Transtasman Political Letter – 3 Nov. Digest

3rd November 2005

It’s pretty quiet around the capital as politicians and pundits await next week’s storm of the new Parliamentary term
... National has reason to smile, because it looks set to dominate the Committee rooms
... Helen Clark and Michael Cullen will need all their deal making skills to make things work this time round
... Winston Peters passes a Foreign Policy test, but NZ First looks set for a mauling in the House.

National Pushes For Inquiry Into TVNZ

A Parliamentary inquiry into TVNZ is a real possibility. National isn’t satisfied with explanations about why CEO Ian Fraser resigned, and suspects the network’s Govt appointed Board has interfered in its day-to-day running.

Government Could Lose Its Grip On Committee Process

TVNZ isn’t the only organisation in National’s sights. Twice this week its leaders issued an ominous warning to the Govt and the wording was identical: “We will now be making full use of the Select Committee process to instigate a full inquiry.”

Fonterra Gives Peters His First Problem

Playing it cool and cautious, Winston Peters gave no sign of being ruffled by potentially serious allegations surrounding Fonterra. The dairy giant is under investigation by MFAT for possible involvement in Iraqi food-for-oil scams, which the company strongly denies knowing anything about.

Bollard Talks The Dollar Down

The NZ dollar took a powerful jawboning on Wednesday and it seems to be responding. Finance Minister Michael Cullen has previously commented the dollar is too high. On Wednesday Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard was even more vehement.

CAPITAL TALK

Early on Defence, Trade and Overseas Aid Minister Phil Goff’s agenda is the appointment of the next Chief of Defence Force, to succeed Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson.

Play of the week: Telly Tanties

Departing TVNZ CEO Ian Fraser, who vamooses from his job to the popping sound of dummies being hoicked, gets an exit package of the kind which we all thought had been abolished by Labour.

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