NRT: Bill English wants to end your privacy

Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, April 22nd, 2016 - 85 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, bill english, class war, human rights, Spying - Tags: , , , , ,

A “data supermarket” sounds benign enough doesn’t it? Unfortunately not – two posts from I/S at No Right Turn explain:

Bill English wants to end your privacy

Not content with granting more and more powers to spy agencies, National is now planning to database and spy on the poor:

Bill English — Finance Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and now prospective Big Brother; he wants to bring together the data held by 10 government agencies so that more can be known about Kiwis.

The agencies include health, education, social development, justice and Inland Revenue. It will create what he calls a “data highway”.

He’ll give government workers access to it, even on their smartphones, so they can draw information on people from multiple sources before making decisions that affect them.

The data has already shown New Zealand’s 10,000 most vulnerable people will cost taxpayers $6.5 billion over their lifetimes.

English says this is about helping people by “sharing” their confidential, private data – but we all know that it will really be about shitting on them, cutting their benefits, throwing them out of state houses, making it more difficult to access government services. Because National sees everything as a way of cutting costs and reducing government services. So, they’ll give ACC access to your medical records, WINZ access to your police file, Housing NZ access to your kid’s school reports, your kid’s school teacher access to your sexual history, and the SIS and their foreign “allies” access to everything, all in the hope that someone, somewhere, will find a reason to cut your funding or jail you (or, in the SIS’s case, finally find the “terrorists” their budget is predicated on).

This is, of course, illegal – the Privacy Act prohibits information sharing between government agencies except for statutory purposes and according to externally approved information-sharing agreements. And that’s for good reason: because people won’t tell government agencies what they need to know if they think the information will be widely shared. But English is clearly planning to change the law – in fact, there’s an ominous little footnote in the government’s ICT Action Plan which says they plan to:

identify and address aspects of various pieces of existing legislation that constrain interoperability of information and data through an omnibus Bill

Or, in English, repealing Privacy Act protection against the government to allow open slather and snooping into your private life.

But this isn’t just a matter of mass surveillance through big data – its also a matter of your security. Because the wider your information is shared within government, the wider the pool of people who can abuse it, profit from it or lose it. We already have persistent problems with police and WINZ staff abusing their access rights over the huge databases those organisations have built up to snoop on friends and partners or run profitable side-businesses corruptly selling their access. And we have constant stories of how deeply personal information – even stuff on abused kids – was left lying around for anyone to look at, left on a train, or emailed to the wrong person. Bill English will make those problems bigger. And we will all pay the price for that.

(And that’s not even getting into the risk of serious theft. Concentrated data is more valuable data, and this database, combining police, educational, medical and income data would be a gold mine for blackmailers, criminals and identity thieves – or just bored teenagers. In a world where we read about a major website hack on a weekly or monthly basis, and where people knock over databases for shits and giggles, this sort of data concentration is simply asking for trouble).

But we’ll also pay another price, in trust. Because the natural response to organisations asking things they don’t need to know, or sharing information more widely than required, is to lie. We already do this on the internet, giving disposable email addresses, fake phone numbers, and false demographic data to nosy American corporations when all they need is a credit card number and a shipping address; Bill English will give us an incentive to do that to the government too. And when he wants every random public servant who meets you to be able to look on their phone and see instantly where you live, what you earn, who you fuck and whether you’ve been burgled or raped, that seems like a very good idea.

No human rights issues

Yesterday, we learned that Bill English wants to end your privacy, opening up government information sharing so that any public servant can see any of your private information (where you live, what you earn, how often you get sick, whether you’ve been raped) on their phone. The underlying driver for this is the government’s ICT Action Plan which includes as one of its action points a revision of privacy laws. I’ve been looking at the Cabinet paper on this, and its a scary document. As with their recent intelligence “review”, its apparent that privacy simply was not a consideration. For example:

Although it is important that the right balance is struck between innovation, security, and privacy, the clear focus will be on innovation and managed risk-taking that will deliver the public services expected by citizens. The GCIO will work in partnership with the security services to ensure the right balance is achieved and it is anticipated that the revised Strategy will be complemented by the forthcoming New Zealand Cyber Security Strategy, which aims to ensure that New Zealand is secure, resilient and prosperous online

While they talk of a “balance”, its clear that the “right balance” is to simply ignore privacy and let the government do whatever it wants. As for what this looks like in practice, here’s National’s desired outcome:

The public sector has a culture and capability that defaults to releasing, sharing, publishing and
re-using of information and has earned sufficient public trust and confidence from citizens (’social license’) to do this. Government-held information is made widely available to inform decision making, reduce effort and drive innovation.

Sharing by default sounds great, until you realise that its our most sensitive details they’re talking about, and they’ll be available to every shitty little call-centre prole (and anyone they sell it to, or mail it to accidentally, or anyone who hacks them) to spy and sell and perve and judge however they want. The fundamental point people like DPF overlook in this is that its precisely the personal information which is valuable here. To use Bill English’s example, you can’t gain useful insights into vulnerable families without knowing about vulnerable families and their members (their incomes, educational achievement, medical history, criminal victimisation, and so on) – in other words, if you open their lives up to scrutiny without permission (or with coerced “permission”) to others. And that is fundamentally intrusive and invasive.

And then there’s the kicker, buried at the end among the certification boilerplate:

This paper has no human right issues

Really? They’re talking about a massive, society-wide invasion of privacy amounting to mass data-surveillance, and they think it has no human rights issues? What the fuck are they on? Whichever policy analyst wrote that is clearly a muppet and should be fired for it.

To use the government’s terminology, this is a matter of “social licence”. The government wants to be able to effectively spy on and database everyone, so they can save a few dollars here and there. And that’s simply not something we should let them do. Our privacy is valuable, and we should not let the government take it away from us.

85 comments on “NRT: Bill English wants to end your privacy ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. TepidSupport 1
    22 April 2016 at 7:48 am

    I’m torn on this one.
    My first thought is that this is a very emotive (and not necessarily fully factual) response with a fair bit of hyperbole to make the point.
    BUT. As much as I think it’s best we take a wholistic approach, rather than segmented, with govt support for its citizens- I feel this does open up too many potential issues of abuse of data as this suggests.
    There needs to be a much smaller pool this data is limited to, with very strict controls on its use and accountabilities and clear processes for people to be able to access their info and who it’s been shared with and why.
    Until that can be done/ proven then I’d be on the side of opposition.

    • Chooky 1.1
      22 April 2016 at 8:49 am

      where is the data on Jonkey nactional and Bill English for all to see?

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2
      22 April 2016 at 11:32 am

      My first thought is that this is a very emotive (and not necessarily fully factual) response with a fair bit of hyperbole to make the point.

      Yep.

      Even Blinglish isn’t talking about gathering and holding any more information than they already have. Just sharing necessary data when needed.

      I feel this does open up too many potential issues of abuse of data as this suggests.

      I don’t. Two things:

      1. Google probably knows more about you than the government
      2. Nobody really gives a fuck about what you’re doing in your life. It’s really not that interesting or important

      There are exceptions to that latter point and it’s usually when a single person starts stalking another single person.

      There needs to be a much smaller pool this data is limited to, with very strict controls on its use and accountabilities and clear processes for people to be able to access their info and who it’s been shared with and why.

      Yep, is the limiting of who can see and input what data and how they get access to it. The combining of the data really isn’t an issue.

      • McFlock 1.2.1
        22 April 2016 at 2:28 pm

        Yep, is the limiting of who can see and input what data and how they get access to it. The combining of the data really isn’t an issue.

        Yes, it is an issue if the first part cannot be guaranteed. Which it can’t.

        It’s a given that this will lead to increased privacy violations, because it enables a bad or incompetent seed to create a multi-departmental leak that is currently compartmentalised to the information held by one department.

        So if you’re going to remove the inherent safety of silos and compartmentalisation, you need an assessment of the risk to balance against an assessment of the benefit.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1
          22 April 2016 at 2:53 pm

          Yes, it is an issue if the first part cannot be guaranteed. Which it can’t.

          Nothing can be guaranteed. All we can do with any system is to try and prevent misuse.

          So if you’re going to remove the inherent safety of silos and compartmentalisation, you need an assessment of the risk to balance against an assessment of the benefit.

          Is it true compartmentalisation or simply duplication?

          It’s like going to WINZ and filling out all the relevant data to get a benefit and then going to Studylink and doing exactly the same thing to get a student loan. They already have all the data but because of rather stupid laws and privacy concerns we have a huge waste of time and effort for both parties.

          And please note, a lot of that data is publicly available via the electoral role.

          Now do you understand the stupidity that comes about by over reacting to privacy concerns?

          • McFlock 1.2.1.1.1
            22 April 2016 at 3:05 pm

            Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it: it doesn’t matter whether you think my concerns about privacy are stupid, they’re my concerns about my information, and you need a better reason than speculation about time and effort before your laziness should overrule my privacy.

            • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1.1.1
              22 April 2016 at 3:45 pm

              They’re your concerns about the government having data it already has.

              • McFlock …
                22 April 2016 at 4:18 pm

                They’re my concerns about how careful the government is to manage access to that data, why it different areas of the government need that data, and the damage that could be done to me and millions of others should that data be made easily accessible to criminals or weirdos by one big leak.

                If I have to tell WINZ my relationship status, land transport don’t need to update my drivers license details. They don’t need it, and screw those guys anyway. Nor do they need to update my address, because if I want their shit to go to my postbox and winz shit to go to my email or letterbox, that’s my business. I might have good reasons that are my business. A couple of bytes to hold my date of birth is not onerous or time consuming, and if someone fucks up a form or intentionally steals my identity to get a benefit, the damage they inflict on me will still be less than if it fucks me with several departments. And if Paula Bennett wants to fuck the privacy act and try to dox me because I wrote a letter to the newspaper, she can only dox the data that WINZ have on me, not every other department.

                Government isn’t a monolith, it’s a colony of hundreds of thousands of people of different competencies and ethics.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  22 April 2016 at 4:29 pm

                  If I have to tell WINZ my relationship status, land transport don’t need to update my drivers license details.

                  Land transport wouldn’t have access to your relationship status.

                  Nor do they need to update my address, because if I want their shit to go to my postbox and winz shit to go to my email or letterbox, that’s my business.

                  Most places now have your address and where you want the mail to go to.

                  I might have good reasons that are my business.

                  Or you could be trying to defraud people.

                  A couple of bytes to hold my data of birth is not onerous or time consuming

                  But it’s not just a couple of bytes of data and once it gets to millions of records then it is onerous and time consuming.

                  and if someone fucks up a form or intentionally steals my identity to get a benefit, the damage they inflict on me will still be less than if it fucks me with several departments.

                  Or the easier checking would make it harder to do any of that which, IMO, would be more likely.

                  And if Paula Bennett wants to fuck the privacy act and try to dox me because I wrote a letter to the newspaper, she can only dox the data that WINZ have on me, not every other department.

                  Paula Bennett shouldn’t have had access to that data – no minister should. As I say, it’s about access – not if the data is stored as a single file or not.

                  • McFlock …
                    22 April 2016 at 5:10 pm

                    Land transport wouldn’t have access to your relationship status.

                    guarantee?

                    Most places now have your address and where you want the mail to go to.

                    only if they share the different addresses.

                    I might have good reasons that are my business.

                    Or you could be trying to defraud people.

                    Based on mailing address? Get real.

                    A couple of bytes to hold my data of birth is not onerous or time consuming

                    But it’s not just a couple of bytes of data and once it gets to millions of records then it is onerous and time consuming.

                    It’s a straight multiplication of the number of departments that feel they need that information. It’s either a trivial storage problem, so no harm in replication, or it’s onerous and the departments would have to justify why they need each piece of information. I’m not seeing any downside there.

                    and if someone fucks up a form or intentionally steals my identity to get a benefit, the damage they inflict on me will still be less than if it fucks me with several departments.

                    Or the easier checking would make it harder to do any of that which, IMO, would be more likely.

                    The US state department thought that, too.

                    And if Paula Bennett wants to fuck the privacy act and try to dox me because I wrote a letter to the newspaper, she can only dox the data that WINZ have on me, not every other department.

                    Paula Bennett shouldn’t have had access to that data – no minister should. As I say, it’s about access – not if the data is stored as a single file or not.

                    But being able to abuse her position to gain access to information only held by her department limited the damage she could do. In the real world, tiered defenses are better than just saying ‘she shouldn’t have had access to that’ after the fact. Your access system fucks up, Bennett gets access to plunket documents as well, and makes jibes about underweight babies etc. My access control system fucks up, the silos isolates the damage bennett can do.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      22 April 2016 at 9:45 pm

                      guarantee?

                      It’s not something that they’d need to know and thus shouldn’t have access to it. If they do then there should be inquiries as to why.

                      Based on mailing address? Get real.

                      I am getting real – crime through PO Boxes has been rife for decades.

                      It’s a straight multiplication of the number of departments that feel they need that information. It’s either a trivial storage problem, so no harm in replication, or it’s onerous and the departments would have to justify why they need each piece of information. I’m not seeing any downside there.

                      Fallacious dichotomy. In fact, none of it holds water.

                      Data storage is limited in both size and speed. Storing the data multiple times takes up that limited storage and slows down the look up. When that look up also depends upon moving across limited bandwidth things slow down again.

                      Storing the data once is fine, storing it multiple times on multiple systems isn’t. And you don’t even get the security that you think that you do because the information now has multiple attack vectors on it.

                      You want multiple, equally powerful systems instead of one powerful system and lesser client systems.

                      Your access system fucks up, Bennett gets access to plunket documents as well, and makes jibes about underweight babies etc.

                      What are the chances of it fucking up? IMO, fairly minimal and if anyone does get access when they’re not supposed to goes to jail.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 April 2016 at 11:50 pm

                      We’re not talking youtube, here. the data is text-based. And a consolidated system means more records to search through and manage in that system, and the lack of replication means that the behemoth system needs to be much more capable than the systems that just meet the needs of each department. And no department would need all those records, as you argue with land transport, so the searchesfor each department are slowed by parallel requests made by others on data that the department will never need.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 April 2016 at 12:03 am

                      The chances of it fucking up are guaranteed. If anonymous or criminals don’t hack it, then you’re relying on paula bennett not being able to bully civil servants again.

                      Data storage is limited, but cheap. Cheaper than beneficiaries being silenced by Bennett when she has access to information held by departments other than her own, anyway.

    • aerobubble 1.3
      22 April 2016 at 11:56 am

      All accesss to private info or govt info must be notified. If i put up a cctv i have to tell anyone it might view.

      As to the value of info, English thinks its highly valuable, pay everyone a universal income for access, this will also mean govt would not need to access it.

      Hell i’ll start charging govt if they access mine too much, as its a burden to know.

  2. Observer (Tokoroa) 2
    22 April 2016 at 7:49 am

    Running the Gauntlet

    .It could happen that Billy English may have to explain his actions and debt lust to a Royal Commission.

    He sold off Assets to his mates; he is currently selling off the highly valued and sorely needed State owned houses to his mates here and overseas. He is running up colossal debt on behalf of his friends.

    He gave Tax Cuts to his mates in the teeth of a Global recession. He upped the GST (a regressive Tax affecting the poor in the main). He bailed out stupid farming investors to the tune of Millions, whilst ordinary citizens had to suck up their own losses. Not to mention the lovely gift of new schools to special mates, without saddling them with burden of teachers.

    Billy English is all about money money money – it’s a rich man’s world.

    Billy says “New Zealand workers are hopeless”. Which I guess is why he sells our assets to numerous foreign investors. And impoverishes NZ born and bred citizens.

    The Royal Commission would investigate thoroughly why he broke his contract with New Zealand public. He was meant as a member of Parliament to govern for the whole of the New Zealand population. Not just his rich opportunistic friends.

  3. David H 3
    22 April 2016 at 8:22 am

    If I get some wally wanting to check MY private data, on his Unsecured phone. I am going to at first get amnesia and get worse the more they try to get information..

  4. Colonial Viper 4
    22 April 2016 at 8:38 am

    As I/S infers:

    Saving money is yet another distraction: it is another excuse to help justify the implementation of a surveillance and security state.

    One day your benefits will be on the line if you make the wrong political choice at the ballot box.

    • Chooky 4.1
      22 April 2016 at 8:47 am

      +100…where is Labour opposition on this?…probably supports it

      • leftie 4.1.1
        22 April 2016 at 2:06 pm

        Citation please. Otherwise its just pointless Labour bashing for the sake of it. Bill has already laid down some rules around people doing that.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2
      22 April 2016 at 11:43 am

      That is information that nobody needs to know. If anyone gets access to it they should automatically be stripped of everything that they own (including trusts, businesses and bank accounts) and thrown in jail for life with no parole.

  5. TC 5
    22 April 2016 at 8:49 am

    Bennett set the tone using confidential data deliberately for political reasons.

    Coupled with the shambles nacts ‘frontline’ focus is leaving across govt IT this is of great concern.

    MSD are taking weeks to answer basic questions as their systems and processes have been nactd.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      22 April 2016 at 11:46 am

      Bennett set the tone using confidential data deliberately for political reasons.

      And she should still be in jail for that and not a minister. She proved, quite conclusively, that she can’t be trusted to be a minister.

      But that’s not actually a reason not to put in place necessary tools.

  6. whispering kate 6
    22 April 2016 at 9:33 am

    This suggestion by Double Dipper must be taken to the United Nations Court for Human Rights – nothing less – its disgusting. This Government is arrogant now, even worse, it thinks it can do whatever it wants – it needs policing severely.

    • leftie 6.1
      22 April 2016 at 2:08 pm

      +1 Not only that Whispering Kate, National needs to be kicked out, that’s the quickest solution.

    • UpandComer 6.2
      23 April 2016 at 1:14 am

      Seriously?

      Is Draco the only person on this website with any semblance of common sense.

      Bill English has come up with incredibly sophisticated mechanisms to help the people in New Zealand who really, truly need it most. He’s figured out how much it’s really costing. Every few weeks he’s discovering astounding facts that no one knew previously. For example, every 12 months, 5,500 of 7,500 released prisoners go on the sickness benefit. Because they’re on the sickness benefit, they don’t have to front up for a work test. Their kids fall through the cracks. Yet they leave prison in a sound physical condition.

      No one knew that until Bill English found out. It’s insane and probably been going on for decades.

      Now do you think that the prisoners who are now receiving 1500% more drug and alcohol treatment and work training, because Bill English found out this insane fact, think Bill English should be hauled before the courts?

      Bill English has done more for the poor in New Zealand then Labour ever did. This parallel reality stuff where he raises benefits and pours resources into identifying the most at risk kids in NZ and gets viciously attacked for it is just puzzling. Don’t you people get that he’s helping people?

  7. Observer (Tokoroa) 7
    22 April 2016 at 10:01 am

    . Yes Whispering Kate

    Billy English will sell off a lot of the information to Major Corporations. Billy is big on sell ups and Information is much sought after by the wealthy.

    We are in the age of the Electronic Auschwitz

    .

  8. srylands 8
    22 April 2016 at 10:43 am

    The sole purpose sharing is to allow policies to be developed that will improve life outcomes for the most disadvantaged. These people will otherwise cost us billions. If we can’t identify them, and what determines their negative trajectory, we are designing interventions, and targets, in the dark.

    There is no alternative to data driven policy. Australia and the UK are both going down this track.

    http://www.data.gov.au/

    Resistance to this trend is futile and counter productive. In social policy, the goal should be to identify children before they are born who will need interventions over their first 5 years. that can only be accomplished through extensive data sharing.

    In other words you are being hysterical.

    • TC 8.1
      22 April 2016 at 11:04 am

      Yes dear

    • RJL 8.2
      22 April 2016 at 12:11 pm

      @srylands “… If we can’t identify them, and what determines their negative trajectory”

      Poverty.

      • Magisterium 8.2.1
        22 April 2016 at 3:04 pm

        Treasury (has) identified four risk factors linked to poor social outcomes: CYF reporting abuse or neglect; reliance on a benefit since birth; having a parent in prison or on a corrective sentence; and having a mother without formal qualifications.

        For example, only 50 per cent of kids who experience all four factors will go on to gain school qualifications compared to 78 per cent who have no risks. Twenty per cent of children with all the risk factors will end up as a sole parent on a benefit, whereas just 2 per cent of luckier kids will.

        • McFlock 8.2.1.1
          22 April 2016 at 3:34 pm

          And the root cause associated with all of those is poverty.

          • Magisterium 8.2.1.1.1
            22 April 2016 at 4:46 pm

            Yeah but the proposed datacrunching can’t identify “poverty”. However it can identify “reported as neglected to CYF”, “household reliant on a benefit since birth”, “parent in jail”, and “mother has no formal qualifications”.

            • McFlock 8.2.1.1.1.1
              22 April 2016 at 4:50 pm

              so why bother with the datacrunching? Just give poor people more money. Treat the disease, not the symptom.

              • Magisterium …
                22 April 2016 at 5:37 pm

                The datacrunching identifies the children most at risk – those who tick all four boxes.

                • McFlock …
                  22 April 2016 at 11:47 pm

                  All four boxes highly associated with poverty.

                  That treats the kids in those four boxes, the next four boxes, and the four boxes after that.

                  • UpandComer …
                    23 April 2016 at 1:00 am

                    But don’t you see the fallacy of that logic? Bill English is just trying to identify the ‘real’ people who need actual help. He comes up with incredibly sophisticated mechanisms to do that. Labour’s answer is that you just ‘solve poverty’ by ‘giving them more money’. Seriously?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      23 April 2016 at 8:19 am

                      Where did Labour come into it, Wormtongue?

                    • McFlock …
                      25 April 2016 at 2:32 pm

                      Poverty is a shortage of money. More money = no poverty.

                      And yes, you can reduce the percentage of people “living” on under 60% of the median income level.

                  • Magisterium …
                    23 April 2016 at 2:17 am

                    Some children from poor backgrounds will not tick all four boxes.

                    Assisting children who tick all four boxes does the most good.

                    We don’t have unlimited money.

                    Thus money should go to the children who tick all four boxes first.

                    How do we identify the children who tick all four boxes?

                    Get the separate parts of the public service that monitor each box to talk to each other.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      23 April 2016 at 8:22 am

                      A lot simpler and cheaper to make sure no child lives in poverty in the first place. Stop whining and pay your taxes, that’ll help for a start.

                      Stop aping failed overseas drivel and start copying policy from places that have better outcomes, not worse.

                      Get some personal responsibility for your nasty blame culture.

                    • stunnedmullet …
                      23 April 2016 at 9:13 am

                      ..and yet more wah …wah…wah..

    • leftie 8.3
      22 April 2016 at 2:13 pm

      Bullshit, this is designed to single out and punish and humiliate people for being poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged. That’s the Key National government way. Tax evaders cost us billions of dollars every year already Srylands, so why isn’t the focus on that?

      • Magisterium 8.3.1
        23 April 2016 at 11:16 am

        You’re dangerously close to the truth, which involves the identification of key individuals, satellite monitoring, and S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarriers.

        But I’ve said too much.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.4
      22 April 2016 at 3:22 pm

      What will data sharing do to reverse the poverty trend that’s been increasing since 1984? We know what’s causing it, and it isn’t poor people.

      You’re in denial of that, and you want someone to blame and punish. Can’t you at least be honest with yourself?

  9. Observer (Tokoroa) 9
    22 April 2016 at 11:49 am

    . Hi srylands

    Will you personally oversea the “removal” of the unwanted living, unwanted unborn and the yet to be Conceived?

    I am sure your friend Billy English would sell you the Information you need. He loves sales. Also he would be keen to sell you the sole Contract of Human Removal Disposals PTY Ltd. You could sell the offal onto Dog Food businesses. A bit on the side eh?

    I am delighted you are not being hysterical. So refreshing. Also you are so right about “incomplete” people costing us Billions !

    Bill English has been floundering around and cost us about $128 Billion Debt. Will you be able to quietly dispose of him and get his body parts to the Best Friend Dog Food Inc? make him a Priority.

    Respectfully
    Yours

  10. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 10
    22 April 2016 at 12:34 pm

    At least he’s not calling for everyone to have access to information about what everyone else earns.

    http://thestandard.org.nz/only-way-to-deal-with-tax-evasion/

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1
      22 April 2016 at 2:35 pm

      Ah, so that would be you calling for the corruption, lies and theft by the rich to continue? Perhaps put in place more places for them to hide their ill-gotten gains?

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 10.1.1
        22 April 2016 at 2:55 pm

        How much do you earn, Draco?

        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1
          22 April 2016 at 3:41 pm

          On a student loan ATM so $176 per week.

        • weka 10.1.1.2
          22 April 2016 at 3:42 pm

          You first. See how that works?

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 10.1.1.2.1
            22 April 2016 at 3:45 pm

            What sexual positions do you favour?

            • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.2.1.1
              22 April 2016 at 3:50 pm

              Why would you even be interested?

              What you’re trying to do there is conflate peoples private life with their public life. Finances are public, what happens in the bedroom is private.

              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                22 April 2016 at 3:54 pm

                Trust me, I’m not. And nor should you be interested in how much money other people make.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  22 April 2016 at 4:01 pm

                  Well, it won’t be that I’ll go looking. I’m really not interested. What I want is for people to pay the full taxes that they’re supposed to pay according to the money that they’re moving and that seems to require a total lack of secrecy in finances.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  22 April 2016 at 4:12 pm

                  Trust me, I’m not. And nor should you be interested in how much money other people make.

                  The oligarchy hate people knowing their affairs, correct.

                  They feel like they have a right to control and manage every body else’s affairs however, though they do not feel that any of those rules should ever apply to themselves.

                  But that’s oligarchs for you.

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel …
                    22 April 2016 at 8:14 pm

                    Privacy is only important when it’s you, eh cv?

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel …
                    22 April 2016 at 8:14 pm

                    Privacy is only important when it’s you, eh cv?

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrel …
                    22 April 2016 at 8:14 pm

                    Privacy is only important when it’s you, eh cv?g

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      22 April 2016 at 8:28 pm

                      If any oligarchs want to post on The Standard they can be addressed by their blog handle too, mate. Same rules for all.

                • Drowsy M. Kram …
                  22 April 2016 at 9:53 pm

                  There’s been some gormless sniffing around Draco’s earnings.

                  “The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 10.1.1
                  22 April 2016 at 2:55 pm. How much do you earn, Draco?”

                  What’s the point of publishing Rich Lists if, according to Gormless, we shouldn’t “be interested in how much money other people make.”? Is it purely poser posturing? I’d be interested in a NZ Tax Avoiders list, if only to see whether it differed at all from the Rich List.

                  Whaddya reckon Gormless, any differences?

              • Henry Filth …
                22 April 2016 at 6:17 pm

                Why are finances public? Are only finances public?

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  22 April 2016 at 9:12 pm

                  Why are finances public?

                  Because they’re part of the economy and the economy belongs to all of us.

                  Are only finances public?

                  Probably not.

    • Henry Filth 10.2
      23 April 2016 at 6:50 am

      And what would be wrong with that?
      As long as the identity of the person (person not “entity”) asking the question is also public.

      Fair do’s, eh?

  11. Ralf Crown 11
    22 April 2016 at 12:39 pm

    The repeat of the old Soviet state, fascist and Nazi state is drawing closer, because this is actually how they controlled their people. We know the result. I am old enough to remember the aftermath. Now New Zealand?

    • Colonial Viper 11.1
      22 April 2016 at 4:17 pm

      The Anglo Empire is better at internal propaganda and control, though.

      However as times get tougher, they are preparing more security and surveillance state measures.

  12. leftie 12
    22 April 2016 at 2:19 pm

    I think English will struggle to get the legislative changes he needs passed in parliament. Besides, 2017 election is just around the corner. Doubt he even attempt it before then, but then again, who knows with National. Best way to solve a number of problems National have and are creating is to kick them out.

    • Henry Filth 12.1
      22 April 2016 at 6:23 pm

      National will lose the next election. Three in a row, time to go. It’s the NZ electoral cycle.

      Who knows, Labour might even end up in government.

      • leftie 12.1.1
        22 April 2016 at 7:46 pm

        If National lose, then guaranteed it would be a Labour led coalition government with the Greens and NZ First.

        • whispering kate 12.1.1.1
          22 April 2016 at 8:56 pm

          Let’s hope the three opposition parties can get over their petty squabbling, inflated ego’s, back stabbing etc and put the good of the country first for a change. That’s what MMP is meant to be all about. In an earlier post I suggested the three parties merged into one large party to try and oust the government. I suggested this as I am beginning to think that we do not have the maturity to be able to work in a constructive manner together with each other. Because we have become such a competitive dog eat dog country these days I thought FPP might be a better option and which suits the attitude of people today. Any option is better than the government we have right now. Labour couldn’t work with Mana last time, is iffy with the Greens and Winston is out for himself. Not much hope really is there. More of the same probably it will be, God help us.

          • leftie 12.1.1.1.1
            22 April 2016 at 11:01 pm

            I think they will. As I see it Labour, NZ First and the Greens are on the same page so to speak. All 3 do share a number of the same common goals, and its ok if they don’t see eye to eye on literally everything, compromises can always be reached. I am extremely confident in Andrew Little’s negotiating skills. He’s already done the unthinkable, he’s pulled Labour’s caucus together, and in the time frame he set when he was first elected leader. IMO, no political party could have worked with Mana with Dotcom in the picture without being literally crucified for it. I like Dotcom, but he is a political hot potato, and it did cost Hone his seat as a consequence.

  13. RedBaronCV 13
    22 April 2016 at 10:50 pm

    So why isn’t this data matching -which BTW I don’t agree with- get on with identifying those who really do cost our society billions – tax dodgers using tax havens, the white collar crims ( what is it in their childhood that leads them to do this?), those who regularly are on the boards of companies that are run into receiver ship etc etc.
    Actually you wouldn’t need data matching for that possibly – just political party member lists

  14. Incognito 14
    23 April 2016 at 12:21 am

    I think there’s merit in trying a holistic approach. However, it is paramount that the data are safeguarded against misuse or abuse. I’d consider a double-blind approach in which neither the person behind the computer nor the person on the other side knows all aspects – have you got any idea how much data collecting & sharing goes on when you’re admitted to hospital? You don’t want to know and you don’t really need to know – only that it is being used to for your benefit and no more and no less. It is similar to many existing systems (e.g. Police, DHB) where only authorised people can access the information. On top of that, layers of access and confidentiality to prevent full access to all information, only to the relevant info, on a need-to-know basis. In fact, it should be made near-impossible for one ‘operator’ to trace all information back to the original input source and get the complete ‘data dump’. I don’t know whether this is possible, with current hardware and software, but rudimentary examples are already in place.

    • leftie 14.1
      25 April 2016 at 1:06 pm

      Incognito, National have already showed that they are more than happy to abuse their position of power to abuse people’s private information for political expediency. Key and Bennett got away with it too.

  15. JonL 15
    23 April 2016 at 1:42 am

    The ultimate expression of. “If you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to fear”………..

    Fuck off!

  16. JonL 16
    23 April 2016 at 1:42 am

    The ultimate expression of. “If you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve nothing to fear”………..

    Fuck off!

  17. Thinkerr 17
    23 April 2016 at 6:32 am

    I’m surprised no-one else has objected to the phrase ‘shitty little call centre prole’. I know plenty of call centre workers and most are hard workers who put up with a lot of abuse for not a lot of pay – probably from the kind of people who refer to them as shitty little proles behind their back.

    As to the main point of the article, what’s the purpose of discovering that the 10,000 people will cost $6.5 billion over their lifetimes? In my opinion, it just creates a new category where there was none before and makes those people vulnerable to finger-pointers.

    • Draco T Bastard 17.1
      23 April 2016 at 10:56 am

      You appear to be quoting someone but only you have used the phrase

      ‘shitty little call centre prole’.

      So why are you lying?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-03T01:17:53+00:00