BLOG: Personal Update

Discussion Forum

United Future
Since: 2007-08-08 10:30:45.829588
Posts: 220

Posted at 2009-03-28 07:58:33.679. Permalink.

With the 08 election well and truly behind us I thought it appropriate to update you with what I am up to.
The election result was naturally very disappointing and I do miss the Parliamentary environment and in particular the positive work ethos that characterises the UnitedFuture offices.
I have regulary watched Question Time on TV and tried not to slump into that very unattractive 'protruding bottom-lip' syndrome.
Peter's reputation as a hard-working and competent Minister has seen him retained by National in both the portfolios that Labour had him in, and I am particularly excited about the additional health responsibilities that the Minister of Health has given him.
Currently I have two small paid jobs and a raft of unpaid ones. I have sedured a 20 week contract to a Maori Trust providing Literacy and Numeracy support for adult students 1 day per week. Secondly I am working 10 hours a week for Peter as an Out-of Parliament-Issues person, and will be working in tandem on a number of projects with Joe Burton who has a similar position with Peter based in Dunedin... Read the full text of this blog post.

Quentin Todd
Since: 2007-11-03 07:27:50.433
Posts: 68

Posted at 2009-03-28 07:58:33.772. Permalink.

Judy,

First, it is my view that UnitedFuture does have a big job ahead but then, I believe this is our chance to be quite creative in our approach to electioneering. In this climate of 'recession' we cannot allow this to deter us but it should hacken us to consider this as a way of pointing us towards a positive and innovative stance - towards something very different 2011.

Second, it is in my view that as a nation, we can no longer separate foreign policy and domestic policy - they are currently overlapping in areas we (in my view) have not thought possible. i.e. baby milk powder controversy; bank bailouts in US that could affect here, Fiji, greater transtasman relations starting with 'domestic flights' to and fro, and real time salary and wage levels compared with other countries.

Third, the generational shift in voter thinking about governance is also changing - I am not convinced parliamentarians fully grasp this shift yet.

Please login to post a reply.