Judith Collins’ first weekend in charge of the National Party has passed and she has faced the weekend media. 

And shock horror, the 61-year-old veteran politician handled the questions from Tova O’Brien and others with aplomb causing an outbreak of yahooing that the tide has turned. 

It shows you how far our expectations of our politicians has fallen over recent times. We’ve got used to the struggles of the David Clarks and the Todd Mullers and the Phil Twyfords of this world to answer straight questions.  We’ve got used to politicians pretending to have convictions and positions and then flannelling when push comes to shove. 

But it all bounced straight off Judith Collins because she knows what she believes and thinks and what she will hold to. 

It surprised me how much relief and energy and belief swept through the National Party and its supporters because, to be frank, the policies announced were less than inspired. 

Collins announced a $31 billion infrastructure spend that even at first look appears to have been drawn up on the back of an envelope over a few beers. Further, more it was Muller’s scheme but presented by Collins so it marks no difference in leadership, just a different voice presenting it.  Its biggest weakness is that it did nothing for New Zealanders in the short term. 

With the wage subsidies and other pandemic economic responses coming to an end over the next 6 months, New Zealanders are worried about an economic carnage emerging in the near future.  The reason they’re worried is that they can see it with their own two eyes and they’ve heard about it constantly from National. 

The government has no idea of the economic carnage coming our way was the constant refrain of Todd Muller over his 53-day reign.  So what do we get?  Some unconsented road and rail projects that may get off the ground in a decade. 

How will a second Auckland Harbour crossing arriving in 2030 or 2040 help a family of four with the breadwinner who becomes unemployed next March? 

It is as pie in the sky as Labour’s light rail. The second Harbour crossing has been discussed for years without decision.  Chris Bishop was asked last week where it will be.  He couldn’t answer that because there is no designated route. It’s a reckon. 

Just like the four-lane, 60-kilometre expressway between Ashburton and Christchurch that they think they could build for $1.5 billion. If they can do that, I’ll eat my hat.   

Last week, Jim Bolger said the country wants specific policy approaches to address the economic issues brought about by Covid-19. He said the public want politics that address their bread and butter issues, job and income, and a future for their children.  

Instead, we’re getting ghost roads and ghost trams and policies reducing immigration, which is a dead issue in these Covid days.  

Maybe the fact is no politician seems to have a clue about how to get through Christmas because it’s just too hard for them.