Prime Minister Bill English has adroitly assembled a competent team of Cabinet ministers which business should have on its need-to-know list.
The two winners from the Cabinet reshuffle - Simon Bridges and Amy Adams - now flank Steven Joyce as his Associate Finance Ministers. Judith Collins has been demoted but she will also play a central role in the Revenue portfolio, which faces considerable challenges.
As Economic Development Minister Bridges, who also holds Transport and Communications, will work closely with Joyce on the Business Growth Agenda (formerly co-chaired by English and Joyce).
English yesterday feted Adams - who also holds the critical social housing and Housing NZ responsibilities - as a thorough and energetic minister who would bring "more precision" to the Government's focus on social investment.
As English led this initiative, the decision to award this responsibility to Adams is a big vote of confidence in a diligent minister. The Prime Minister underlined it was important that Joyce also took on infrastructure where the capital allocation has been doubled for the next Budget. The faster-growing industries in this sector also required "senior political oversight and responsibility".
