Paul Swain - a well deserved honour
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Posted Wed 31 December 2008 @ 9:03 p.m. by Ernie Newman
It made my new year's eve to see that Paul Swain, former Minister of Communications, has scored a QSM in the New Year Honours.
Politics aside, most people agree that telecommunications was one element of the economy that the previous government handled with great distinction. A lot of the kudos has gone to the more flamboyant David Cunliffe who finished the job, but we should not forget that it was Swain who started it.
Swain was a quiet achiever. He did his homework, made the hard calls, rolled up his sleeves and got on with the task. Immediately after the 1999 general election he suffered a major health setback, but with typical determination came back to a full recovery.
Project PROBE - Provincial Broadband Extension - was a product of Swain's watch and bwecame the genesis of many valuable policy developments in the communications field. In 2003, along with many others, Swain was clearly gobsmacked and blindsided by the startling Commerce Commission turn around on local loop unbundling. There was little he could do in response, and when Cunliffe took over the portfolio soon after it was left to him to find a new way to finish the job. Meanwhile Swain went on to accomplish much in the transport field. We should think of him with gratitude these days every time we drive through Spaghetti Junction, relatively unimpeded, in top gear!
Paul Swain's recognition will strike a chord with many people close to telecommunications. He's young to retire from parliament and has a lot of career ahead of him yet, including roles with InternetNZ and in promoting trade with India. He's a genuine, salt of the earth guy and I hope he's celebrating the deserved honour in appropriate style tonight. Well done, Paul!
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