Earlier in the week we chanced our arm over what a Key led Cabinet might look like. Trans Tasman has done the same this week. The differences are not that great.
Key himself said this week he is considering taking the Tourism portfolio under his wing. This underlined he won’t seek to follow the Muldoon model and also be Minister of Finance. In a Key Cabinet, Bill English is likely to be Minister of Finance and of Infrastructure, and Gerry Brownlee, Leader of the House and Minister of Transport.
Other senior roles would go to Simon Power (Justice and Corrections), Murray McCully (Foreign Affairs), Nick Smith (Environment), Tony Ryall (Health), Judith Collins (Social Development), Anne Tolley (Education) and Phil Heatley (Housing). Tim Groser (Trade), Chris Finlayson (Attorney-General, Treaty Negotiations), and Wayne Mapp (Defence) are logical choices. Lockwood Smith could also expect to be a Minister, despite his recent stumble on the campaign trail. Maurice Williamson might not be so lucky. Some of the 2005 intake (Craig Foss, Chester Bowles, Jonathan Coleman, Chris Tremain, and Nathan Guy) will be in the running, and newcomers Steven Joyce and Hekia Parata are regarded as top contenders.
Maori Affairs might be offered to Pita Sharples if National manages to reach an accommodation with the Maori Party: otherwise Georgina Te Heu Heu and Tau Henare will be involved. Maori co-leader Tariana Turia with her scrap-the-dole policy could expect a role in the welfare area if she wants it.
