Finance Minister Bill English yesterday said the Government was dropping criteria preventing the sale of "strategically important assets" into foreign hands as part of a raft of changes aimed at encouraging greater foreign investment. ...The latter is obviously a political move to look more centrist (median voter theorem anyone?), but probably the most disappointing part. They say that they won't use it, but given their previous actions I am very sceptical. And I think we can be pretty sure that if they don't, Labour will. The fact that they still couch their announcement in the misleading language of 'protecting national assets' is unfortunate. Are we supposed to believe that the evil foreigners will abscond our airports off to their home countries and do who knows what with them? Well perhaps not all of us, but politicians are still playing very much to those that do.
The Government will introduce a new right to veto on the grounds of "national interest" - but Mr English expected it to be used so rarely that he could not think of a case which might require it to be invoked.
So it's good news, but not great news.
I thank The Standard for the tip.