ACT on the brink of holding some power; what does it mean?

[Lilith7]

Extremely bad news in the form of an even harder struggle for any of those of us who aren't wealthy Neo Liberals seems the most likely answer to that one. These are not people who care about their fellow humans except for any possible profit which can be made from them.

Education seems to be top of their list.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...-that-mean

  

"In many ways, Seymour is the new Winston Peters, sucking up his support – and many of his populist tricks, albeit with a 21st century twist.

ACT is also gaining support in its own right. Half a decade ago, you couldn’t have paid people to go to an ACT rally.

Now Seymour is charging for the privilege – on Sunday 600 people are expected at a SkyCity stage show, paying $50 a ticket

Last weekend, he did a whistle-stop tour of the Coromandel and his public meetings pulled crowds in the hundreds.

In flagrantly ACT fashion, he travelled between events in a helicopter, with the pilot briefly handing control to his parliamentary passenger.

For these reasons, on election night (and barring the usual caveats of scandal or unknown unknowns), we could see ACT breach the 12% mark, and even get as high as 15%.

So, what does that mean?

In essence, that Luxon should, too, be preparing for a co-pilot. ACT will be asking National to “share power”.

What does it want?

It’s testament to ACT’s confidence that Seymour sees one of his caucus as education minister. This is potentially a fish hook for Luxon who also sees the portfolio as a priority.

ACT wants enormous reform – and that goes far beyond the return and expansion of charter schools (which Luxon has already committed to).

School funding would depend on digital quarterly reporting, especially of attendance (importantly, income wouldn’t be dependent on the results, but the frequency of reporting.)"