Foss made Minister
June 7th, 2011 at 1:43 pm by David FarrarCongrats to Craig Foss, who has been appointed Minister of civil defence, racing and senior citizens plus associate minister of local government and commerce.
Craig replaces John Carter who will be resigning in the next few weeks from Parliament to become High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Good on him, but remind me again why we need a Ministry for Racing?
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
or one of Senior Citizens. But that’s just part of a long list of “Why do we need a Minster for….”
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Why is there a Minister for Racing? Are they also the Minister for Showjumping and Dressage? How about Minister for Bingo, Triathlons and Sumo Wrestling?
In other words, why has National persisted with this Winston Folly?
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Although (and I’m no doubt heading wayyy off topic) if you really wanted to get into Racing, it wouldn’t be the Minister question. It’d be the massive amount of tax preference and subsidy served up to that particularl industry that you’d be questioning.
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
What about Foss becoming also Minister for Chess and Sudoku? National has missed on an opportunity to get rid of an anachronism, a portfolio without a reason for existence.
Why does the current government persist spending money we no longer have?
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
I’d also add why do we need a High Commissioner to the Cook Islands? That’s roughly equivalent to having a High Commissioner to Oamaru.
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
I think there ‘should’ be a minister for Bingo…
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
civil defence, racing and senior citizens – none of which require a minister
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Senior citizens likely to have a minister because of the increasing size of the demographic as a proportion of the population and the large number of challenges that will bring, but also presumably because they’re an influential and large demographic which votes. As to whether there’s a need for a specific minister, probably not, but that’s the case with so many anyway.
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
ahhh….High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. Pull up a deck chair, pour yourself a drink and watch the clouds drift by…..gentle retirement.
Vote:June 7th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
I suggest you ‘Anti- Racing’ folk do some research into how big the industry is and how many workers it employs before comparing it with Bingo…
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