Transtasman Political Letter – 18 May Digest

This issue - 18th May 2006

Budget Time again for Michael Cullen, and speculation to the contrary, it’s unlikely to be his last
... Red faces all round when the budget leaker, a Beehive messenger, is uncovered
... “Gross and disgraceful dishonesty” the PM says
... But Michael Ryan has taken his place in NZ history and may have unhinged the Govt’s spin machine on the eve of pumping out the Budget message
... And did rising star David Cunliffe become a shooting star.

Politics Of The Budget

The Govt’s carefully themed strategy for this year’s budget was blown apart by the leak of a Cabinet document to Telecom.

Cunliffe Emerges From The Ruck

In pursuit of the economic transformation Helen Clark has set as one of her Govt’s goals in its third term, several Ministers have key roles, but the interesting development in recent weeks has been the emergence of David Cunliffe, particularly in shaping policy on unbundling the local loop.

Dalziel Leads Regulatory Review

A key building block in the Govt’s economic transformation programme is the review of the regulatory framework which Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel is leading.

Government Caves In To GPG

The Govt has caved in to pressure from the big London-based investment company Guinness Peat Group, and is amending the 2006 tax bill tabled in Parliament only on Wednesday of this week.

CAPITAL TALK

Has Aust PM John Howard been elevated to NZ status in US eyes? This is the question intriguing Washington diplomats after US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice toasted him as a “very very good friend” ...
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Play Of The Week: Failing In Its First Duty

The large gaps in NZ’s civil defence which have been exposed over the past two weeks should have every citizen alarmed.. Read on ...

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