Friday, 16 August 2019 11:34

No idea!

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This old mutt was flabbergasted at the reaction by some mainstream (lamestream) media to the news that Todd Muller would be replacing the retiring former primary industries minister Nathan Guy as National’s new spokesman in the portfolio.

According to many of these beltway millennials Muller’s appointment to the primary industries role – he moves on from the climate change portfolio – was a ‘demotion’.

However, the Hound insists that Muller’s corporate background at Fonterra and Zespri, and the work he’s done for the Nats on climate change, rank him among NZ’s best qualified potential ag ministers.

And consider the importance of the portfolio to this country’s economy. Muller’s promotion from number 31 to 17 up the National caucus rankings shows this was, in fact, a big promotion and not a demotion.

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If voters see some growth and wages rising faster than prices, the government could say they've "fixed" things as they ride into the next election.

Back here on Earth though, the economy they inherited is a basket case, and the long-term headwinds are fierce.

Political commentator Liam Hehir says, "dreams are not plans" and if the turnaround doesn't come in time, National may have no choice but to go negative.

"Everybody wants to fight on the economy if they can. But when neither side has a compelling story, the contest shifts to other issues. That's not new. In fact, it's the stuff of politics everywhere, always."


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