Business-friendly front bench named

Prime Minister John Key yesterday announced a business-friendly line-up of front bench Cabinet ministers, with the six top-ranked MPs set to drive the economy forward from their allocated portfolios.

Mr Key retained his preferred portfolio as Tourism Minister - tourism is one of the country's leading earners.

Finance Minister Bill English now incorporates the responsibilities of the former infrastructure portfolio he shared last term with Steven Joyce.

Gerry Brownlee retains the portfolio of Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and becomes Transport Minister.

Steven Joyce is the big mover in the line-up, moving from 14 to four and becoming Economic Development Minister, Science and Innovation Minister and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister.

Judith Collins takes over ACC, as well as being appointed Justice Minister and Ethnic Affairs Minister.

With the planned sell-down of state-owned assets during the next three years, Tony Ryall will be expected to help drive through the process with the guidance of Mr English. Mr Ryall retains his health portfolio.

At No 19, Craig Foss takes over as Commerce Minister, suggesting that business, rather than commerce, will be the focus of this John Key-led administration.

Linking Mr Joyce with economic development, science and innovation and tertiary education, skills and employment should be good for Dunedin, with both the University of Otago and the Otago Polytechnic working in all of those areas. He is also Associate Finance Minister.

Economic commentators as recently as yesterday lamented the slowness of the rebuilding of Christchurch but Mr Brownlee can push that harder now the new term of Parliament is set to resume.

Getting the rebuilding under way is crucial to the recovery of New Zealand's economy as the euro zone credit crisis continues.

Mr Key has appointed three women to his front bench of nine, with Mrs Collins at No five (seven in the last term) , Education Minister Hekia Parata at seven (20) and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett at nine (16).

Mr Key said there had been a revamp of some portfolios and some first-term ministers had been rewarded for their performance.

The front bench was being strengthened with the elevation of Mr Joyce, who would have a mix of economically focused portfolios reflecting the priority the new Government placed on economic growth.

Mr Key tempered the demotion of former Education Minister Anne Tolley from the front bench by making her deputy leader of the House, along with becoming Corrections and Police Minister.

Selwyn MP Amy Adams was promoted to Communications and Information Technology Minister, Internal Affairs Minister and Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery.

Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew becomes a minister outside cabinet for Community and Voluntary Sector, Senior Citizens and Women's Affairs.

 

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