Transtasman Political Letter – 9 March Digest

9th March 2006

Powerful lesson for Benson-Pope, but is he a slow learner?
... PM jets off to Santiago to meet other world leaders
... Exporters breathe sigh of relief as dollar slips from dizzy heights
... Govt names new defence bosses, but elsewhere there’s a shortage of mandarins... And Clark lines up a candidate for Govt house
... Brash worries about power blackouts
... Chris Carter stirs up the boaties.

Clark Pursues Latin American, Asian Diplomacy

Helen Clark, travelling to Chile for the inauguration of President-elect Michele Bachelet, is not only re-affirming the Govt’s Latin America strategy, which has already created a strong relationship with Chile, including an FTA, but will be seeking to strengthen links with other Latin American leaders.

Benson-Pope Absorbs “Powerful Lesson”

Helen Clark says David Benson-Pope has learned a “powerful lesson” and concedes he may have made a “hash of dealing with things” in Parliament. But she says she won’t “decapitate” him on the basis of a smear campaign.

Shortage Of Potential Mandarins

The Govt has identified key issues in its programme this year to be transport, education, health, and climate change (along with energy and taxation). But while it formulates and drives through policies in these sectors, some of the Ministries involved are without Chief Executives.

Goff Takes Defence Game To US

Defence Minister Phil Goff upped the ante this week on defence links with the US in a major policy speech to US Air Warfare College students visiting this week. The anti nuclear standoff should not inhibit closer cooperation across a range of areas.

CAPITAL TALK

Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson ends an unhappy spell as Chief of Defence Force in early May. At least in the eyes of his peers.

Play of the Week - Questions To Ponder During Parliament’s Recess

Heard PM Helen Clark talk about “restoring public accountability, openness, and honesty” to Govt lately?

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