We have a representative democracy, which means that we elect people to represent us. People to work for us. People to consult, and listen, and act. Or not, as the case may be:
Key defends non-attendance decision
The Prime Minister’s defending his decision to stay away from a meeting between Attorney-General Chris Finlayson and the Quake Families group in Christchurch today.
The group want the government to provide legal aid so they can defend themselves at the Royal Commission into the quake.
John Key says he has met with the families before, and understands their concerns, but at the end of the day he would take advice only from Mr Finlayson anyway.
Glad we got that cleared up then.
So, why hasn’t the government just given these people the legal aid they need? Finlayson has been evasive on the issue for weeks:
Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Is the cost to the Crown the reason he will not provide independent legal representation to quake victims’ families?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: No.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Specifically then, given that answer, what is the harm in providing independent legal representation to quake victims’ families?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: It is not a question of harm; it is a question of what is appropriate in the circumstances. I have been very happy with the excellent work the royal commission has done. Justice Cooper, who is the chair of the commission, the counsel assisting, and the families’ liaison person have kept in very close touch with these families to help them through this time. It is very like the royal commission on the Victorian bushfire, which I know the member is interested in. The commissioner said: “The significance of the losses of 7 February led counsel assisting to adopt a role in the hearings that represented, as far as possible, the public interest and particularly the interest of families, friends and communities affected by the fires.”
Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Does he agree that refusing to provide independent legal representation to the families is likely to result in those families losing confidence in the effectiveness of the royal commission inquiry, the evidence of which is provided in an open letter from Quake Families to him and the Prime Minister, which is partly published today?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: No.
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