“…Labour’s David Parker made an impressive debut at the Herald’s annual breakfast to launch the Mood of the Boardroom CEOs’ survey.
Within a very short period, he staked out areas of commonality with National – such as Finance Minister Bill English’s focus on posting a Budget surplus in 2014/2015 – but also areas where Labour differentiates itself from the governing party.
Parker’s unassuming style – he is somewhat mousy – fools observers who are not gifted with any appreciation for subtleties.
Outside of Parliament he has been relatively invisible since Labour went into opposition.
But judging by the incisive fashion with which he fronted up to debating some critical issues on Thursday, those last few months of relative anonymity have not been put to waste.
Finally – some eights months after the election – somebody high up in Labour is trying to give due thought to what they would do in power -
- rather than simply jumping on every contentious issue and hammering the daylight out of the Government.
Talking to influential business people later that day – including five who were present at the Herald breakfast – it was clear they appreciated Parker’s staking out Labour’s position in three clear areas: Superannuation; capital gains taxes and the value of the New Zealand dollar.
One said “if you closed your eyes and just listened to Parker speaking – it could just as easily have been someone from National”…”
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Fran O’Sullivan: Labour mouse’s roar has business listening – Business – NZ Herald News.
