The Standard » phil goff

Thank you Phil, Annette

Anthony R0bins — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:47:36 +0000

Now that Labour's new leaders are settling in, I think we should all take a moment to thank the outgoing leaders, Phil Goff and Annette King.

A police recruitment freeze?

IrishBill — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:54:35 +0000

Phil Goff broke news of the Nat's plan to freeze police recruitment but keep it quiet until after the election.

That policy's at odds with some fundamental Nat claims.

Update: A freeze on replacement cops would see hundreds fewer on the job after just one year.

Getting to know Goff 2

Anthony R0bins — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 03:55:02 +0000

Today Part 2 of The Herald's profile of Phil Goff is out, and once again it's a very interesting read. It debunks some of the spin surrounding Goff's ideology and the Lange / Douglas government.

Goff’s leadership safe for now

Eddie — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:21:57 +0000

The Labour Party front bench meeting in Dunedin has just concluded. Goff's leadership has been confirmed, with unanimous support.

Political decisions

Eddie — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:15:05 +0000

Whether Goff goes or not, the decision needs to be made based on what's best for the party, for its members and for its constituency. Because in politics sometimes the "clever" thing to do and the right thing to do are not the same.

Hughes stood down

Eddie — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:02:49 +0000

Darren Hughes has been suspended from his shadow portfolios due to the continuing police investigation. Goff probably should have done this earlier, despite the understandable wariness of a leader can't punish an MP on the strength of a complaint alone. As Key did with Wong and Worth, Goff has waited until the media issue became too big.

Limos for me, job cuts for youse

Zetetic — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:22:11 +0000

Last week, Key says Kiwis "have to tighten their belts, we have to do the same". More job cuts for public servants. This week, buying 34 $200,000 limos for him and his mates to replace 3 year old ones. How many teachers would that employ?Not the cars that need replacing after 3 years. It's this government. Good on Goff for giving up the limos.

Labour’s greatest challenge for 2011?

Campbell — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:04:32 +0000

The Sunday Star-Times has produced an interesting article on the role of emotion in people’s voter choices leading into this year’s General Election. While the results are not great news for Labour supporters, it’s the first poll of its kind to be made public in NZ. There’s a lot of controversy over whether we ought ...

English’s days numbered

Eddie — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:26:44 +0000

What's to stop a government minister taking taxpayer money and giving it to, say, a family friend or a political slush fund? In theory, lots. There's a formal budget-formation process through the ministeries and Cabinet, the Budget then has to be approved by Parliament, and the PM would sack any minister who tried such blatant corruption. Wouldn't he?

A smart speech from Goff

r0b — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:16:38 +0000

Goff has given several excellent policy speeches this year, and the last one was no exception. Squarely targeted at a middle New Zealand that saw little of National's tax cuts and far more of their job losses and rising prices. Pointing out the obvious, that National has failed to deliver on the economy, and has no viable plan to do so. In short, a great platform for election year.

John Armstrong on the politics of ChCh’s quake

Dancr — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:55:19 +0000

John Armstrong provides an insightful analysis of the politics around the aftermath of Christchurch's earthquake, saying "The chaos and destruction wreaked on Christchurch by Saturday's earthquake leaves no room for playing party politics....The politicians are already playing politics, however, though not too flagrantly. Saying you are not going to play politics - as Goff effectively did - is itself a political statement. As was John Key's decision to cancel his trip to Britain and France."

Note to Labour: show some spine

IrishBill — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:57:07 +0000

Labour co-hosted the Sensible Sentencing Trust's parliamentary conference. That's disgraceful pandering to disgraceful people. It's time Labour showed some spine and offered an alternative to the SST's cowardly "lock 'em up" posturing.

Up for the challenge

The Standard — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:05:41 +0000

The Herald is carrying this piece by Phil Goff - I'm sure Phil won't mind if we reproduce it here. If you have any constructive suggestions or comments for Phil, make them below. I'll collate them and email them to him on our behalf.

Widening movement for monetary policy reform

Marty G — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:15:04 +0000

Unique in the world, we task our Reserve Bank with only one goal - keeping inflation in the target range - and give it one blunt tool to achieve it. Adding other objectives would bring us into line with other countries and giving the Bank better tools is long overdue. We need a smarter, more sophisticated approach to monetary policy. It is great to see the Left pushing for it.

Ball back in Key’s court

Marty G — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:29:14 +0000

Shane Jones and Chris Carter are for the chop. Labour will lay down the gauntlet to John Key to apply those same standards to Murry McCully and Tim Groser. Key is desperate to avoid that, we know how lax his standards are. Maybe its hard on Jones but Labour needs to clean up its act and heads have to roll. Expect Key to squirm as he refuses to hold his ministers to account, once again.