by frog
Prime Minister John Key announced his new Cabinet this morning. The line-up is pretty predictable, but some of the portfolio allocations and rankings are interesting:
- The big winners are Steven Joyce and Hekia Parata, moving up 10 and 13 places respectively in the Cabinet ranking. Parata replaces Anne Tolley as Minister of Education.
- Paula Bennett’s reward for losing the Waitakere electorate is a promotion of 7 places. She keeps her role as Minister of Beneficiary Bashing.
- Tolley drops 5 places in the ranking and is given Police and Corrections as a reward for her sterling efforts in Education.
- We have a new Colossus of Roads, with Gerry Brownlee taking over from Joyce as Minister of Transport.
- Phil Heatley takes over from Brownlee as Minister for Drilling and Digging.
- Environment Minister Nick Smith drops 4 places and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson languishes at a lowly No. 17 in the rankings. I guess that reflects the importance with which National views those portfolios.
- Judith Collins gets the job of handing ACC claimants over to be crushed by private insurers.
Update: Jan Logie has just pointed out that another feature is Women’s Affairs being allocated to a Minister outside Cabinet. Again a reflection of the importance with which National views that portfolio. Disability Issues is outside Cabinet too.
Published in Parliament | THE GAME by frog on Mon, December 12th, 2011
Tags: anne tolley, cabinet, gerry brownlee, Hekia Parata, john key, Judith Collins, Kate Wilkinson, Nick Smith, Paula Bennett, Phil heatley, steven joyce
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
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Isn’t the key (no pun intended) aim to try and work with any government to maximise the Green outcomes? Maybe take a leaf out of the Maori Party’s book and work with the current government.
An important point missed is that even though Nick Smith drops a few places, he picks up local government. This is a useful dual portfolio to any changes to the RMA & LGA.
Don’t let the blue and red greens go back to being blue or red next election … try to work with the government and get the best environmental outcomes you can.
[frog: "Colossus of Roads" is a nickname that that has been used by Gareth Hughes to highlight Steven Joyce pushing roading projects at the expense of public transport. I accept it can have other more personal connotations when associated with Gerry Brownlee - that wasn't intended when I drafted the post, but I can appreciate how some may see it that way.]
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Lets see if they also continue with their record-breaking use of ‘URGENCY’ to by-pass select committees & ram through their legislation.. “because they can”.. having the 4 seat ‘majority’ !
The KEY to DEMOCRACY is letting the people have their say too..
Kia-ora
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Matt
I thought frog was rather understated in his opinion… particularly of Paula Bennett getting promoted while not retaining her electorate.
As for the rest of your comment Matt, you’re a little heavy on the rhetoric to take seriously.
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Frog, I’d not even thought about the ‘weighty’ aspect of the names!
Jackal, no rhetoric just a genuine belief. I want to see the Greens do well this term and continue to do well. They are an important party for NZ … and this means being willing to play on both sides of the political fence in order to maximise environmental and social outcomes.
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not need to use insults…
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Some one is getting a bit too precious.. next they will take offence at P.Bennett aka : P. Benefit or ‘Crusher Collins’ ??!
Kia-ora
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Good call on Nick Smith, be great to have someone with environmental experience in the local governement space.
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Will be interesting to see if Tolley can alienate Police and Corrections staff as effectively as she has teachers.
That’s a lie about as big as the left claiming Christchurch residents aren’t happy with the governments handling of the earth quake. What was it again? every single electorate handing their party vote to national.
Why do you support useless teachers Toad? what have you got against my kids??
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