Taking decisions and raising the energy: the government's new action plan
With the novelty factor of a 100-day plan expended, the prime minister has once again moved to align government with familiar territory
Mōrena, and welcome to The Bulletin for Wednesday, April 3, written by Anna Rawhiti-Connell
In today’s edition: Vape retailers openly selling banned products after law change; David Seymour questions spike in health-related school absences; threshold for the right to elect to have a jury trial being considered; but first, use of urgency not off the table as the government launches its new action plan
Taking decisions and raising the energy
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon released the government’s new priority list yesterday, aligning it with a more familiar quarterly rhythm rather than the political 100-day timeline. The novelty of the “next xx-day plan” routine has likely worn off. It is clear this is the rhythm of the new government — a tidy device to create a sense of regular short-term momentum in clear contrast with the previous government, which also underscores Luxon’s corporate credentials. There are 36 actions, all due to be completed by June 30, which marks the end of the financial year for parliament. The Herald’s Derek Cheng has the most astute analysis to date (paywalled), noting half of the items could be easy ticks or mere formalities. Others involve “taking decisions” on things already fixed in place by coalition agreements. In fresh new language, possibly designed to generate the exact pick-up it got, Number 18 on the list is “Raise the energy New Zealand brings to key relationships through international engagements”.
‘Bloat begins at the Beehive’
The set pieces are obviously delivering the Budget on May 30, making good on the tax cut campaign promises and continuing to make cuts to the public service. Stuff’s Susan Edmunds takes a look at some of the year-on-year increases in public service roles this morning. It’s useful to have these comparisons rather than just raw numbers. It’s also useful to remember these are real people possibly losing jobs whose existence isn't just rooted in perception about the public service in Wellington but attached to services across the country. This morning, Politik’s Richard Harman picks up research (paywalled) done by New Zealand Initiative research fellow Max Salmon that argues that public service bloat starts in the Beehive. Salmon’s study says that the more ministers a government has, the more it will spend and the more difficult it is to cut some bureaucratic functions. As Harman points out, despite “vows to cut waste from within the government, it has created seven new ministries and abolished only two left over from the Labour government.”
‘A country is not a company. A prime minister is not a CEO’ — Swarbrick
Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has penned an opinion for the Herald this morning pushing back against the embrace of corporate-speak and managerial leadership styles. Swarbrick writes, “A country is not a company. A prime minister is not a CEO.” Two themes emerge, she says: “The first is that these bullet points wouldn’t even hold up in the corporate world: vague, immeasurable and untethered from reality and evidence as they are. The second is that the long-term costs of all of these decisions ultimately far, far outweigh the short-term benefit.”
Urgency will be used if required
Despite criticism of the government’s use of urgency, with more bills passed under urgency in its first 100 days than in any of the past five terms of parliament, Luxon didn’t hesitate to say urgency would still be used in the next quarter where appropriate. “There is a lot that we also want public consultation on and we want proper process around - which is important,” he said. The Herald’s Fran O’Sullivan (paywalled) suggests a short-term view of achievement would run counter to advice Luxon would receive from his mentor and former prime minister, Sir John Key, who O’Sullivan says “strongly believes a new prime minister should think about delivering a political change programme by taking a three-term view, not a three-year view.”
✅ How to get yourself back on track ✅
In case all this talk of action plans has you feeling motivated, The Spinoff’s Gabi Lardies has a guide to writing your own 90 or 100-day plan. She is 100% correct in pointing out that one of the main ways to feel accomplished is to add things you’ve already done or know you’re going to do. I hope my recommendation to read Gabi’s piece raises the energy I bring to key relationships (mine with you and mine with Gabi).
Join The Spinoff members, now with comments
From today, Spinoff members will be able to comment on certain stories. It’s another way for us to bring to life the value of belonging to the community of Spinoff supporters. I explain why we’re doing this here and, if I ever publish another big food ranking, you have my permission to give me your worst. It’s just one of the benefits of being a Spinoff supporter.
This morning you can also chime in on:
What Duncan Greive thinks Auckland could learn from Austin (he’s recently returned) and;
The seemingly endless complexity of decreasing easy access to vaping products
Log in, let us know what you think, and as always, we’d be grateful if you’d consider becoming a Spinoff supporter if you’re not already.
See you in the comments sections,
Madeleine Chapman
Editor
Vape retailers openly selling banned products after law change
Vapes with a high nicotine levels and appealing labels were banned on March 21 but as Stewart Sowman-Lund discovered, vaping retailers were still selling the banned products after that date. Sowman-Lund found one online retailer, The Vaping Kiwi, holding a “non-compliant” vape product sale last week, advertising banned products at reduced prices a week after the regulations came into force. They weren’t the only ones he found selling now-banned fruity flavours and vapes with higher levels of nicotine than the law allows.
The coalition government has pledged to take the vaping ban further. Advocacy group Vape Free Kids has accused the government of kowtowing to the tobacco lobby and delaying child-safety measures to give the industry time to sell non-compliant products. “Take decisions to tighten controls on youth vaping” sits at number 35 on the government’s latest to-do list.
David Seymour questions spike in health-related school absences
One of the other items on the new priority list for the government is completing stage one of its plan to raise school attendance by the end of June. Speaking to RNZ’s Checkpoint last night, associate education minister David Seymour questioned a spike in health-related school absences, saying the number of children kept home due to illness had doubled since the pandemic began. “We accept Covid happened but that's largely subsided now, and yet we still have a doubling of the number of kids kept home for health reasons,” he said. “I think we're going to have to start being a bit clearer about what exactly is a valid reason to stay home.” Rachel Judkins recently outlined the complexity sitting behind oft-quoted school attendance figures.
Click and Collect
Justice Minister says the threshold for the right to elect to have a jury trial is being considered.
Alexander Turnbull Library ends project interviewing prime ministers.
Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, has closed its doors, with staff moving over to Health NZ.
A morphine shortage in New Zealand is impacting patients in palliative care. Medicine shortages have increased around the world, particularly in the UK, where it’s become political and associated with the consequences of Brexit.
What it takes to win top frog at the Sydney Easter show (don’t click if you’re not a fan of reptiles or amphibians)
Feeling clever? Click here to play 1Q, Aotearoa’s newest, shortest daily quiz.
Duncan Greive shares his ten takeaways from a week at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Tara Ward talks to James Mustapic’s mum about finding love and making TV magic with her son. Madeleine Holden explains how anyone can be a godsend to a new parent. A librarian with three kids describes her budget and the Kmart purchase she regrets the most for the Cost of Being.
Sporting snippets
Gymnastics New Zealand has changed its rules about what female gymnasts must wear. They can now wear shorts or leggings over their leotards, and they won’t be penalised for having visible bra straps.
Sam Whitlock will retire from all professional rugby at the end of the current club season in France.
Former All Blacks forwards coach Mike Cron has signed on with Rugby Australia and will assist the Wallabies new head coach, Joe Schmidt.
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