Transtasman Political Letter – 12 October Digest

12th October 2006

STOP PRESS:
Brady Releases Report – Wilson Adds Her Reaction – Labour Says It Will Pay Up

Parliament’s watchdog has ruled taxpayer money has been wrongly spent by political parties. He found $1,173,598 of unlawful expenditure was incurred. Labour is in the gun for $824,000 incl GST. Helen Clark was not in Parliament today, but on her behalf Deputy PM Michael Cullen says she will consider her response when she has read the report, but the Labour Party says it will repay the money.

Dunne Regretful, Pays Up - But Labour Still Critical Of A-G

On the eve of the release of Controller and Auditor General’s report into election spending, United Future’s Peter Dunne stole the limelight, offering on behalf of his party to repay $4965.30 of funds which were considered in breach of the rules.

Turmoil Within National Dies Down, But What Now?

Opposition Leader Don Brash, with the aid of some favourable polls, may have damped down the flames of rebellion within his own Caucus. However he may find little respite from opponents on the other side of the House (and some within) who will intensify their efforts to destabilise his leadership, fuelled by their belief they can exploit his capacity to fall “off-message.”

Govt Awash With Cash, But Tax Cuts Must Wait

The Govt notched up a record $11.5bn operating surplus in the last financial year (though Finance Michael Cullen modestly says as a percentage of GDP it is only the second largest). After absorbing accounting changes and revaluations, the figure was $8.6bn.

Peters Like Jekyll And Hyde... But Condoleeza Still Calls

What is it with Winston Peters? Let him anywhere near the media, he’s combative, assertive, but rarely convincing. Yet Govt officials and diplomats say in the Foreign Affairs portfolio, he is beginning to shine.

CAPITAL TALK

It had to happen. After Winston Peters was laid low by an insect bite in Malaysia, National MPs have found a way to annoy the Foreign Minister – call him Spiderman.

Play Of The Week: Brutus Misses The Moment

“There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound
In shallows and in miseries.”

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