Labour Policy Process
October 18th, 2011 at 2:59 pm by David FarrarFelix Marwick from ZB tweeted:
Getting releases from unions about Labour’s wages policy before I’ve been sent the material by Labour. Embargo times are different too.
Well at least the unions are getting to release Labour’s wages policy for them, rather than have Whale Oil do it like he did for ICT.
No surprise the unions are doing releases on it, as they of course would have written it.
But in another policy, a key organisation mentioned turns out to know nothing about the policy proposal. This is NZ on Screen. Labour’s policy says:
Labour will consider expanding the role of NZ Onscreen as a broader online content storage facility and will actively encourage new business models where NZ creative content can be distributed online in an affordable and accessible way.
Russell Brown notes:
It’s not clear what content an expanded NZ On Screen would be storing or how a strictly non-commercial public-good service would facilitate new business models.
Exactly. NZ on Screen (a wonderful service) provides content for free, and has no access controls, tracking, charging etc. So touting it as a business model is like touting a foodbank as a new business model for Woolworths.
So it is no surprise perhaps that NZ on Screen has tweeted:
To clarify for those interested, we have had no conversations with Labour about this policy: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/5794027/Labour-reveals-radical-internet-ideas it’s news to us too!
Oh dear, this is not the sign of good policy formulation.
Related posts:
- Labour’s wage reduction policy
- The policy that Labour is not saying much about
- Labour’s Industrial Relations Policy
- Dom Post on Labour’s 1970 workplaces policy
October 18th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Not unlike the National Government’s review of the state sector, where they announced they were reviewing the Press Council and Advertising Standards Authority without letting them know in advance:
The move has nevertheless sparked confusion, with Press Council executive director Mary Major saying it had not been consulted ahead of today’s announcement.
“The first that we heard about it was just a few minutes before the press release,” she said.
“It’s very strange to see us in a state sector agency reform.”
ref: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5081175/Press-Council-faces-Govt-review
[DPF: I agree that was shoddy also. I think I criticised it at the time]
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
It’s conceivable that “expansion” would involve NZ On Screen doing something other than what it already does, which would be in line with the usual meaning of the word in this context. I think it’s clear enough if you, you know, read what Labour wrote.
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
“No surprise the unions are doing releases on it, as they of course would have written it”
As opposed to National who get the NZ Business Round Table Union to write theirs.
[DPF: Nope. The BRT is appalled that National won't even bring back youth rates for the minimum wage. This shows that the BRT influence on National's policy is very small]
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
“Not unlike the National Government’s review of the state sector, where they announced they were reviewing the Press Council and Advertising Standards Authority without letting them know in advance”.
Quite. Political parties often announce policies without discussing with affected parties the finer points of the policy. Obviously when Don Brash announced that cannabis should be decriminalised, he didn’t ask for the Police’s opinion on the subject. Only DPF thinks he should have.
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
@mackersline tweeted this morning: Media receiving reaction to Labour’s wage and work policy two hours before official release, except ODT which got it Mon.
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
The Labour Party is merely a loose co-ordinating agency for various special interest groups. It does not pretend to govern for NZers as a whole. Instead it balances the demands of the special interest groups that see the Labour Party as a vehicle to promote their interests. Balancing all this into a workable whole does take some doing. A charismatic telegenic Leader can hold the whole thing together but so far this has eluded the Labour Party.
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
“NZ on Screen (a wonderful service) provides content for free” as in paid for forceably by people who wouldn’t choose to pay for it voluntarily.
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
“Balancing all this into a workable whole does take some doing”
Is Labour looking to re-position itself as the new Alliance Party? A respository for all the diverse interests that inhabit the margin of error?
Vote:October 18th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Lets not be too harsh on labour, there’s no need to discuss your policy with anyone if there ‘s zero possibility of being in power to implement it
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