Clive Bibby: Shane Jones walks the talk

For those of us farmers here in the East Coast provinces- many of whom have just been through the most dreadful experience of our lives - listening to a Cabinet Minister who has our back is a refreshing change from all the broken promises we heard from the last mob of false prophets.

It isn’t so much that Shane Jones actually understands the problems we face here at the coalface - but more about his ability to state the obvious when helping us get back on our feet. There are things that we can and must do irrespective of whether they contravene established popular thinking about environmental primacy.

 

He is clearly unafraid of the constant chatter that emanates from the pressure groups, including the radical environmental and race based ones who consider their own position at the head of the food chain to be a God given entitlement. 

Jones is unfazed in his determination to tell it like it is when he describes the pathway to a more prosperous country. He is keen to focus on the growth potential and what it will take for our economic fortunes to turn the corner. Nobody is saying it will be easy but the signs are there that we are in a fight for the heart and soul of our nation and it is a fight we can’t afford to lose. 

This Minister has become particularly successful in his deliberate confrontation with the negative groups who have been responsible for much of the economic stagnation we have endured, particularly during Labour’s last stint on the Treasury benches. 

My guess is that his plans to reignite the mining and land use growth potential will become the turning point we have been seeking for so long and it will surprise no one who is involved with these industries that it can all be done in such a way as to maintain our record as world leaders in emissions reduction whether it will benefit the climate or not. 

Shane Jones has built a reputation for honouring his commitments to making things happen and will not be deterred by the ideologists who think they have a mortgage on public policy.  

I believe that the growth potential he will unlock has the capacity to be an important part of our recovery to better times. 

I’m also prepared to predict that Shane Jones will rank alongside Bob Semple as two of our greatest overseers of public works when the history of this country is written. 

Whether or not those that currently regard him as the  “Grim Reaper” will admit they made a mistake or simply underestimated him remains to be seen but one thing is true - “this man is not for turning.”

Maggie Thatcher would be proud.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.