John Drinnan on National's business agenda

Mr Drinnan picks up the sub rosa deal done by Minister Coleman to allow a dilution of NZ music content on Kiwi FM. Mr Joyce, that most disinterested of ministers, is reported to have been involved in the deal. The acid in the article comes at the end:

Deals involving public assets and tradeoffs in regulatory oversight have become commonplace under this Government.

Warner Bros was given $20 million and industrial law changes to avert threats to move The Hobbit offshore.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce is currently negotiating a deal to allow more pokie machines at SkyCity casino in return for building a national conference centre, estimated to cost $350 million.

And in 2009 the Government loaned $44 million to MediaWorks so it could keep its radio frequencies.

If your are poor, or unemployed, or a public sector employee, you can, as far as this government is concerned, whistle. If you a business mate, the door is open to advantageous deals and a good bit of mutual back-slapping. Government for (some of) the people, indeed.