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The Greens have presented a sensible and feasible plan to reduce our greenhouse emissions to 40% less than 1990 levels by 2020. Contrary to Nick Smith's scaremongering, it won't break the bank. In fact, at current carbon credit prices, they will save us money. phase…
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Hot Topic has very interesting post up about how Act took a sudden interest in climate change denial after they received $100k from prominent climate change denier Alan Gibbs. As Gareth at HT points out: Hide's repositioning coincided with a major donation to ACT by…
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English, now known by the moniker Double Dipton, has decided to give back half the amount to has rorted so far from the taxpayer. Rather than claim the full ministers' allowance, he'll pocket 'only' $24,000 a year for living in his own family home, thank you very…
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Today the Household Labour Force Survey, which includes the official measure of unemployment, will be out. The headline number is expected to be around 5.6%, up from record lows below 4% just nine months ago. The HLFS has a few limitations though. It only measures the percentage…
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Seems John Key's been name-dropping Kiwi film stars to business leaders in Brizzie. In today's NZ Herald Key is quoted slamming actress Keisha Castle-Hughes for speaking out on climate change, saying that she should 'stick to the acting'. Remember it's just a matter of days…
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According to the Companies Office, Bill English lives at an address in Karori in Wellington. This address is publicly available on the Companies Office website as he is registered as a shareholder in Resolution Farms Limited, whose shareholders are Simon William English and Mary Agnes…
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The Drinking Liberally empire keeps on growing. Tomorrow there's an event in Wellington, and Dannevirke, the newest chapter, has its first event on Saturday. I'm not sure if the people in Dannevirke have hooked into the DL Facebook organisation but it's great they've got it…
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Are you? a disgraced former minister who resigned from Parliament in shame? a National MP who rents from a National minister (Judith Collins or Anne Tolley for example), claiming that expense back from the taxpayer while the minister simultaneously rents another place, again on the…
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Key admits his ministers are rorting the system - exploiting the allowance not for need but just because it gives them a chance for a bit of free cash: "In some instances you've got ministers moving out of homes where they might otherwise stay there…
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By telling Keisha Castle-Hughes she should "stick to acting" and keep out of the climate change debate, Prime Minister John Key is signalling to young New Zealanders everywhere keep out of politics. I guess he doesn't want us to "join the conversation" after all. Speak…
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Read this: Hon Phil Goff: What analysis did Treasury do on the cost-effectiveness of the national cycleway scheme in producing jobs, and is he prepared to provide the Treasury analysis, oral and written, to members of this Parliament; if not, why not? Hon JOHN KEY:…
corruption democracy under attack john key national/act government Parliament
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Drinking Liberally is on again in Wellington this Thursday (that's tomorrow), with guest speaker David Cunliffe on the opposition's inquiry into bank profiteering. When: 17:30, Thursday, August 6 Where: Southern Cross, Abel Smith St, Wellington [Hat tip: No Right Turn]
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John Key says we shouldn't be talking about the number of people going on to the dole. He reckons that mentioning the fact that thousands of people are losing there jobs will cause people to lose confidence and hurt the economy. Isn't the real problem for…
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What would you call it when you collect $900 a week by false pretenses? What would you call it when you tell the Electoral Commission and Ministerial Services that you live somewhere other than where you, your partner and your children actually live and work? And if…
bill english corruption crime john key national national/act government
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Over at Kiwiblog DPF has wet himself with excitement at the Field verdict. Sadly however, he doesn't get two bullet points into his post before he starts lying. DPF damply reports: 13 Sep 05 PM Helen Clark says 'the only thing of which Taito Philip…
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3News covers the story of National Ministers double-dipping at the taxpayers' expense. UPDATE: 'BLiP' has bestowed a new title on Bill English: "Sir Double Dipton". Gold.
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No surprises and a good outcome. That man betrayed everyone who ever supported and trusted him. He exemplifies how power can corrupt, something that evidently still afflicts government. Good on Clark for sacking him as a minister when the allegations first came out. Different standards…
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An old favourite.
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Then: Labour Minister David Parker accused of financial wrongdoing (filing incorrect returns). He resigns Ministerial portfolios and as Attorney General while the Companies Office investigates. Cleared of all wrongdoing (the returns were correct) and later reinstated as a Minister. Now: National Minister Richard Worth accused…
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Late last week households around the country received their referendum envelope that asks "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence?" Leaving aside the ambiguity and lack of clarity in that question, the lack of opinion based on fact and…
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More Nats have been exposed rorting the out of town allowance for ministers. Bludger Bill is claiming the allowance for living in his own house. The others are claiming because they felt like fancier digs. McCully, Groser, Heatley, and David Carter all own homes in…
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One of these things is not like the other One of these things is not quite the same. Can you guess which one is not like the other Can you tell me before I finish the game?
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We've been puzzling over how Bludger Bill can be spending all the $920 a week he is rorting for living in his family home in Wellington on an allowance meant for out of town ministers. I mean, $920 is a crap load of money. If…
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Evidently just as fed up as I am with main-stream-media "news" - which increasingly seems to consist of shallow, sensationalist stories broken up by the song and dance of weather reports* - a group of rape crisis campainers decided to conduct an impromtu press conference…
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Treasury's man on the tax reform working group, Professor Norman Gemmell, has laid out some changes that Treasury would like to see: GST up to 15%, the top tax rate down to 30%, and a capital gains tax. In my first draft, at this point…
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"What price citizenship?", asks Heather Roy. "$10 million", says Jonathan Coleman.
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What gets me is the entitlement mentality from these senior members of Key's government. Exactly the same mentality they claim afflicts 'bludgers' who get benefits and public servants. Their only response is 'I'm entitled. I'm not breaking the rules' English won't even dip into his…
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Bill English is unrepentant over his $47,000 a year rort of the ministers' Wellington accommodation allowance. He is claiming the allowance, which is intended to compensate non-Wellington-based ministers for the cost of accommodation in the city due to their ministerial duties, for living in his…
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Paula Bennett appears to have broken the law in releasing private information on members of the public who were critical of National's "ambitious" cutting of the Training Incentive Allowance. Bennett says she did this to "round out the story". John Key is "comfortable" with this…
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Is the blogging world becoming more gender balanced? This story in the Times indicates there's a group who are wanting to get some space. But what interested me was that some big business names are getting involved: Not only have attendee numbers increased from just…