Nats’ guest adds excitement
They might be hoping for some of her star-power and polish. But most of all, National is hoping former Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop will impart some winning tactics to MPs during a private dinner.
She’s been flown in to Hamilton as the guest of honour at National’s twoday strategy retreat – the annual marker of the start of the political year – and was to take the National caucus through some of her observations of Centre-Right parties in current global circumstances.
Ahead of the dinner Bishop spoke to media about her views on National’s prospects and her own personal political prospects, following a bruising and failed tilt at the Liberal Party leadership across the ditch.
‘‘It’s not a matter of giving the National Party advice, they are a very experienced party, they are a bright, talented team,’’ she said.
‘‘But I want to share some of the experiences we’ve had in Opposition, winning from a Labor Government and to share what we’ve done – some of the lessons we’ve learned.
‘‘If members of the National Party find that useful and can adapt that to their circumstances, then I will have made a contribution to the return of the National Party to government.’’
And on her own long-term political prospects, she would not be drawn on any change of plan nearer the election on the other side of the ditch.
‘‘I am the pre-selected Liberal candidate for the seat Curtin, it’s my intention to run.’’
Earlier in the day, Bridges said he was excited to have Bishop attend the caucus meeting, calling her a ‘‘trailblazer’’ for women.
Bishop said female participation in politics was no doubt on National’s agenda.
‘‘I have no doubt it’s a matter on the agenda and it’s an experience I can share from the Liberal Party’s perspective in Australia.
‘‘We want to attract more women into politics generally on all sides, not just on the Centre Right side.’’
National has also used the caucus retreat to reveal plans to release eight major policy discussion documents in 2019, in a bid to set itself apart from the Government’s time spent in Opposition. The party is convening to thrash out ways it might hold the Government to account, all the while presenting themselves as a constructive ‘‘Government in waiting’’.
But the spectre of a police investigation into a text allegedly sent to ousted MP Jami-Lee Ross from the phone of National MP Sarah Dowie, threatens to distract.
A large part of National’s strategy over the next year, will likely be an attempt to position itself as a policy powerhouse that will not have to establish myriad working groups while in Government.
Typically easier said than done from the Opposition benches, which often suffer from the absence of resources governing parties have at their disposal.
However, Bridges has indicated some of the strategy planning sessions will also centre on better using online resources to engage with the public, as well as information sessions with a more global focus.
And he has also revealed the areas which National will be focusing on, in releasing discussion documents with a large-scale public consultation process to ultimately shape the party’s policy, heading into next year’s election. ‘‘Our policy discussion documents will cover issues including the economy, law and order, infrastructure, education and health. You will see us stick to our core principles like ensuring New Zealanders can keep more of what they earn and providing world-class public services. We will also propose some new thinking for discussion, and take the feedback on board,’’ he said.
‘‘Our first discussion document will be released this month and focus on the environment.
‘‘We know New Zealanders trust us to look after the economy, we want them to know they can trust us with the environment as well.’’
National has already implemented its first phase policy development, with its ‘‘Have Your Say’’ campaign.
Bridges said 10,000 New Zealanders had so far responded with ideas for families, small business, looking after our seniors and supporting rural New Zealand.