I don't rate Hipkins at all, can't believe the responsibility he has been given, bit like letting a child run a creche.
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I don't rate Hipkins at all, can't believe the responsibility he has been given, bit like letting a child run a creche.
Jacinda Ardern is leading by example in how a leader should behave not negative and nasty and they are not mucking around and achieving much in this short time so far. For example exposing the typical national lie that it couldn't be done re the ban on foreign buyers lol.
Exactly! We need an effective opposition - nobody is denying that. What we don’t need is a game playing, schoolyard high fiving bunch of bully boys who resort to sarcasm, name calling, and smart alec sniggering when a brand new government makes a few teething mistakes. I have no problem with the opposition holding the government accountable. I expect them to do that, but I don’t expect to see them ridiculing or belittling them constantly for the next three years, or being “anti-everything-Labour-does” just for the sake of it. If they continue to do that they will lose all credibility as an opposition party.
Jacinda’s speech today was professional, well prepared and to the point. Her only mistake to date is trusting that her opposition will play fair and respectfully. She learned that lesson the hard way. She is not and never has been a “dirty” politician which is one of the reasons she is Prime Minister. NZ is tired of all the bull**** in politics we have seen for a great many years. We are sick to death of watching the “little boys” games. National’s dirty tactics throughout the election campaign pissed a lot of people off and Bill English went down in a lot of people’s estimation because he was dumb enough to be drawn into that.
National needs to to wake their ideas up and start doing what is right for the country. The election is over. Whether you like it or not this is the government we now have. If National really gives a **** about the country they will pull their woolly heads in, stop throwing their toys out of the cot and get on with the business of being an effective opposition, which by the way, does not automatically mean opposing everything the government tries to do.
Video: The touching moment Trevor Mallard holds Labour MP's baby while sitting in Speaker's chair
This Govt Progressive Inclusive and empathetic. Catching up with the OECD in paid parental leave etc.:)
First of all her name is Jacinda and she is the Prime Minister so show some respect and call her by her proper name. Whether you like her or not is irrelevant.
Secondly, nobody with even half a brain believes that an opposition party has to oppose everything a government does. If they did that they would very quickly lose both respect and credibity. Any government - even National, will get many things right so it would be pretty damned stupid for an opposition party to oppose everything simply because the name "Opposition" comes from the verb "oppose." That's just nonsense and you know it.
Ok heres a small exercises for you. In its 9 years of opposition list the Bills Labour supported National on (my money is you coming up with less than 5)
The flip side of your argument is government should be prepared to support an oppositions good idea. Like for example dropping income tax rates which all parties (National, NZ First, Maori and Act) supported last term except Labour.
While the idea of Cindy (she needs to earn the respect and failing on day one is not a good start) and all MP's sitting around a warm campfire, holding hands singing kumbaya and agreeing on legislation may have some appeal it isn't going to happen under our Westminster style of parliament. Its like our justice system. Its a bear pit and winner takes all.
Seating in the chamber is interesting
NZF and Greens separated by Labour
And some Labour dude called Duncan Webb has been given the naughty boys seat .....all out on his lonesome at the back of the house on the opposition side.
Winnie grumpy about this
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...g-new-zealand/
Seems we have quite the mature opposition. Prepared to support Labour with any TTP agreement. Shame labours coalition partner NZ first wont be quite so mature and I suspect the Greens wont be either