Daily Review 23/10/2018
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5:30 pm, October 23rd, 2018 - 55 comments
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
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The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Mark Mitchell.
Are we not men? We are Devo.
Mark Mitchell? Which proves that on some sites you’re allowed to get away with saying foul things?
Interesting case law notes for Privacy breach on Disclosure of mental health condition
https://www.privacy.org.nz/news-and-publications/case-notes-and-court-decisions/case-note-279251-2017-nz-privcmr-4-police-were-right-to-disclose-mental-health-information/
The really interesting bit is the Police Constable called the mental health emergency team-
“constable left the room to phone an emergency mental health team (EMHT). He did not tell the woman he was going to make the call and during his conversation with the EMHT, he relayed that the woman disclosed to him that she had suicidal thoughts. ”
The Tribunal found that the Constable was right to use the emergency exception to the personal privacy provisions.
as well
“Furthermore, the disclosure must be to a person or an agency who can help prevent the threat in question. An EMHT is the correct agency to disclose information to in these circumstances.
As I thought, EMHT is the correct people to deal with this not the Police itself, even when a Police person is present.
Helping Paula
It seems that merciless Paula has somehow or other been shocked by a married individual being “inappropriate” sexually. Sex, it seems, is plentiful within National.
Simon claims that 15 women have turned to him about the excessive exuberance of one former National MP. Fortunately, he has been sacked from Caucus for having so much sex. And too much knowledge.
With such a load, it would be good for National if their supporters volunteered to keep logs of the sexual activity of the National politicians and Staff for and on behalf of Paula.
Mrs Boag might assist Paula in tracking the sex trail of National.
Perhaps Mr Jones might have the inside story to upset the virtuous Mz Bennett’s self confidence.
Charming.
A text believed to have been sent to Jami-Lee Ross in August by a female MP that Mr Ross had a relationship with has been released today.
The text – released on the same day that the National Party said it would review its culture – includes a slew of abuse and personal insults about Mr Ross’ appearance and personality.
[…]
Checkpoint has chosen not to release the exact words of the entire text out of concern for the wellbeing of both MPs. It is not clear what prompted the message.
However it was sent to Mr Ross at 1:19am on a Saturday morning and concluded by saying: “You deserve to die”
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018668007/female-mp-sent-abusive-text-to-jami-lee-ross
So Mr Ross can be condemned for abuse but a nameless woman can dish out the abuse and not be accountable.
To half publish it, seems to be a smear to me.
Maggie Barry?
It was put out with his approval apparently. Its complex …
Maybe it’s quite simple; JLR makes it clear that he will release threatening texts and possibly even name the sender. He’s got nothing to lose anymore, it seems. I’d take it as a warning to not mess with JLR and he’s not taking any prisoners. If his friends are indeed skilled in the dark arts of DP I’d think twice about picking a fight with JLR.
We don’t know the context of that text – what JLR said or did to get that response. it’s been released in isolation, and, in itself, that is an intimidating thing to do.
The women who have accused JLR of being abusive have described a pattern of behaviour over time – not one isolated incident.
Yes. The body of evidence from 4 women around parliament backs that view. However natural justice means JLR has right of reply once it’s in the public domain.
Interesting that only now is details being with held as it’s ……something about his Wellington wife being fragile…
It’s a pity that the National Party didn’t deal with this satisfactorily a while back. Now there are some very hurt and damaged people.
Joe 90 text sent in August.
It doesn’t fit with someone who feels threatened and intimidated imho
Seems today Jami-Lee Ross was discharged from hospital and is now staying with a friend. According to the report, he’s no longer in Auckland.
Sectioning resulted in a two day stay in a mental health unit! Obviously not a danger to himself or others then.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018668007/female-mp-sent-abusive-text-to-jami-lee-ross
Perhaps he’s been taken to Hawkes Bay by Simon Lusk.
This was well signalled, it was decided Sunday maybe or Monday certainly that what he needed was a place to stay and have some support there before he would leave.
This indicates/suggests – surmise, that part of his being taken in for assessment is his being alone after the separation and being (staying there) in the electorate office late at night. That would be rationalised as reason for police taking him in for an assessment, given recent health issues.
What we do not know is what agents/agency was involved that led to being involuntarily taken for the assessment – in the end a safe place to stay and be checked out.
In one sense a vulnerable person without accommodation who might be better off with stress leave and on the other suspicion that intervention was arranged to de-escalate/enforce a time out that another party wanted/needed as well.
Some of the people involved would have been considering the motives of others while doing what ever it is they do in their jobs.
Stop Press
“Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross has been discharged from Middlemore Hospital and is in the care of a friend, the Herald understands.
Ross, who was taken into care at the mental health unit on Sunday, left the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and is no longer in Auckland, said a friend who did not want to be named.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12147444
Probably Slater.
S/he didn’t want to be named. Probably BMmed.
Hopefully this will put an end to all the conspiracy theorists on here claiming National were keeping him locked away against his will…
Some how I doubt it though
Yeah nah just more grist for the mill. They just become more outlandish – at least whales getting the extra hits – the irony abounds.
National has admitted they were ‘involved with medical professionals and police’ … Funny that.
Being released means, as expected the whole police getting him sectioned is a farce…and those who are connected will all be bought to account
Here’s the full party statement of how they aren’t involved LoL
National Party spokesman said: “Over the past several weeks the National Party has taken seriously the mental health concerns raised by Mr Ross and the medical professionals he has been involved with. That has included seeking advice from medical professionals and involving Police wherever necessary to ensure support is made available to Mr Ross.
People that have no involvement in locking him up don’t involve police.
God, give it a rest. First he was sectioned to shut him up now he’s been released after just a couple of days and now it’s a big farce.
Also, as said to you time and time again – the police are frequently involved in mental health call outs. Stop lying and pretending you don’t know this.
It does make the sectioning sound dubious given he was released after two days. It’s not even time to see if any meds are kicking in (given that the arrangements for his release were most likely put in motion the day before).
You should read this. Maybe read it twice
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/23-10-2018/please-stop-being-eggs-about-jami-lee-ross-and-mental-health/?fbclid=IwAR2yGYui_cScmTWyY6lIYT3HQfNFvOAemPDP6stWdZ5PZUfCSz18DZLoc30
That is a very good article
There are two things going on that are important:
1) there is a mentally unwell person and
2) there are processes that put someone in state mandated care.
For the mentally unwell person we want them to have every care that can be given including privacy. I don’t think anyone disagrees with that.
But that shouldn’t cloud 2) – that the state has the power to imprison people for care. We should all be concerned about how people are sectioned because it’s a huge power. And it’s a power most often used against the vulnerable.
Our point of disagreement seems to be that you think because 1 occurs and 2 occurs then 2 must have been warranted. My position is to worry over whether 2 was warranted due to the vested interests of those involved.
That is good news.
Perhaps he needed to get clear air away from MM and others?
Ross, is out.
I presume all the tinfoil helmeted individuals who were claiming that Ross was being confined indefinitely by Goons under the orders of the National Party will withdraw their opinions and apologise for the rubbish they were spouting?
Or not, as the case may be.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12147444
Be fair, alwyn. How do we know that this quiet, outside-of-Auckland spot he has retired to is not in fact a mini-concentration camp run by a small group of fascists?
(I know I am paranoid, but what really worries me is: Am I paranoid enough?)
Joking aside, I did not think at all about the Stalinist USSR tactics regarding lunatic asylums.
But I did remember how Siegfried Sassoon was ‘dissuaded’ from publishing his excellent letter regarding the unnecessary prolongation of World War One. And that happened in Great Britain, not some despotic totalitarian dictatorship.
Be grateful – the price of freedom is vigilance.
If no-one were watching who knows what the Gnats would have got up to.
Too late alwrong, national ha confirmed their involvement…from their own mouths
National Party spokesman said: “Over the past several weeks the National Party has taken seriously the mental health concerns raised by Mr Ross and the medical professionals he has been involved with. That has included seeking advice from medical professionals and involving Police wherever necessary to ensure support is made available to Mr Ross.
QED.
Far out.
He left of his own accord a day or so later ffs
You don’t even know what your quote means
Of course they would get advice
The dude was a human self destructive wrecking ball last week
Why was national involving police ? ( or health professionals for that matter , they expelled him from caucus last week remember, so its not their concern anymore , unless it was to shut him up)
Why did police – with national prodding them along, take him to a hospital when he clearly wasnt that unwell ( hint the DHBs have mobile mental health teams for assessing people at their home or work)
Just because he was wrecking national doesnt make him unwell- just getting utu
In other words they knew he was having issues and explored every avenue on how they could use it against him. Calling it embarassing, etc.
https://www.interest.co.nz/news/96507/national-party-leader-simon-bridges-and-president-peter-goodfellow-say-they-heard-second
I wonder if Boris J is going to have Theresa M taken from caucus after sustained personal attacks on her, so experts can assess whether they have left her unable to continue in office or not?
Imitation and the sincerest respect for the way the Tories down under take care of their problems and all that.
It could join rendition in becoming commonplace around the world – like accusing a Mayor of Djkarta of blasphemy or a deputy PM of homosexual acts in Kuala Lumpur.
The Democrats could consider the alternative to a futile attempt to impeach Trump by doing a deal with White House staff to have him targeted for a sectioning off “GOP party” property.
After all if Trump wants to really enjoy Russian patronage why not revisit the psychiatric institution in the gulag …
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12147100
Not sure if this comes under news commentary or satire, it’s getting blurred a lot …
It did occur to me that someone applied for compulsory treatment, but psychiatrist didn’t think he met criteria but managed to persuade him to stay in the unit voluntarily as needed to be monitored, get sleep etc. or put on community treatment order.
Mallard has still not confirmed notification from hospital (although unlike the Nats, he may be being discreet)
When a person is taken into care over a long weekend and released on the first working day following that weekend it follows that there was probably something wrong with the original clinical assessment or something wrong with the original legal process. As outlined by the speaker of the house to place a member of parliament in an assessment unit against their will has implications well beyond a member of the public. The questions I have outlined will no doubt be answer by Jami-Lee Ross over the fullness of time as only he can.
I’d say what happened is Mitchell went to bother him at his electorate office on Saturday. A massive disagreement ensued, and Mitchell called the cops to take him away.
I’m sure Ross will confirm your wild conspiracy theory based upon nothing
Now he’s away from the reaches of the National Party he might be able to speak about them a bit more freely without fear of bullying and intimidation.
We hear at least one National MP has wished him dead. She still has her job.
You and every other fucktard like you should read this
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/23-10-2018/please-stop-being-eggs-about-jami-lee-ross-and-mental-health/?fbclid=IwAR2yGYui_cScmTWyY6lIYT3HQfNFvOAemPDP6stWdZ5PZUfCSz18DZLoc30
Whats that got to do with this situation. hes clearly not mentally ill by any normal understanding Its national all week whos being saying hes crazy, while Ross is saying -note that he was saying and his doctor backed him up- that he was fine.
hes clearly not mentally ill by any normal understanding
You really should just fuck off.
Such ignorance
I agree. I’m just guessing but I don’t think he was mentally unwell enough to justify a section under the mental health act. It would be possible, if you know the right words to say and the right buttons to push, to have a person forcibly removed to a place of assessment (psychiatric hospital). It’s only once they’ve been in hospital for a couple of days and proven to be ok that they can leave.
An ex-policeman like Mark Mitchell would know exactly how to do it.
Declaration of interest: GP who has been involved in many sections in the past.
Hi John, Muttonbird is not making an issue about Jami-Lee Ross’s medical condition. He/she is theorising on why he has been released early. In the absence of any facts you have got to expect that, so why get abusive.
Sounds to me like he’s channelling BM.
The truth of it is ‘doing his head in’
Well its late ,.. and time for some wonderful stirring music. In the spirit of Braveheart, and the defeat of National we celebrate the coalition govt, and commence a toast for those who would aid their own political destruction without a finger lifted in that process from our govt…
The Rogues Gravel walk – YouTube
FWIW.. I am not a health professional, nevermind an expert on MH or on the MHA or CTOs.
I’d respectfully suggest that JLR is not suffering from an identifiable and diagnosable mental illness as defined anywhere in DSM-V.
He may be undergoing a stress related mental breakdown (whatever that actually means in clinical terms), but often there are circumstances where young teens throw ridiculous tantrums and act out like ‘crazy’ including threatening suicide- but MH emergency teams called by the genuinely worried parents are sometimes left with no option but to calmly tell the parents that what they’ve got is a spoiled brat, not a mental illness. Sometimes bad people do mad things, but they are bad people, not mad people. Sometimes people undergo exceptional trauma or grief, and temporarily lose their reasoning and physical ability, but they do not have a mental illness. People go crazy on drugs, others go on murderous rampages, but they do not have a mental illness.
None of the examples above will ever be elligible for sectioning under a CTO.
I think JLR has had a collapse of sorts and the Police were concerned enough to alert MH clinicians who assessed him and convinced him to voluntarily access an overnight bed and take a chill-pill. And by the morning they let him know he doesn’t have a mental illness, and while he’s welcome to stay a bit longer- there are actual ill people who need and qualify for the beds a lot more than he did.
And that’s all.
But I’d be very very surprised if he was sectioned.