Salutary Leadership

 Evoking Thatcher


Judith Collins is an unusual politician.  There is a "no-nonsense" aura about her that is redolent of Margaret Thatcher in her prime.  We suspect that her instincts on issues are conservative and, more-often-than-not, right.  We still marvel at the progress she made as Minister of Police in, firstly, depoliticising the NZ Police force--an essential constitutional protection perverted by former Prime Minister, Helen Clark--and appointing real policemen and women to head the department--as opposed to the political lapdogs appointed by Clark.  She, like Thatcher, is a "lady not for turning".  Like Thatcher, she does not tolerate fools lightly. 

Recently it has been the Accident Compensation Scheme ("ACC") which has been feeling the crush of her embrace.
  The contrast between her insistence upon rectitude and efficiency in that government boondoggle and her predecessor's ineffectual tinkering is salutary.  A recent speech to a northern business group should leave none in doubt about coming changes. 

ACC minister Judith Collins has told an employers group that ACC needs to rebuild public trust and had fallen short in protecting privacy after a realm of controversies and complaints about it. . . .

Ms Collins said it was essential that New Zealanders could trust ACC.  "Understandably these matters have undermined people's confidence in ACC and the service it provides. At this stage I am not yet satisfied ACC's privacy provisions and protocols are appropriate or are being complied with to the level they should be."

One imagines that there are a few queasy stomachs within the Corporation about now.  The resident "Sir Humphreys" will no doubt be plotting their revenge.  Our advice: watch yourselves.  "Yes, Minister" tactics may have worked with sub-par ministers like Nick Smith, but Collins is cut from a different cloth.

But it is not just privacy in Collins's sights.  It is also fairness in dealing with claims--as opposed to the Kafkaesque approach seen in recent years.

Ms Collins also implied ACC had gone too far in deciding cases were entitled to compensation, saying while it should not be seen as a "soft touch" it should follow a fair process.  "We would like to see a renewed focus in ACC towards a rebalance of the broader responsibilities it has to all New Zealanders. It must ensure entitlements are delivered transparently and fairly to those who need them."

One final point: Collins appears to have very sensitive antennae to the "law of unintended consequences" of government laws and regulations.  This is rare in politicians who, as a breed, have endemically over-inflated views of their ability to redeem us of all ills by new laws and government initiatives.   Collins appears to look for, and weigh up, the negative unintended outcomes of policy proposals.  This makes her immeasurably wiser than her gun-totting colleagues.

Former Justice Minister, Simon Power springs to mind.  His passion and zeal were compelling only to the superficial mind.  Collins is far more measured and substantial. 

It's not often we commend politicians.  Judith Collins deserves our respect.  She has earned it.