Ministers often don't get to set nitty gritty details like those the interviewer was fishing for. It's up to the ministry to implement the policy, not the minister.

As a piece of political theater/performance, Luxon did very well in this interview, only slipping slightly in the final seconds. He was on solid ground the whole time and he knew it.

[–] BalpeenHammer 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

This has nothing to do with nitty gritty details. When you propose a policy you are supposed to study the likely outcomes of that policy and set some targets and floors. He apparently designed a policy and he has no idea what kind of effect it will have. How is that rational?

[–] rimu@piefed.social 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Perhaps the minister for social development or minister for housing might have those details at their fingertips but the prime minister? Nah, no way. There's just too much going on.

I guess there will be a case-by-case determination of who has crossed some sort of as-yet-undefined line. Hard to predict where that's going to go.

Luxon made the point that is there is a long waiting list of people who who will be better neighbors than those he's seeking to kick out. Yes it might result in some people (potentially with kids) being made homeless but it will free up space so that an equal amount of currently-homeless people will have a home instead.

It's homeless-neutral, if you will.

[–] BalpeenHammer 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Perhaps the minister for social development or minister for housing might have those details at their fingertips but the prime minister? Nah, no way.

He is announcing the policy of kicking out people from public housing. He should have some idea of how many people are going to be left homeless as a result of this.

I guess there will be a case-by-case determination of who has crossed some sort of as-yet-undefined line. Hard to predict where that’s going to go.

Yes it will be completely arbitrary based on the neighbours, the case workers etc.

Luxon made the point that is there is a long waiting list of people who who will be better neighbors than those he’s seeking to kick out.

Yes. But he didn't answer the question of what happens to the now homeless family.

Yes it might result in some people (potentially with kids) being made homeless but it will free up space so that an equal amount of currently-homeless people will have a home instead.

Well those people might also be kicked out so who knows.

It’s homeless-neutral, if you will.

It's not though. I guarantee you this policy is designed to have less people in public housing in the end. This government doesn't believe in public housing.

[–] rimu@piefed.social 1 points 8 months ago

This government doesn't believe in public housing.

Agreed. That is the real issue, and it does make it very hard to take Luxon at face value on the subject of kicking out the worst tenants.