So long, David
David Lange may not have been as enthusiastic about economic reform as his finance minister, but he had the good sense to let Roger Douglas do what had to be done. He will be remembered as one of New Zealand’s greatest.
Unfortunately John Howard can’t quite bring himself to acknowledge that. Howard was far from fulsome in his praise in this Sydney Morning Herald report:
What Howard can’t bring himself to say is that in many ways Lange saved New Zealand. He can’t say that because he might then have to acknowledge that in Australia at around the same time the successive governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating did the same.
All of the most important economic reforms that both these countries enjoy today, the reforms that have driven growth on both sides of the Tasman, are the result of reformist Labour governments.
But what is most curious about Australia is that the Australian Labor Party can’t bring itself to acknowledge this either, and that is why it remains in the wilderness. The party acts as if it has repudiated that legacy, most strongly in regards to Keating. Until it comes to terms with its own heritage of liberal economic reforms, Labour in Australia will continue to have a tough time at the polls.
With David Lange's death, we should reflect on the fact that when Labour came to power it inherited an economy that was effectively a basket case. Millions had been wasted on failed Think Big policies and Rob Muldoon was prepared to destroy the economy rather than hand over power after he lost the election.
Lange was the leader of the party that brought about some of the most sweeping economic reforms the country had ever seen. He knew it had to be done and he knew Roger Douglas was the man to do it. That's wisdom.
It took five years for him to call for a break (not a halt) to those reforms. He deserves far more credit than Howard, for his own political and ideological reasons, is prepared to give.
Much better, for once, was Kim Beazley:
The ABC covered Lange's death with a segment on his career including his famous quip about Winston Peters, how he would have been in Parliament but was “detained by a full-length mirror”.
They also showed his resignation, when Geoffrey Palmer expressed how sorry he was to see his “old friend” go. It was a touching moment, until Lange shot back: “That’s good, because I’ve changed my mind!”
New Zealand bloggers of all political flavours have been respectful. David Farrar has more choice quotes here.
As to ANZUS and the nuclear free policy, no one has yet shown that it has done New Zealand an ounce of net harm.
David Lange was a big man in every sense.
Unfortunately John Howard can’t quite bring himself to acknowledge that. Howard was far from fulsome in his praise in this Sydney Morning Herald report:
"He did lead a government that was very reformist, although it is fair to say that main driver of that reform was Roger Douglas, the finance minister," he told reporters.
"David Lange was a person who had a great capacity to communicate with the electorate. I respected him although I obviously disagreed very strongly with his decision to take New Zealand out of the ANZUS treaty.
"I never supported that but that that was a matter for the New Zealand people and the New Zealand government."
What Howard can’t bring himself to say is that in many ways Lange saved New Zealand. He can’t say that because he might then have to acknowledge that in Australia at around the same time the successive governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating did the same.
All of the most important economic reforms that both these countries enjoy today, the reforms that have driven growth on both sides of the Tasman, are the result of reformist Labour governments.
But what is most curious about Australia is that the Australian Labor Party can’t bring itself to acknowledge this either, and that is why it remains in the wilderness. The party acts as if it has repudiated that legacy, most strongly in regards to Keating. Until it comes to terms with its own heritage of liberal economic reforms, Labour in Australia will continue to have a tough time at the polls.
With David Lange's death, we should reflect on the fact that when Labour came to power it inherited an economy that was effectively a basket case. Millions had been wasted on failed Think Big policies and Rob Muldoon was prepared to destroy the economy rather than hand over power after he lost the election.
Lange was the leader of the party that brought about some of the most sweeping economic reforms the country had ever seen. He knew it had to be done and he knew Roger Douglas was the man to do it. That's wisdom.
It took five years for him to call for a break (not a halt) to those reforms. He deserves far more credit than Howard, for his own political and ideological reasons, is prepared to give.
Much better, for once, was Kim Beazley:
"He was a bloke of great wit and life, a marvellous orator, a genuinely funny man," he said. "We had our disagreements with him. We did not always see eye to eye, particularly on things relating to the United States alliance.
"But nevertheless he was a colossal political figure in New Zealand and he will be much mourned there."
"My sympathies go to his family and to his political organisation."
The ABC covered Lange's death with a segment on his career including his famous quip about Winston Peters, how he would have been in Parliament but was “detained by a full-length mirror”.
They also showed his resignation, when Geoffrey Palmer expressed how sorry he was to see his “old friend” go. It was a touching moment, until Lange shot back: “That’s good, because I’ve changed my mind!”
New Zealand bloggers of all political flavours have been respectful. David Farrar has more choice quotes here.
As to ANZUS and the nuclear free policy, no one has yet shown that it has done New Zealand an ounce of net harm.
David Lange was a big man in every sense.
1 Comments:
I was still living in Maggot Scratcher's Cloud Yuppie Land during Lange's political heyday. But any statesman with the balls to call out to the Iron 'Lady', at least according to Mark Sainsbury on TV One News last night, "Hey! You forgot your broomstick," would have had my vote.
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