accountability

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Court’s decision on TPP OIA has both Nats and Ombudsman squirming

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:44 am, October 15th, 2015 - 23 comments

The High Court recently found that Government and Tim Groser improperly considered Prof. Jane Kelsey’s application for information concerning the TPPA negotiations. The Nats aren’t happy. The Ombudsman isn’t happy. Tough.

NRT: Dictatorship in Canterbury, dictatorship in Parliament

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:21 am, October 14th, 2015 - 9 comments

I/S at No Right Turn writes on the continued suspension of democracy in Canterbury.

Just another coverup

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:03 am, October 14th, 2015 - 7 comments

The Nats changing lines on the Taji report look like just another routine coverup of just another routine lie. At least, I hope so, because not knowing / caring about the report would be worse.

The Taji report

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, October 13th, 2015 - 17 comments

An American report which came out shortly before Key’s visit to our troops at Taji camp in Iraq is strongly critical of conditions there, and of the efficacy of the training process. Key claims he didn’t know, yet another of his outbreaks of “convenient ignorance”.

As expected, TPPA gives a peanut return

Written By: lprent - Date published: 9:15 am, October 6th, 2015 - 177 comments

In 15 to 25 years, long long after I have retired, and the TPPA is fully realised. It may be worth an extra $260 million per year in possible tariff benefits. By contrast, the China Free Trade Agreement within 5 years was increasing our exports each year by an extra $350 million. But the costs for the TPPA start as soon as it is signed. We may make a profit off it in 10 years. This is not a good deal.

Exxon knew

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, October 5th, 2015 - 24 comments

Exxon knew all about global warming and the “hockey stick” all the way back in 1981. Naturally the course of action they decided on was to lie and deny.

Speech to UN height of hypocrisy

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:52 am, October 3rd, 2015 - 34 comments

Key’s little lecture to the UN would have been delivered with a lot more moral authority if it wasn’t built on the heights of hypocrisy.

Stephenson beats his critics

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:03 am, October 2nd, 2015 - 27 comments

Respected journalist Jon Stephenson has extracted an apology and payment from the NZ Defence Force for their attack on his work in 2011. He is owed an apology from John Key too…

BSA: Hosking wrong on ponytail case

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:46 am, October 1st, 2015 - 23 comments

The echos of John Key’s ponytail pulling harassment of a waitress continue.

Pandas WTF?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:01 am, October 1st, 2015 - 41 comments

Pandas – one lightweight piece of fluff too far?

Dunne: Our foreign policy lacks any commitment to human rights

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:50 am, September 30th, 2015 - 32 comments

Peter Dunne doesn’t hold back in his assessment of the craven foreign policy – that is the creation of his government.

Fact checking Key on government performance

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:01 am, September 21st, 2015 - 22 comments

A year after the last election John Key lists his government’s achievements. It’s a pretty desperate effort.

NRT: The Great WINZ ripoff

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:15 pm, September 16th, 2015 - 17 comments

I/S at No Right Turn on the WINZ underpayment fiasco.

Inside National’s spin machine

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:32 am, September 11th, 2015 - 81 comments

A very interesting post in The Herald yesterday by Grant McLachlan (former Parliamentary researcher and a Nat campaign director) detailing National’s well resourced and well organised spin machine.

A schools league table that we need

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:09 am, September 4th, 2015 - 15 comments

The Nats have created the (spurious) data for school “league tables” so that parents can be fully informed and make choices, so they tell us. But it seems that parents don’t deserve to be fully informed about the dangerous physical health of schools. That would be just too inconvenient.

A flag that suits Key’s NZ

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:34 pm, September 3rd, 2015 - 95 comments

Lyndon Hood in a work of bleak genius has come up with a flag that really suits Key’s NZ.

Crazy Corbyn?

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:11 am, September 3rd, 2015 - 88 comments

Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity in the UK Labour leadership race has the political establishment in a tizzy. So of course, out come the dirty tactics. Private Eye has done a great job of showing up one of these….

Bread and circuses. Hold the bread.

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:20 am, September 1st, 2015 - 16 comments

Peter Lyons hits the nail on the head in Nothing but spin coming from our Government. Garner misses the point in National gets a case of the dreaded third-termitis.

Another farm death

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:01 am, August 28th, 2015 - 23 comments

Last night the Nats passed their widely ridiculed health and safety legislation. This morning a Waikato farm worker died in a workplace accident. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Watkins on health and safety mess

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:02 am, August 27th, 2015 - 17 comments

“John Key’s increasingly lacklustre defence of the shambles consists of answers that sound more like satire by the day.”

Nats losing it on the TPP

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, August 27th, 2015 - 73 comments

National are trying to evade even the simplest questions on the TPP – because the truth is profoundly undemocratic. As usual Groser and Key turn to insults instead of engaging with people’s legitimate concerns.