Goff’s response to Key
Even National Party pollster, David Farrar, could only give Key’s speech a B Goff says that it’s ‘Alan Bollard 1, John Key 0’. […]
Politics
Parliament
Key’s statement to Parliament
Very little specific so far. According to Stuff, National will increase GST to ‘up to’ 15% – which I take to mean 15%. […]
Government by knee-jerk
John Key has told us that his government’s unrelenting focus this year will be the economy. He has also said his government will […]
Say what?
Statements made in Parliament last year, in chronological order: Hon BILL ENGLISH: They have been telling us that we should copy the Australian […]
Call of the week
Fitzsimons: If Barack Obama comes to Copenhagen saying ‘yes we can do much more’ will the Prime Minister say ‘no we can’t, but […]
Above all that kind of thing
RNZ, Nov 6: Sean Plunket “Most commentators say you’re leadership style has been one that has sought to avoid personal attacks and name […]
Excellent question
An excellent question from Labour yesterday, using some familiar numbers: Hon Annette King: When he was reusing ‘unreliable, highly volatile, and potentially misleading’ […]
Key aids English’s latest rort
Ministers are given self-drive taxpayer-funded cars for official business in their electorates (in Wellington they have crown limos at their disposal for official […]
Trans-Tasman ratings
In a sure sign the silly season is upon us, the Trans-Tasman has released its annual MP ratings. Considering the writers of the […]
Hide repays, what about the others?
Earlier this year, John Key stated: “I’ve told [my ministers] if they want to take their partner, they can do it, but they pay for […]
It’s wrong but I’ll do it anyway
Just saw this in the SST. Hide on the spousal travel allowance: This perk is wrong, I’ve never agreed with it So why […]
The slippery standards of Mr Key
Yesterday, John Key cleverly tried to reframe his ministers’ failure to obey his standards on use of perks: “You don’t want 120 Members […]
Key OK with ministers’ backdoor perk
I’m sure you noticed Hide’s latest shenanigans – getting his partner taxpayer subsidised international flights despite Key’s directive not to. Key (surprise, surprise) is ‘comfortable’ with […]
Nats flying high, on your dime
Why is our agriculture minister spending as much as the Prime Minister on international travel? David Carter has spent $72,000 on international travel […]
What’s so urgent?
As we endure the 6th consecutive week of National putting Parliament into urgency, new stats show that this government is abusing urgency to […]
The urgency of love
One thing about love is that what you abhor or hate in others you tolerate, even admire, in the object of your affection. […]
Parliament pay dispute just the start
Non-political staff Parliamentary Service are in industrial action. They want to keep their redundancy provisions that were bargained for years ago and get […]
Do you want a republic?
Republicanism is a funny issue. Politicians tend to agree that it is inevitable that “at some point” NZ will become a republic, but […]
Toad asks: Who paid for what, Nick?
Following my post yesterday, toad on g.blog raises some questions about Nick Smith’s expense claims: In the Dompost article, Nick Smith said “I had […]
Parliamentary staff begin industrial action
Low-level industrial action has begun at Parliament after workers rejected an offer from the employer that would have slashed redundancy provisions and kept […]
English could learn from the Greens
The Greens have a superannuation fund. That’s fine. It has investments in a couple of houses. That’s fine. The Green MPs have to […]
Caption Competition
Billalice in Wonderwelly
Things must be getting decidedly trippy for Deputy PM Bill English about now, and not in a good way. While his glorious leader […]
Breaking English
Bill English is not holding up well to the persistent questions put to him in Parliament about shuffling around his financial appearance to […]
Contempt for democracy
Gerry Brownlee in Question Time yesterday. He’s asked a question, just sits there and refuses to answer. Doesn’t even open his mouth, just […]
A hollow gesture
Some good comments from CTU president Helen Kelly in the Dom today on the Government’s posturing over MP pay increases. “The Government is […]
Abuse of process
National put Parliament back into urgency yesterday. It is ramming through the extension to the retail deposit guarantee, the RMA amendments, changes to […]
A rort is a rort is a rort
And by any other name it smells as bad. John Key has annouced a reform of the rules for ministerial accommodation allowance. A […]
Hoist with his own petard
Last week, Tony Ryall used his time in the big chair for, surprise, surprise, a little preening. He decided to take credit for […]
Phil Goff speaking on the SAS deployment
Goff’s speech on deploying the SAS
Apart from when it’s customary, at maiden speeches, valedictories, and the Budget, it’s a rare speech that warrants a standing ovation in Parliament. […]
Standing up for our rights
Remember the petition to state your opposition to Paula Bennett’s attack on our privacy rights. The idea is it will be tabled in […]
More questions for English
Yesterday, John Armstrong talked about the Auditor-General’s 2001 report into eligibility for a Wellington accommodation allowance: the then Auditor-General David MacDonald scrutinised allowances […]
English in serious trouble
Over at Red Alert, Trevor Mallard has posted a form that all MPs wanting an out-of-town allowance must fill out. It asks MPs […]
The lies keep coming
Read this: Hon Phil Goff: What analysis did Treasury do on the cost-effectiveness of the national cycleway scheme in producing jobs, and is […]
Privileges complaints laid
A number of poor performing ministers like Paula Bennett, Kate Wilkinson, Anne Tolley, Pita Sharples, Tariana Turia, Rodney Hide, Pansy Wong, and Key himself, […]