John Armstrong: Goff strengthens front bench attack in muted shadow Cabinet rejig

Phil Goff's modest reshuffle of his shadow Cabinet has one purpose and really one purpose only: to boost Labour's effectiveness in landing hits on National.

Trevor Mallard's rehabilitation shows the degree to which Goff is the "attack politician" strengthening Labour's front bench to get the most out of the firepower available to him, something which is vital in the lead-up to this month's Budget and next month's difficult (for Labour) Mt Albert byelection.

The requirement that the major Opposition party present itself as an alternative Government flush with flash new ideas and coherent policy positions is much less of a priority for Labour right now.

For starters, voters are not expecting or looking for Labour to provide substance at this stage of the electoral cycle. Putting large-scale effort into doing so would be largely pointless. Rather, the onus is on Labour holding the new Government to account.

Yet yesterday's reshuffle is so safe it could easily have been the product of Goff's reshuffle-averse predecessor as Labour leader.

There is little different in what he has done and what Helen Clark would have done had she stuck around. The big variation is that Clark was operating from a position of unquestioned strength. It could be debated that the reshuffle fails to put Goff's stamp of authority on things at the very time he needs to make an impact with the public.

Arguably, though, it is not (yet) the time to panic and upset caucus rankings by promoting MPs from Labour's highly-talented 2008 intake above longer-serving members - something which would create huge resentment and fodder for moves against Goff as leader if his and Labour's poll ratings fail to climb.

The reshuffle does iron out some of the odder features of the line-up Goff unveiled when he became party leader.

The underworked Shane Jones is rewarded with more grunty portfolios of Economic Development and Environment while Housing - traditionally given to an up-and-comer - is relinquished by the long-serving George Hawkins and given to the diligent Moana Mackey, who finally gets a chance to prove herself.

Essentially though, this reshuffle is more of a holding operation. Rejuvenation does not happen overnight. Labour is still very much in transition, something highlighted by the sarcastic cries of "new blood" from the National benches as the defeated West Coast constituency MP, Damien O'Connor, was formally sworn-in as a list MP in Parliament yesterday as Michael Cullen's replacement.

That illustrated the limits to which Goff can force the pace of renewal.

Goff's answer was to signal a further reshuffle in a year's time, thereby giving notice he expects his more experienced MPs like O'Connor to start performing, while forcing the shining lights in the large intake of new MPs to prove they can consistently come up with the goods to warrant promotion.

It may not be a bold strategy, but it is still a sensible course of action. Unable to present the reshuffle as Labour presenting a fresh face to the electorate, he instead sold the line that Labour at least now has a settled line-up by declaring he did not anticipate any further retirement announcements beyond those of Cullen and Helen Clark.

In that regard, confirmation that the party's deputy leader, Annette King, will fight the next election in that role and not step down beforehand has helped to clear the air.

If people are to take seriously what Labour is saying, they have to believe the MPs saying it are in there for the long haul.