Politics with Michelle Grattan
News:Politics
On October 17, New Zealanders will head to the polls to vote in a general election and also on referendum questions for the legalisation of cannabis and euthansia.
In a head-to-head between two women, Labour’s Jacinda Ardern appears to be heading to a comfortable win against National Judith Collins, who only recently became her party’s leader.
This week NZ’s three term ex-PM Helen Clark joins the podcast to discuss the World Health Organisation’s investigation into COVID preparedness and response, and the New Zealand political scene.
Clark is a significant global player, a strong voice on the issues of climate change, gender equality, and women’s leadership, through her work with prominent bodies in the United Nations.
Most recently, Clark was appointed co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, which will present a report on how to effectively address health threats as they develop.
In NZ, an election in the wake of a pandemic creates a unique range of issues for voters. Ardern hasn’t committed to opening the New Zealand border, while the National party believes the border must be opened for economic reasons, but under stringent conditions. Clark is doubtful the border should be opened soon, or will be.
“I don’t think the border could be open for Christmas.
"And I’m in the school of thought that says a vaccine as a silver bullet isn’t going to give us sufficient protection any time soon. The most optimistic forecasts … [are for] later next year.
"Others – which might be more realistic – are saying later on 2022. Others are saying for years.”
Will there be a trans Tasman bubble? “At the moment, we don’t see that either.
"If Australia had firm borders at its state level, we could have had bubbles with New Zealand and Australian states. But that’s not the way the Australians have dealt with it. And that, of course, is absolutely their prerogative.”
With the first election debate taking place this week, Clark looks back to the election when she ran against a female leader.
“I recall that 1999 election when I went head-to-head with then prime minister Jenny Shipley. And to use a ghastly phrase, in a way there’s nothing that a lot of observers would like more than to see the two of you descend into some kind of ‘cat fight’
"Watching Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins last night, I think it’s also fair to say that they kept it well above that level. They are so different in style. They’re a generation apart. Jacinda, 40. Judith, 61. Very different style. But they didn’t descend into pettiness of the kind that you can see in such debates. So I think the women leaders feel a real onus not to get down into the gutter.”
a budget for a pandemic
Chris Richardson on what Tuesday’s budget will and should do
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Angus Taylor on the 'gas-fired' recovery
Jodie McVernon on Melbourne’s modelling, a Covid vaccine, and the role of experts in a crisis
Chris Bowen on the recession, aged care and priorities for health policy
Former Greens leader Richard Di Natale on COVID, climate and his successor
Professor Barney Glover on the bleak years ahead for higher education
Jim Chalmers on tax cuts, inequality, and the Queensland election
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells on aged care – what needs to be done differently
Patricia Sparrow on the need for aged care reform
Geoff Kitney on a life in journalism and the contemporary media landscape
After the crisis: what lessons can be drawn from the management of COVID-19 for the recovery process?
Jane Halton on the risk of 'vaccine nationalism'
Christopher Pyne on being 'the ultimate insider'
two leading economists on Australia’s post-COVID economy
Politics with Michelle Grattan: The Battle for Eden-Monaro – interviews with Kristy McBain and Fiona Kotvojs
Clive Hamilton and Richard McGregor on Australia-China relations
Trust, democracy and COVID-19: A British perspective
Pat Turner on Closing the Justice Gap
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free