Mallard wants Cullen's job
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 7:59 PM | Permalink
Current Minister for Economic Development, Trevor Mallard, has long been rumoured to covert the Finance role, something he surprisingly confirmed on TV One's Agenda programme on Saturday morning:
LISA: Mr Mallard I just want to raise a point there, it's always a good time to stock take so do you see yourself being Finance Minister at some point?
TREVOR: I'd like to be, you know, when that will be, you know, next term, term after that. I mean Michael's in his early 60s, we've seen a lot of Asian leaders go on for quite a period of time but I'm trying to do the understudy role.
But his recent statements may have made his wait a little longer. I'm sure Helen Clark will not be pleased that open speculation about Michael Cullen's shelf life has now extended to cabinet ministers. Additionally, he also dumped Clark in the Transpower debate surrounding the Auckland blackouts, advising her incorrectly:
Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he agree with the Minister of Energy's statement on National Radio that "We're spending five times as much on capital works in the transmission area as was being spent a few years ago, five times as much every year", and does he agree with the statement of the Prime Minister in the House that "under the current Government, Transpower has been investing, on average, around $300 million per annum in its system."?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD: It was incorrect because it included the word "average" instead of contrasting the low of $52 million with a rapid upward trend in spending. As acting Minister at the time I take responsibility for the incorrect advice, and the Prime Minister has made her displeasure clear to me.
Ouch.
LISA: Mr Mallard I just want to raise a point there, it's always a good time to stock take so do you see yourself being Finance Minister at some point?
TREVOR: I'd like to be, you know, when that will be, you know, next term, term after that. I mean Michael's in his early 60s, we've seen a lot of Asian leaders go on for quite a period of time but I'm trying to do the understudy role.
But his recent statements may have made his wait a little longer. I'm sure Helen Clark will not be pleased that open speculation about Michael Cullen's shelf life has now extended to cabinet ministers. Additionally, he also dumped Clark in the Transpower debate surrounding the Auckland blackouts, advising her incorrectly:
Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he agree with the Minister of Energy's statement on National Radio that "We're spending five times as much on capital works in the transmission area as was being spent a few years ago, five times as much every year", and does he agree with the statement of the Prime Minister in the House that "under the current Government, Transpower has been investing, on average, around $300 million per annum in its system."?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD: It was incorrect because it included the word "average" instead of contrasting the low of $52 million with a rapid upward trend in spending. As acting Minister at the time I take responsibility for the incorrect advice, and the Prime Minister has made her displeasure clear to me.
Ouch.
