15 December 1999
Office Of The Finance Minister
Dr Michael Cullen

Yesterday’s army fighting yesterday’s war

“Jenny Shipley’s determination to look busy has let her down again. Had she given herself more time to consider her caucus reshuffle, she may have come up with a better result,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today.

“The line-up she has produced is stale and dull, especially at the top. She has made very few changes in the first ten places and - like the general fighting the last war - seems to want to fight the election again.

“This is true also of the areas she has identified for especial attention - the ECA, ACC and tax.

“You have to wonder what it takes to get the message through to Mrs Shipley and the National caucus. These are the policies National campaigned on - and which took it to its lowest vote ever.

“The danger for National is that if it remains locked in a 1990s mind-set and fails to reflect the issues which are concerning the public of health, education and personal security it will become an irrelevant Opposition sniping impotently from the sidelines while the Government forges ahead with the policy agenda for the next millennium,” Dr Cullen said.

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