Dirty politics, lolly scrambles make comeback
Just as in the run up to election 2014, ‘dirty politics’ has again raised its ugly head in this year’s campaigning. If personality over policy reminded Kiwi-Indians of the brand of politics back in India, as we saw in last week’s column, this week’s developments are even more redolent of the rough-and-tumble of the Indian political arena.
Allegations of dirty politics flew thick and fast as the story of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters’ superannuation payments unfolded. After Mr Peters was alerted to overpaid super made to him because of reasons yet to be determined, he immediately repaid the amount. This fact was reported to two ministers under the ‘no surprises’ policy, in line with the norm. It was also conveyed to the Prime Minister’s adviser, a political appointee not covered by the ‘no surprises’ policy. He decided the Prime Minister did not need to know of this.
Of the several so far unanswered questions, the most contentious is who let the media in on this – and why? This is a clear breach of privacy and a criminal offence. Privacy today is an enormous issue. At this stage of campaigning, it is explosive. The fact that three simultaneous enquiries have been ordered so quickly underscores its importance. (The issue of privacy has taken centre stage in India, too, with the proposed linking of the Adhar card with several of the government’s databases.)
Whatever the outcome of the enquiry, it brought Mr Peters an urgent and welcome supply of oxygen, starved of it as he was after the Jacinda juggernaut. Though he went into the storm slightly disheveled as it were (not clarifying how much he paid back and if he had indeed filled the form correctly), he will be determined to come out smelling like roses, seeking to prove his stand blaming the whole thing on National Party-orchestrated dirty politics. Mr Peters will do everything he can to keep the issue alive for as long as he can to keep the limelight on himself and his party– and away from MsArdern.
Predictably, Mr English has denied this has anything to do with dirty politics.
As things stand, there is no doubt that neither Labour nor National would be able to form a government without New Zealand First. So the question whether Mr Peters blaming National for dirty politics will affect post-poll negotiations and alignments is an obvious one. But realpolitik being what it is, there are no differences or disagreements or hatchets that are too big to be buried in the pursuit of power, disguised of course as being in ‘the national interest’ and ‘to keep the torch of democracy burning bright’.
As one has seen in coalition politics in India as everywhere else, the strangest bedfellows with a history of baying for one another’s blood come together when lured by the trappings of power, after the right horses are traded. So when it comes crunch time, dirty politics will pass through the wringer of realpolitik and all will be well as long as a government can be formed with the spoils shared to the best of everyone’s acceptance – grudgingly or otherwise.
The inevitable lolly scramble
Though both the major parties started their campaigns on the austere side as far as spending pronouncements were concerned – the leaders even saying this election was not about lolly scrambles – we saw them both making a quick u turn this week. Both launched their own versions of the inevitable pre-election lolly scrambles – National is wooing young families and women, raising paid parental leave by four weeks (after having vetoed a similar proposal earlier) and being able to take a few weeks off together. Labour has essayed to entice particularly the millennials with a $50 hike in student living allowances and a fee-free first year of tertiary education.
National and Labour have targeted different demographics but Labour’s ploy seems better calculated to appeal to the estimated 90,000 young voters who didn’t bother to vote in the last election because there was nothing in it to enthuse them. A hike of $50 a week might not seem much for a student living in Auckland but that coupled with the promise of a fee-free first year would definitely spur some on toward tertiary study.
The Greens are promising free bus rides for everyone under the age of 19, adding to the allure of Labour’s promise by virtue of its pre-poll alliance. This makes the Labour-Green combine more attractive for that particular demographic, which can make a real difference to the numbers game.
As much as it has been pushing its own policies with vigour, one can’t help but notice the National Party being at pains to pick holes in Labour’s policies in the same breath. Tealeaf diviners would probably read this as a sign of worry in the National camp. Speaking in Nelson, Mr English came out strongly against Labour’s student package saying it will leave mum and dad Kiwis worse off because the spend will have to be funded from their taxes. National has also shown similar nerves while attacking Labour’s policies announced earlier, like its regional rail network.
South Auckland has long been a key determinant of past elections and the traditional Labour bastion looked rejuvenated and enthusiastic at Ms Ardern’s rally last week. Supporters turned up in large numbers and that would be greatly welcomed by the party’s campaign managers.
Meanwhile, the minor parties had little airplay this week, except of course, New Zealand First. But then Mr Peters doesn’t see his party as a minor one –perhaps rightly so, given its undiminished king-making potential. On those grounds he declined to be a panelist on the minor party leaders’ debate on television last week. Other than Mr Peters’ super issue, the party was in the headlines for announcing its list just shy of the electoral commission’s deadline on Tuesday.
Kiwi-Indian MP Mahesh Bindra progressed by one on the list, thanks to Richard Prosser who dropped to 15 from number three, after having shot himself in the foot with a bizarre policy announcement that obviously did not have the party’s assent. Shane Jones is number eight, though polls showed him trailing behind his namesake Dr Shane Retiin the Labour Party in Whangarei.
Dirty politics will likely dominate the week ahead as the parties get ready to step up to the podium for the televised debates in the coming weeks.
Just as in the run up to election 2014, ‘dirty politics’ has again raised its ugly head in this year’s campaigning. If personality over policy reminded Kiwi-Indians of the brand of politics back in India, as we saw in last week’s column, this week’s developments are even more redolent of the...
Just as in the run up to election 2014, ‘dirty politics’ has again raised its ugly head in this year’s campaigning. If personality over policy reminded Kiwi-Indians of the brand of politics back in India, as we saw in last week’s column, this week’s developments are even more redolent of the rough-and-tumble of the Indian political arena.
Allegations of dirty politics flew thick and fast as the story of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters’ superannuation payments unfolded. After Mr Peters was alerted to overpaid super made to him because of reasons yet to be determined, he immediately repaid the amount. This fact was reported to two ministers under the ‘no surprises’ policy, in line with the norm. It was also conveyed to the Prime Minister’s adviser, a political appointee not covered by the ‘no surprises’ policy. He decided the Prime Minister did not need to know of this.
Of the several so far unanswered questions, the most contentious is who let the media in on this – and why? This is a clear breach of privacy and a criminal offence. Privacy today is an enormous issue. At this stage of campaigning, it is explosive. The fact that three simultaneous enquiries have been ordered so quickly underscores its importance. (The issue of privacy has taken centre stage in India, too, with the proposed linking of the Adhar card with several of the government’s databases.)
Whatever the outcome of the enquiry, it brought Mr Peters an urgent and welcome supply of oxygen, starved of it as he was after the Jacinda juggernaut. Though he went into the storm slightly disheveled as it were (not clarifying how much he paid back and if he had indeed filled the form correctly), he will be determined to come out smelling like roses, seeking to prove his stand blaming the whole thing on National Party-orchestrated dirty politics. Mr Peters will do everything he can to keep the issue alive for as long as he can to keep the limelight on himself and his party– and away from MsArdern.
Predictably, Mr English has denied this has anything to do with dirty politics.
As things stand, there is no doubt that neither Labour nor National would be able to form a government without New Zealand First. So the question whether Mr Peters blaming National for dirty politics will affect post-poll negotiations and alignments is an obvious one. But realpolitik being what it is, there are no differences or disagreements or hatchets that are too big to be buried in the pursuit of power, disguised of course as being in ‘the national interest’ and ‘to keep the torch of democracy burning bright’.
As one has seen in coalition politics in India as everywhere else, the strangest bedfellows with a history of baying for one another’s blood come together when lured by the trappings of power, after the right horses are traded. So when it comes crunch time, dirty politics will pass through the wringer of realpolitik and all will be well as long as a government can be formed with the spoils shared to the best of everyone’s acceptance – grudgingly or otherwise.
The inevitable lolly scramble
Though both the major parties started their campaigns on the austere side as far as spending pronouncements were concerned – the leaders even saying this election was not about lolly scrambles – we saw them both making a quick u turn this week. Both launched their own versions of the inevitable pre-election lolly scrambles – National is wooing young families and women, raising paid parental leave by four weeks (after having vetoed a similar proposal earlier) and being able to take a few weeks off together. Labour has essayed to entice particularly the millennials with a $50 hike in student living allowances and a fee-free first year of tertiary education.
National and Labour have targeted different demographics but Labour’s ploy seems better calculated to appeal to the estimated 90,000 young voters who didn’t bother to vote in the last election because there was nothing in it to enthuse them. A hike of $50 a week might not seem much for a student living in Auckland but that coupled with the promise of a fee-free first year would definitely spur some on toward tertiary study.
The Greens are promising free bus rides for everyone under the age of 19, adding to the allure of Labour’s promise by virtue of its pre-poll alliance. This makes the Labour-Green combine more attractive for that particular demographic, which can make a real difference to the numbers game.
As much as it has been pushing its own policies with vigour, one can’t help but notice the National Party being at pains to pick holes in Labour’s policies in the same breath. Tealeaf diviners would probably read this as a sign of worry in the National camp. Speaking in Nelson, Mr English came out strongly against Labour’s student package saying it will leave mum and dad Kiwis worse off because the spend will have to be funded from their taxes. National has also shown similar nerves while attacking Labour’s policies announced earlier, like its regional rail network.
South Auckland has long been a key determinant of past elections and the traditional Labour bastion looked rejuvenated and enthusiastic at Ms Ardern’s rally last week. Supporters turned up in large numbers and that would be greatly welcomed by the party’s campaign managers.
Meanwhile, the minor parties had little airplay this week, except of course, New Zealand First. But then Mr Peters doesn’t see his party as a minor one –perhaps rightly so, given its undiminished king-making potential. On those grounds he declined to be a panelist on the minor party leaders’ debate on television last week. Other than Mr Peters’ super issue, the party was in the headlines for announcing its list just shy of the electoral commission’s deadline on Tuesday.
Kiwi-Indian MP Mahesh Bindra progressed by one on the list, thanks to Richard Prosser who dropped to 15 from number three, after having shot himself in the foot with a bizarre policy announcement that obviously did not have the party’s assent. Shane Jones is number eight, though polls showed him trailing behind his namesake Dr Shane Retiin the Labour Party in Whangarei.
Dirty politics will likely dominate the week ahead as the parties get ready to step up to the podium for the televised debates in the coming weeks.
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