Transtasman Political Letter – 20 July Digest

20th July 2006

Winston Peters plays Maxwell Smart on a top secret mission to Washington which has fooled no-one
... Taito Phillip Field gets away with it, but there’s a bad smell lingering
... Helen Clark’s dash to London holds up the boat on business tax policy release
... Charlie Pedersen gets into the green movement
... And despite a range of poll outcomes the Nats are still up for it heading into their annual conference.

Peters On Crucial Mission In Washington

Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ mission to Washington, crucial to his ambition to take NZ into a new era in its relationship with the US, earlier this week appeared in danger of falling between the cracks of the Middle East crisis.

Phillip Field Decision: Stain On Parliamentary Democracy

Taito Phillip Field claimed he had been exonerated, the Govt claimed he had done his penance for “errors of judgement” and the taxpayer was left holding the $490,000 bill for the cost of the inquiry.

Nats In Upbeat Mood

Despite further media speculation over Don Brash’s leadership following the latest political polls, the National Party conference this weekend is likely to show the party in an upbeat mood.

Tax Ideas Ready For Debate

The Govt may be planning to outflank the National Party on tax issues. High-level Beehive sources told Trans-Tasman Cabinet’s Policy Committee had a “good discussion” on tax ideas this week, and once Cabinet signs off the business tax document next week, it is expected to be released for comment.

CAPITAL TALK

Press gallery relations between TV1 and TV3 reached a new low this week after Duncan Garner’s latest scoop. Garner got his hands on TV1s latest opinion poll, to be broadcast on Sunday, and announced the results on Saturday.
Play Of The Week: Bad Judgement, Bad Taste

There are no speed ticket quotas, and Taito Phillip Field is basically innocent of anything other than trying too hard to help constituents. Well, at least they didn’t try to blame this one on “the 1990s.”

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