tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post907348181352120485..comments2023-10-07T22:37:49.244+13:00Comments on The Hand Mirror: The upsides of Minister John Bankskatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-22035559455199696352011-12-06T12:35:21.383+13:002011-12-06T12:35:21.383+13:00Honestly, this whole "Minister for Small Busi...Honestly, this whole "Minister for Small Business" and "Minister for Regulatory Reform" translates to "I have something that looks snazzy to go on my business card"<br /><br />He'll have no departments, no policy staff and no real infrastructure to contribute to either portfolio. It's not like they're about to set up a Ministry of Small Business, after all.<br /><br />OK, I'm being slightly facetious. I'm sure it'll lead to some speaking engagements, and as Minister of Regulatory Reform he will doubtless be responsible for shepherding the Regulatory Reform Act (or whatever it ends up being called) through the House.<br /><br />But I think he will actually get more policy grunt out of his associate roles. This is why I find the whole thing sadly amusing. Twenty years ago, Banks was Minister of Police. Now, he's Associate Minister of Education. For all ACT's talk about ambition and upward mobility that is a less than compelling career path.DPF:TLDRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06372937855256319716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-29249847125943217692011-12-06T10:05:51.490+13:002011-12-06T10:05:51.490+13:00Banks is sure to further increase the number of Ne...Banks is sure to further increase the number of New Zealanders earning the average Australian income, thus bringing us closer to "catching up with Australia". Core election promise, that one. <br /><br />Bank may even increase the average Australian income by giving Key an excuse to sell our most easily-exploited state functions to Australian companies at a generous discount.Moznoreply@blogger.com