The freedom to insult
David Seymour is proposing a law change that would protect neo nazis from the effects of their hate speech unless the speech also incited or threatened violence.
Social issues
law
Government under FiveEyes
Australian Federal Police chief Neil Gaughan told media after raiding the ABC that “if police did not investigate the leaking of classified information, Australia would no longer be entrusted by FiveEyes partners with intelligence that saves lives.” FiveEyes didn’t save Muslim lives in Christchurch.
Whale Oil – the book
Whale Oil by Margie Thomson is about the Blomfield vs Slater case. Lost by Cameron Slater because after 7 years of trying to delay it, he was unable to mount a credible defense before a judge. But there is a lot of detail behind that that is worrying in an internet age..
Simon Bridges – criminal receiver
You have to wonder about what kind of law Simon Bridges, a former criminal prosecutor, actually practiced. Because given the events of today – it seems questionable if he understands the legal basis of our criminal laws about computers. Do we really want someone so incompetent at his chosen profession before entering politics (or have a criminal receiver of stolen goods) to run this country?
Bridges’ dodgy crime statistics
Simon Bridges is trumpeting some figures he has received from the Government as evidence that crime rates are increasing. But there is a slight problem. Police figures show that the number of reported offences is decreasing.
Reflections on Free Speech and Public Discourse
Silencing dissonant voices only leads to more and stronger dissonant voices and further radicalisation.
MSSA Bill reported back
The Finance and Expenditure Select Committee has reported back the Arms Amendment Bill which will ban the general availability of military style semi automatic weapons with only modest changes.
Why we cannot afford to tolerate fascists
Inn the United Kingdom a neo nazi has been convicted of making plans to kill a female Labour Member of Parliament.
Dumb as a plank
Pro gun lobby groups are making some outlandish claims about the Government’s proposed gun law changes.
Cameron Slater slithers into bankruptcy
Yesterday Cameron Slater announced that he would be seeking bankruptcy. It is unlikely to help him to avoid the stress of dealing with the legal consequences. The three current defamation cases that he is defending so badly have very little to do with money and a lot to do with making sure neither he nor any other arsehole dares to use his vile tactics again.
The handling of Pike River evidence was diabolical
The Pike River families have released an internal police document describing the handling of evidence from the crime scene as diabolical.
Trump’s brilliant strategy to dismantle US dollar hegemony
Polymath economist Professor Michael Hudson’s latest article is a geopolitical panoramic masterpiece, sparked by outrage at a series of concurrent events on January 31 which he predicts means that 2019 will be the “year of global fracture.” Definitely worth a read.
Roastbusters redux
One of the Roastbusters this week has talked publicly about what happened in an apparent attempt to start a music career. And John Tamihere has started his Mayoral campaign having to answer questions about his attitude to what happened.
Julian Assange and the Streisand Effect.
Wikileaks has tried to silence media organisations on behalf of Julian Assange. Why is a ‘transparency’ organisation opposed to free speech and have they made things worse for the Aussie hacker?
UPDATE: The list has been leaked. Link in post.
Drug testing at music festivals
Police Minister Stuart Nash has said publicly that he wants to see all New Zealand music festivals to have drug testing kits by next summer.
The extent of the right to free speech
Lauren Southern’s cancelled lecture has caused some debate about what freedom of speech is, is it absolute, and if not where is the line to be drawn?
Collins keeps Housing Corp P debacle in news cycle
Judith Collins has managed to keep the Housing Corp methamphetamine story alive for another news cycle by attacking poor people who take drugs.
David Tamihere was framed
The identity of the secret witness who assisted in the conviction of David Tamihere for the murder of two Sweedish tourists has been revealed. And the incident shows the danger of using secret witnesses.
Catriona MacLennan takes on the Law Society
Catriona MacLennan is being sent to a disciplinary committee for criticising a judge, in a case where he made an appalling judgement. Where are the freedom-of-speech advocates?
immigration profiling
A data modelling programme that includes race and ethnicity as factors for consideration is a bad idea.
Respecting our Rights and the New Zealand Constitution
The Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister teased a little bit of constitutional change yesterday. Let’s look at what that could actually mean, and how it could upon up old laws for review by Parliament.
Labour to reform abortion law
Justice Minister Andrew Little has given the go ahead to change NZ’s archaic abortion legislation.
The Humanity.
Thoughtless thugs. Killers.
Up in Smoke.
US reverses Federal marijuana stance.
Income related speeding fines – bring it on!
Dr Jarrod Gilbert has a provocative opinion piece on the Herald website today, proposing that speeding fines become income related. It’s an interesting […]
Voltairine de Cleyre
When history buries treasures, those treasures don’t have to remain buried.
The NZ Government passes Health Homes Guarantee Act
“Every New Zealander deserves a warm, healthy home to live in, and the Health Homes Guarantee Act will help ensure that”
Justice for Teina Pora
Andrew Little has announced that the Government will increase the payout to Teina Pora by adjusting for inflation and by paying costs on Pora’s successful judicial review of the previous Government’s decision.
NRT: Police Discretion
Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn writes about the Police’s decision to not lay charges against former MP Todd Barclay.
Guns
Another gun massacre has occurred in the United States. And the well worn excuses and justifications by the right and the gun lobby are again being used.
Is Justice Binnie vindicated by the Teina Pora decision?
What we can learn about Collins, Adams and the national Cabinet from Teina Pora’s Judicial review win.
Metiria Turei and Paula Bennett on benefit fraud
Turei’s admission that she lied to WINZ back in the day was a political gamble. It could resonate with a big chunk of non-voters – here’s a politician that’s just like us – has been through what we’re going through. On the other hand it gives the usual mean-spirited righties a club to beat her with. Interesting that Paula Bennett is treading so lightly round the issue.
Paula Bennett threatens legal action over allegations
An open letter has accused Paula Bennett of serious historical crimes. Bennett has denied the allegations and threatened legal action. Facebook has removed the source documents.
Manus Island operator seeking to buy and manage Housing Corporation Homes
The Government is seeking to sell 2,500 Christchurch Housing Corporation homes. The shortlist of potential purchasers includes an Australian company recently successfully sued for human rights breaches of refugees on Manus Island.
New information on Glenda Hughes?
On 20 June after Melanie Read’s Newsroom interview Andrew Geddis blogged about possible obstruction of justice by a National Party Board member. That was based on new information in the Barclay case, and may be why the Police have since re-interviewed Glenys Dickson.
Gower is correct – police must reopen Barclay case
English is trying, many days too late, to shut up about the scandal in his old electorate and hope that it will blow over. It won’t – too many loose ends. In particular, Patrick Gower is right, the police must now re-open the Barclay investigation.