountains of debt and huge budget deficits to defray. read more

Hide seeking to define local councils' role

Elections are looming. That will have many at today’s local government conference a bit on edge. But there is much more in the wind.

Not since Michael Bassett slashed the number of local bodies from more than 600 to 88 (now 85) in 1989 has there been so much uncertainty over councils’ futures: super-Auckland, changes at ground level and in the groundrules — and now, a drive by Local Government Minister Rodney Hide to settle councils’ “proper constitutional status”. read more

Some more market to catch Australia — or not?

You may not be aware of it but an election is imminent. That at least is the impression you would have got if you had been in the serried ranks at the National party conference.

Speech after speech — notably from Peter Goodfellow, the presidency’s most wooden speaker since Ned Holt 40 years back — urged delegates to get prepared and not to be complacent about the next election. John Key managed to indicate an election in both 12 months and 16 months — that is, before and after the rugby world cup. read more