Would-be Ardern of Aussie politics Rebecca White finds kindred spirit in Kiwi PM
Both are young, ambitious, popular women; political cleanskins who have reinvigorated their parties ahead of tight elections.
Both are young, ambitious, popular women — political cleanskins who have reinvigorated their parties ahead of tight elections, hunting down male-led conservative governments.
Perhaps it is not so surprising then that New Zealand Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, 37, and Tasmanian Labor Opposition Leader Rebecca White, 34, should strike up a rapport across the Tasman.
“I did reach out to Jacinda when she was waiting for a result after the (New Zealand) election campaign had finished,” Ms White said.
Tasmania, like New Zealand, has proportional representation and is no stranger to hung parliaments and power-sharing.
Ms White, who was a member of a Labor-Greens government formed in 2010 and defeated in 2014, knew the score, offering words of encouragement and later congratulations. “She (Ms Ardern) was lovely enough to get back in touch and we’ve been able to communicate since,” Ms White said. “I’ve found her to be incredibly down-to-earth and humble and a very hard worker.”
Ms Ardern told The Australian she empathised with the challenge faced by Ms White, who was elected Tasmanian Labor leader in March, 12 months from a state election.
“Taking on an election with such a short run as leader is a huge but exciting challenge,” said Ms Ardern, who took the reins of her party less than two months before New Zealand’s September 23 general election last year.
While diplomatically avoiding taking sides, she hoped to have a debrief with Ms White after the dust had settled, believing the two of them had “quite a bit in common”. “No matter what the (state election) outcome, I am really looking forward to trading stories with Rebecca sometime soon,” Ms Ardern said.
The latest polls suggest Ms White is on the verge of pulling off an Ardern-like political coup. Pollster EMRS has the incumbent Liberals, led by Will Hodgman, neck and neck with Ms White’s Labor, both on 34 per cent, with the Greens on 17 per cent and the Jacqui Lambie Network on 8 per cent. The outcome of the election, yet to be called but almost certain to be in March, may swing on the popularity of the leader and Ms White outstrips Mr Hodgman as preferred premier 48 to 35 per cent.
It has been a strong performance by Ms White, who worked on her family farm and studied commerce and arts before becoming a political staffer and then MP at age 27. Her immediate predecessor as leader, Bryan Green, trailed Mr Hodgman 20 to 52 per cent as preferred premier and could not extend Labor support above 30 cent.
Similarly, Ms Ardern, elected to parliament in 2008 at age 28, took the reins of her party from Andrew Little last August, after party support had been as low as 23 per cent. With Mr Hodgman insisting the Liberals will govern in majority or not at all, Ms White may win office despite losing the seat count, much as Ms Ardern did in New Zealand.
Ms White said she was “very flattered” by comparisons with the Kiwi leader.
While not ruling out governing in minority, unlike Ms Ardern, she would not consider forming any coalitions. The Labor leader, who late last year ma
rried the father of her toddler daughter, has taken on the poker machine industry, vowing to remove gaming machines from pubs and clubs by 2023.
She flagged another bold policy, a revamp of youth justice, including the closure of the troubled and costly Ashley Youth Detention Centre, and “repurposing” of its site, in the state’s north.
She said youth services would be boosted and the worst offenders held in a smaller facility.
A member of the state ALP’s dominant left faction, Ms White vowed to scrap the 2 per cent cap on public service wages but said unions would have to accept a root-and-branch review of government, to find efficiencies.
She ruled out asset sales or leases, despite a report by economist Saul Eslake last month concluding privatisations were the “only practicable way” for the state to borrow more to fund infrastructure, while offsetting part of its $8.5 billion unfunded superannuation liability.
Ms White said a Labor government would instead apply “prudent budget management” to run surpluses to tackle the liability.
JACINDA KATE LAURELL ARDERN
New Zealand PM
Age: 37
Family: Partner of Clarke Gayford; no children
Leadership: NZ Labour leader since August 2017; Prime Minister (in coalition with NZ First) since October 26, 2017
Political career: Elected to parliament in 2008, aged 28; opposition portfolios
Before politics: University student, political staffer
Policies: Reduce child poverty; increase assistance for families; reduce immigration
REBECCA PETA WHITE
Tasmanian Labor Opposition Leader
Age: 34
Family: Married to Rod Dann; one daughter, Mia, aged 14 months
Leadership: State ALP leader since March 2017
Political career: Elected to parliament in 2010, aged 27; minister briefly in 2014
Before politics: Worked on family farm, university student, political staffer
Policies: Remove pokies from pubs and clubs; revamp youth justice; remove cap on public service wages; boost public transport
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