Press hails a decisive start

The Press says:

After three terms in the Beehive, a tired Labour administration had limped into election year. The Helen Clark-led Government was hurt by its association with New Zealand First, by claims of excessive political correctness and by the odious Electoral Finance Act. And as the election neared the reality of recession hit home with voters.

The Clark-led Government lost its judgement in a serious way.

Undoubtedly the political figure of the year was Key. He won the election, then moved with speed to enter confidence and supply agreements with ACT, the Maori Party and United Future.

His agreement with the Maori Party might seem to have the potential for future instability. But the Maori Party has impressed with its commonsense and its direct approach to issues and this augurs well for the cohesiveness of the new Government.

Key has been decisive since election day. Aside from the supply agreements he has delivered the first part of his promised 100 action days and was also a forceful advocate of free trade at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Peru.

As New Zealand heads into 2009 the combination of stable government and a prime minister prepared to take firm action will be essential as the nation braces itself for more months of recession.

If Labour had been re-elected, I wonder if they would have put up taxes by now?