You can be a leader of nothing!
Well it turns out I was wrong – you can be a leader of nothing! Chaos in Parliament at the Speaker’s ruling.
Peter Dunne
You can’t be a leader of nothing
Peter Dunne’s status as a party leader in Parliament (i.e. funding and perks) is under threat. Seems pretty cut and dried – you can’t be a leader of nothing. Being a sensible type, I’m sure that Peter will agree.
Dunne and dusted?
As of this afternoon United Future is no more.
That’s because the party can’t reach the 500 member threshold required to maintain its status as a political party.
Nats’ drones in trouble
Peter Dunne’s already been caught out being inconsistent around the leak of the GCSB report. He said all ministers were interviewed; but only he was. He said the leak happened while he was overseas (note: not a direct denial); but it happened the day he got back. Meanwhile, Banks is back in the dock over his ‘anonymous’ donation. It’s not looking good for either of them.
Dunne abandons charter schools
Peter Dunne is concerned about the use of unqualified teachers in charter schools. As well he should be – the Ministry of Education has issued a detailed warning against this daft policy.
Security: social, financial, personal, digital
Yesterday more planks in the NAct raft amounting to major changes, were before the House. These undermine democracy, fairness, the security and rights of individuals, and increase hardship for those on low incomes. Ardern on Social Security. Cunliffe on child support, privacy breaches & trust.
Dumping on Dunne’s taxes
The Nats are in trouble with their budget deficits and looking to raise money via increased taxes. But they are tinkering at the edges of the problem, and were quick to chuck Peter Dunne under the bus when the latest proposals didn’t fly.
Dunne in
National are trying to blame their petty carpark tax on Peter Dunne, while he’s out of the country. Apparently his 1-vote is getting it through parliament by itself… (much like Charter Schools?). I doubt Dunne wants to die in a ditch for a petty carpark tax, so it’ll be good to see his response when he gets back.
Popularity doesn’t make it OK
Even Peter Dunne is getting disgusted with Key’s arrogance. Trouble is, Dunne assumes that being popular makes it OK. It doesn’t.
“Minister for Small Things”
Yesterday, David Cunliffe,on Peter Dunne’s Student Loan Amendment Bill, & the related inter-generational swindle, labelled Dunne as “Minister for Small Changes” & “for Small Things”. Dunne further showed his support of the “neoliberal” swindle, with a couple of tweets on non-residents buying NZ property, smearing the Greens as racist.
Late night Twitter
NRT: Reported back
The Transport and Industrial Relations Committee has reported back on David Clark’s Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill, with the National majority recommending it not be passed. The bill will now go back before the House, where its fate will be in the hands of Peter Dunne. Will he vote for it or not?
ImperatorFish: New Testing Regime For Party Pills
A political party pill testing regime was originally announced after concerns were raised about the safety of some pills.
The highly popular National party pill range has been the subject of particular concern. The product has proven commercially successful because users of the pill report feelings of euphoria even as their personal lives come crashing down around them.
NRT: Taking on our local tax cheats
I/S at No Right Turn asks why the government is letting rich multinational companies get away with exploiting tax loopholes. Here’s an idea – close the loopholes and spend the revenue on schools.
Hypocrisy and bad spin
NActUF use a lot of finely-honed, diversionary and distorting spin. However, when debating 2 Private Members’ Bills yesterday, government MPs couldn’t even be bothered trying too hard; the hypocrisy was glaring and the spin clumsy – showing clearly the differences between left & right wing principles.
Maori Party too little too late
The Maori Party has pulled its support for the latest weakening of the ETS. As usual Peter Dunne will be personally responsible for propping up the worst of the Nats’ agenda.
Banks and Dunne vote down minimum wage
David Clark’s private member’s Bill to increase the minimum wage was voted down 61 to 59 last night. Shame on John Banks and Peter Dunne.
NRT: Dunne on alcohol pricing
Last month, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne told us “I don’t support a minimum pricing regime … a lot of the material that I’ve seen from other jurisdictions raises more doubts than support for the issue of minimum alcohol pricing“. Now, an OIA reveals the actual advice to Dunne was that the international evidence shows minimum alcohol pricing works.
The worst man on Earth
I’m really looking forward to Peter Dunne retiring next election. Not as much as I would like to see him defeated but getting rid of him by any means is a godsend. This week, he has been blackmailing Labour: demanding they doff their caps to him or he would vote down their bills. So much for principle. His twitter account is a stream in invective unworthy of a minister of the Crown.
Dunne clears the competition for his backers
A cynic might ask if Peter Dunne is out to eliminate the competition of his mates and (it is widely thought) donors in […]
Privatisation bill passed
They’re quite literally selling our country down the river.
51% swindle averted
It looks like the Nats’ attempt to pull a swindle on the meaning of “51% ownership” has been averted.
Dunne angry
Underneath the ‘common-sense’ exterior, and all that hair, Peter Dunne is an angry man. He lashed out that those who pointed out he’s voting for asset sales he never told his electorate he would support. He screamed at losing TVNZ7 – Backbenches is his one chance to get on the telly. And he’s going feral on the Conservatives because they could usurp him.
Seriously extreme and nutty
Amongst all the topical chatter about the Conservative Party there was one comment that I think we should get on record for future reference.
Will Dunne heed his own poll on asset sales?
United Future are polling the public about their support for partial privatisation. Will Peter Dunne heed his own poll?
Another asset sale lie
The Nats promised to sell no more than 49% of any given state owned assert. Now they’re trying to get cute with semantics and effectively remove all limits.
Unfortunately for them their previous promises are on record and very clear. Hey Peter Dunne – are you going to vote for this latest lie?
NRT: Voting against democracy
No Right Turn on another sad chapter for democracy in NZ.
Make your voice heard on asset sales
Kiwis oppose asset sales two to one. And they will only happen if one man, Peter Dunne, votes for them to happen. Dunne was too cowardly even to speak to TVNZ on the issue last night. But you can still make him listen. You have 10 days left to make an online submission to the select committee here. It’s a two minute job – just tell them that New Zealand isn’t for sale.
Dunne has no mandate to vote for asset sales
“What the public of New Zealand really do not like is politicians who say one thing before an election and do something else after it. And I invite every member of this House to look at every statement United Future made prior to the election and every statement subsequently and try to draw a difference” – Peter Dunne. As they say, yeah right.
Pressure mounts on Dunne
David Cunliffe turned his sights on Peter Dunne in the first reading of the Mixed Ownership Bill, pointing out that Dunne has the single vote that determines whether asset sales happen or not. Dunne didn’t like the pressure. He looked close to tears in his response. Let’s keep it up. He’ll crack. What else would he do for a job after 2014 if he votes for asset sales?
Work needed
Does anyone have a job for a 60 year old? Work experience: 7 years on the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council (maintains strong industry relations), revenue minister with 3 governments (4-time winner of least memorable minister award), & member of 4 political parties (proven flexibility). Cause, after voting for asset sales, Dunne’s going to need a new job in 2 years.
Villain or hero
The Nats have announced their asset sales legislation. Mum and dad aren’t at the front of the queue. No provisions to ensure 85-90% stays in Kiwi hands. Nothing to stop the companies being sliced up and sold after partial privatisation. No real way to stop one company owning more than 10%. There’s 1 vote that can stop this. It’s all down to Dunne now. Will he be the hero or the villain?
Asset sales: No Dunne deal
Asset sales will only happen if Peter Dunne votes for them. It is his choice whether we keep our strategic assets, or lose control of them forever. So, constituents in Dunne’s electorate of Ohariu have established the Citizens’ Select Committee to hear the arguments that the Government will not and a report to Parliament. Make your submission.
ImperatorFish: Dunne In Stoush Over Caucus Lunch Plan
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here
Peter Dunne orders Christmas lunch for one.
Not the Dunne thing…
Peter Dunne has – according to Alcohol Action NZ spokesperson Professor Doug Sellman – “deliberately suppressed” the biggest and best survey on Kiwi attitudes to drink legislation this country has (not) seen.
The big win
The new government comprises the same parties as the previous one: National, ACT, United Future, and the Maori Party but with 64 votes, not 69. The governing parties’ total vote fell from 51.84% to 50.41%. Even the narrower Nat+ACT bloc fell. National’s ‘big win’ was just one more seat. And the most powerful man in the country now? Peter Dunne.