Heads must roll: Minister for Marmite

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• Peter Aranyi says:

  24 March 2012 at 2:22 pm

  Matthew Hooton’s take on Nick Smith’s political career (so far) — and the factional effects of his departure is worth a read …

  

  … Senior political figures say that creates direct conflict with Mr Joyce, whose know-all approach means he genuinely believes that his new super-bureaucracy, guided by Soviet-style five-year plans, will drive economic and social transformation.

  To the dismay of more experienced ministers, Mr Joyce thinks a modern free-market economy will work better if he decides which sectors are to be backed by the apparatus of the state, which companies get which government contracts, what tertiary students should study, what science should be pursued and which bridge or convention centre should be built.

  Despite their paternalist tendencies, the English faction understands that that is the road to serfdom – or at least wasted taxpayer dollars, potential corruption and retarded economic growth. …

  http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/smith-departure-strengthens-joyce-faction-114012