Hutchison On NZ Fast Forward
National appears intent on continuing with its ridiculous opposition to the “New Zealand Fast Forward” in what can only be described as an obsessive determination to show Labour as cynical and insincere. An article by National MP Paul Hutchison in Rural News states:
“National does not think the fund as described is the optimal vehicle. We support funding models that encourage partnership between government and industry, but we are not convinced the fund is the best model for achieving this collaboration.”
It is certainly ironic that, given National’s fervent opposition to so-called “nanny statisim”, they are happy to thumb their noses at the large numbers of industry groups which have got behind the fund, and instead take a “National knows best” approach. At times, Hutchison’s article borders on the absurd, at one point stating:
“It is important to remember Labour’s track record. A former Labour Prime Minister stated ‘agriculture is a sunset industry’.”
It certainly shows Hutchison and National are grasping at straws when they have to reach back into history to provide some kind of justification for their stance on this issue.
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Key Out Of Touch With Own Supporters
National’s continued opposition to the government’s “NZ Fast Forward” research fund is mind boggling given the widespread support from traditional National Party supporters, and one can’t help but get the feeling Key is cutting off his nose to spite his face. The fund itself was not simply an idea drummed up by Helen Clark and Labour, but has been developed in collaboration with industry and has received widespread support from industry players, including Business New Zealand, PGG Wrightson, Fonterra, and the Meat Industry Association.
National, and certainly John Key, seem obsessed in trying to show Labour is simply embarking on some kind of cynical PR exercise, and instead of pushing their usual line of “we’ll keep it, but with changes”, Key has stated that National will scrap it altogether, effectively placing him off-side with not only New Zealand’s research community, but even his own supporters.
Key seems to demonstrate more and more every day that he is a politician travelling the political superhighway without a roadmap. This will certainly start to take its toll as the election draws near.
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