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New PM
WILLIE JACKSON
The budding bromance between New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and the new Australian leader Malcolm Turnbull would have had Mills & Boon writers clamouring for lovey dovey story lines.
The knife had only been pulled out of the back of ousted leader Tony Abbott, when Turnbull longing and lovingly looked into the cameras and said there should be more world leaders like his Trans-Tasman mate Key.
The shout outs have certainly started early and no doubt will be repaid in the future.
Turnball’s glowing reference – from one self-made multi-millionaire to another, could not have come at a better time for the New Zealand Prime Minister.
The millions spent on the flag debate, the Corrections-Serco circus and the on-going Housing debates have not been good for the government.
But the coup and political death of Tony Abbott has taken focus away from those, for a short time anyway.
The relationship with our mates across the ditch has been safe yet unspectacular.
There had been issues in Australia, where Kiwis have not been given a fair suck of the sav, especially around welfare matters.
Key says he will raise those types of matters with Turnbull.
But after Turnbull’s first press conference where he said: “to be a successful leader, you have to be able to bring people with you by respecting their intelligence in the manner you explain things . . . We've got some great leaders in Australia but let me just point to one internationally, John Key,” perhaps things will change quicker than expected.
A Rhodes Scholar, Turnbull, like Key, is not in the job for the salary, which pales into comparism with their own net worth.
Turnbull has been a lawyer, journalist, investment banker – as was Key – and venture capitalist. He and his wife, prominent Sydney businesswoman and a former Lord Mayor of Sydney Lucy have a combined wealth of $140 million. The Key’s are worth $55m.
Key and Turnball had known ‘of’ each other through their banking days, though Key says they were not close. That’s about to change because we depend on our mates across the ditch for trade, immigration as well as support on the world stage.
I’d imagine the conversations around the Prime Ministerial water coolers will include Social Welfare, Social Development, Improving Indigenous lives and their own personal investments.
All Labour leader Andrew Little could say about the bromance was he pities Turnball if his aspirations are to be like John Key.
It will be interesting to see how New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters eyes this budding relationship between Key and Turnbull.
Tune in every Monday from 10am to Paakiwaha current affairs from a Maori perspective with Willie Jackson
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