The Dom-Post previews the year

We haven't taken much interest in politics over the last few weeks, and as a consequence, we've only just seen this Dominion-Post editorial from Thursday. The leader writer looks at the year just completed, and previews election year; it begins:

The political year finished as it began – with National cock of the walk and Labour watching enviously on. The gap between the two parties is so wide that some polls suggest National could win an absolute majority of the vote – something that has not happened since 1951.

New Zealand has been here before. In the early months of 2002, polls suggested Helen Clark's Labour could win an absolute majority enabling it to govern without coalition partners. It did not happen then and it is unlikely to happen now. Voters do not like to give governments too free a hand.

However, Labour is in disarray. It is experiencing the same troubles under Phil Goff's leadership that National experienced under, first, Jenny Shipley and then Bill English. Confronted by a competent, popular leader at the head of a disciplined party, Mr Goff has been unable to make any headway.

The leader writer is dead right. National is highly unlikely to win an outright majority when the polls close later in the year. It is far more likely that one or other of the major parties will require help to form a government; such are the vagaries of MMP.

Then the leader writer turns his/her attention to Phil Goff, and the Labour leader won't have read this with any fondness - read on:

Virtually the final political act of the year was for the Labour leader to fall victim to a TV3 sting that revealed he was still renting out an apartment in Wellington that he had promised to sell 18 months previously, while claiming a taxpayer subsidy for his own accommodation. Worse still, the apartment was being shown to prospective tenants by a member of Mr Goff's staff. Mr Goff said the staff member, Paul Grant, was handling the arrangements as a "friend". He did not have time to worry about such things.

Frankly, that is nowhere near good enough. Taxpayers are not paying Mr Grant's salary so he can manage Mr Goff's private financial affairs.

We agree. Phil Goff has not broken any rules, but the perception is now that he is no better than those on the other side whom he has criticised. But where Goff has erred, in our humble opinion, is to have one of his publicly-funded staff manage his private affairs. Goff has faced consoderable criticism for this, and rightly so. It is a misuse of public money.

And in closing, the writer suggests that Goff tenure of the role of Opposition Leader is unlikely to end anytime soon. We agree with that view, and have in fact suggested in jest that Goff should be offered the job in perpetuity! Here are the concluding paragraphs:

More than anything, however, the affair highlights the frustration of opposition. Troubles linger; triumphs are quickly forgotten. Miss Clark once called leading the Opposition the worst job in the world. John Key appears to agree. In a pre-Christmas interview he surprisingly revealed that he would probably quit politics if National lost the election. The sentiment is understandable. Who wants to be the monkey after being the organ-grinder? But it is surprising that he would give voice to thoughts that could be painted as petulance by his political opponents.

Mr Key has, however, repeatedly shown during his brief political career that he is prepared to ignore the rules of the game. Whether it is because he chooses to do so or because he simply does not know them is a moot point.

However, his preparedness to back his own judgment is part of his appeal. Until Labour can dent the confidence that feeds into his sunny optimism, it has little chance of wresting the Treasury benches from National.

It's hard, at this point to disagree with that assessment. It will be interesting to see whether a reshuffled front bench for Labour gains the party any traction. Or will it merely be deckchairs on the Titatnic stuff? A fascinating years awaits us.