Haven't done any numbers yet but looks to me like there is possibly a slight increase in the number of women - lost Georgina Te Heu Heu (retired), but gained Jo Goodhew and Amy Adams.
Also massive promotion for Hekia Parata, who now has Education and is ranked higher than Paula Bennett, but loses Women's Affairs, now gone to Cabinet newbie Jo Goodhew. Anne Tolley has been shifted from Education to Corrections and Police, while, in a problem for pro-choice peeps, Judith Collins gets Justice and ACC.
Further comment in comments (funny that) please!
11 comments:
Full list here as .pdf: http://beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Ministerial_List_12_December-2011.pdf
Women remain in lower numbers and lower-ranked in this cabinet than would seem fair. But, that said, National Party women seem to offer many more credible leadership options when John Key leaves/is pushed than any of the party's high ranking men. It's much easier to imagine Collins, Parata, Bennett or even Adams taking over as party leader than it is English, Brownlee, Joyce, Ryall. I'll be interested to see if National voters (and more importantly MPs) feel the same way.
Anyone have anything more on Jo Goodhew other than a very jam-packed bio http://www.national.org.nz/Bio.aspx?Id=50 and interesting voting record? http://commonz.wotfun.com/mp/Jo+Goodhew/votes
Oh hang on, hold that thought. She voted for an anti-choicer's appointment to the Abortion Supervisory Committee: http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2011/04/abortion-supervisory-committee-vote.html (H/T Emma)
Doesn't directly address the gender issue (although good on Hekia - have we ever had a female Education Minister before?) but I think that the first skirmish of the inevitable battle to succeed John Key has been fought behind closed doors, and to look at this list, it was won by Steve Joyce.
Also quite glad to see they've got rid of that whole "Minister of Infrastructure" bullshit.
Doesnt do anything for women to have Hekia Parata strutting her search and destroy mining policy into the delicate state of education. Any more than Tariana Turia made privatising welfare more acceptable. Seems to be a deliberate ploy to use women to front cuts to the social sector like Benefit was/is being used. Obviously women have to work their way up in the NACT regime by doing the dirty work.
I think there is a reasonable chance that when John Key retires, there will be three credible woman candidates for the National Party Leadership - which would be a record I suspect.
Pity none of them are women I'd trust with my rights.
@David: Doubtful, bar some sort of political game changer it will be English vs Joyce.
Shameless mention of our blog post on elex results and cabinet stuff called The Road Ahead for Choice. At:
http://bit.ly/v2eZ9R
Really...? We are still hung up over who has what between their legs...?
Sigh.
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