The ACT party has been virtually invisible of late, with leader Rodney Hide slipping into the background. Hide’s Party has been overshadowed by John Key’s growing closeness with the Maori Party. ACT badly needs a profile boost and its backing for the controversial extension of the 90-day probation period to cover all workers should deliver it. It is also very much in line with ACT policy and Hide can claim without his party, the Govt wouldn’t be able to enact measures being welcomed by the business sector. Opposition from unions won’t worry him - they don’t vote ACT. Although it’s not for want of trying, ACT’s poll ratings are abysmal as it hovers around the 2% mark - way short of the 5% it would need to get seats without Hide holding Epsom.

Hide’s biggest mistake - taking his partner overseas on a taxpayer-funded trip through Parliamentary perks - still hangs over the party despite a grovelling apology and Deputy Leader Heather Roy’s veiled reference to it at ACT’s annual conference earlier this year - she talked about the impact of black swans on the party, meaning unfortunate and unexpected developments - couldn’t have helped her relationship with Hide.

Another difficulty for ACT is Hide could run the risk of being a right-wing version of Jim Anderton, whose party lost its profile while he was a senior Minister in the Labour cabinet. And ACT is aware Hide’s Epsom seat is only safe so long as National lets him keep it. Epsom is National territory and could again be a National seat if the party decides to put up a strong candidate. John Key says there’s no deal with Rodney Hide yet and there’s been speculation Steven Joyce, a list MP, would be a good fit if he wanted to be an electorate member.

 Copyright © Trans Tasman Media Ltd